--- title: SR 705. Georgia Community Service Boards; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr705 cite_as: SR 705, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr705 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr705.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr705/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72870 date: 2026-02-05 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr704.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr706.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr705.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 705 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-05 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Brian Strickland - Ben Watson - Bo Hatchett - Kay Kirkpatrick - Randy Robertson - Russ Goodman text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR705/2025 upstream_id: 2108038 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - mental health services - developmental disabilities - addiction treatment - community service boards - public safety net --- # SR 705. Georgia Community Service Boards; commend ## Text Senate Resolution 705 By: Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Watson of the 1st, Hatchett of the 50th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Robertson of the 29th and others A RESOLUTION Commending Georgia Community Service Boards; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Community Service Boards (CSBs) are created in O.C.G.A. § 37-2-6 et seq. as public corporations and instrumentalities of the state to provide services for mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or addictive diseases; and WHEREAS, there are 22 CSBs across Georgia whose Boards of Directors are appointed by the governing authorities of the counties within each CSB's service area; and WHEREAS, as a vital part of Georgia's Public Safety Net, CSBs serve eligible persons with serious mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or addictive diseases who have no insurance or have limited means to pay for treatment, while also serving individuals with Medicaid and, as capacity allows, those with other insurance; and WHEREAS, CSBs have established a sterling reputation throughout Georgia for improving the quality of life of many of this state's most vulnerable citizens by providing high-quality and cost-effective care; and WHEREAS, nearly two million Georgians suffered from mental illnesses or addictive diseases in the past year, more than 320,000 experienced a serious mental illness in the past year, and there are more than 145,000 adults in Georgia with intellectual or developmental disabilities; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB), located in Villa Rica, Georgia, serves as a unified voice for all 22 CSBs, providing policy and legislative advocacy on both state and national levels; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding work of Georgia's CSBs be appropriately recognized for their immeasurable contributions in delivering essential behavioral health and developmental disability services across our state. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend Georgia's Community Service Boards for their many outstanding contributions on behalf of the citizens of Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary if the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Georgia's Community Service Boards and the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Senate resolution commends Georgia's 22 Community Service Boards for providing mental health, developmental disability, and addiction treatment services across the state. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It recognizes Community Service Boards (CSBs), public entities created under O.C.G.A. § 37-2-6 that deliver mental health, intellectual and developmental disability, and addiction treatment services in communities across Georgia. The resolution notes there are 22 CSBs statewide, appointed by county governing authorities, that serve as part of Georgia's public safety net for people with limited insurance or means to pay, as well as those on Medicaid. It cites statistics on the scale of need, including nearly two million Georgians affected by mental illness or addiction in the past year. The Senate directs that copies of the resolution be distributed to the CSBs and the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards. ### What it does - Formally commends Georgia's 22 Community Service Boards for their work providing behavioral health and developmental disability services. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the CSBs and the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any statute; it takes no regulatory or funding action. ### Who it affects Georgia's 22 Community Service Boards and their staff, the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, and the people they serve, including those with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, or addictive diseases who have limited insurance or income. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal or funding effect, it publicly recognizes organizations that serve as a safety net for vulnerable Georgians, potentially raising awareness of behavioral health and developmental disability services available statewide. ### Key provisions - States that Community Service Boards were created under O.C.G.A. § 37-2-6 as public corporations serving people with mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases. - Notes there are 22 CSBs statewide with boards appointed by county governing authorities. - Cites data on the scale of need, including nearly two million Georgians affected by mental illness or addiction and more than 145,000 adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. - Resolves that the Senate commends the CSBs for their contributions to Georgia citizens. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the CSBs and their statewide association. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-05) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-05) - Sponsors: Brian Strickland, Ben Watson, Bo Hatchett, Kay Kirkpatrick, Randy Robertson, Russ Goodman - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72870 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr705.md?full=1