Georgia CommonsSR 746: Self-Direction Day; recognize March 18, 2026
Last action February 11, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution designates March 18, 2026 as Self-Direction Day, honoring a program that lets elderly and disabled Georgians choose and direct their own home care services.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally recognizes March 18, 2026 as Self-Direction Day in honor of a service model called self-direction, which lets people with disabilities and older adults control how, when, and from whom they receive home and community based care. The resolution explains that self-direction began in Georgia in 2005 through the Independent Care Waiver Program and is now available through five different Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs. It states that self-direction can improve satisfaction, quality of life, and reduce costs compared to traditional provider-directed care. The Senate directs its Secretary to make copies available to the public and press.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes March 18, 2026 as Self-Direction Day in the Georgia Senate.
- States the Senate's support for the self-direction model of home and community-based care for elderly and disabled Georgians.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Creates no new funding, program, or legal requirement; it is a ceremonial statement rather than a change to Georgia law.
Who it affects
Elderly and disabled Georgians who use self-directed home and community-based services, their families, and the state agencies and waiver programs that administer these Medicaid-funded services.
Why it matters
While the resolution does not alter any program or funding, it publicly highlights a care option that lets people manage their own home-based services instead of relying solely on traditional providers, raising awareness of self-direction as an alternative for long-term care.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses describe self-direction as letting individuals choose how, when, and from whom their services are delivered.
- It notes self-direction began in Georgia in April 2005 through the Independent Care Waiver Program.
- It states self-direction is currently available in five Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs in Georgia.
- The resolving clause designates March 18, 2026 as Self-Direction Day.
- A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.
From the bill
“self-direction is an optional model of home and community-based service (HCBS) delivery that enables individuals of all ages, with all types of disabilities, to maintain their independence at home in their local community”
“the members of this body recognize March 18, 2026, as Self-Direction Day”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
- Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
- Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
- Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
- Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
- Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
- Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
- Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
- Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
- Max Burns (R, SD-023)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
Topics
- disability services
- home care
- Medicaid waivers
- elder care
- commemorative resolution