---
title: SR 974. Pace Day; recognize March 19, 2026
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr974
cite_as: SR 974, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr974
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr974.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr974/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74168
date: 2026-03-19
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/sr973.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr975.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr974.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 974
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-19
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - David Lucas
  - Kim Jackson
  - Kenya Wicks
  - Harold Jones
  - Derek Mallow
  - Gail Davenport
  - Tonya Anderson
  - Nan Orrock
  - Nikki Merritt
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR974/2025
upstream_id: 2135845
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - ceremonial resolution
  - Pace Center for Girls
  - juvenile justice
  - women and girls services
---

# SR 974. Pace Day; recognize March 19, 2026

## Text

Senate Resolution 974
By: Senators Lucas of the 26th, Jackson of the 41st, Wicks of the 34th, Jones II of the 22nd,
Mallow of the 2nd and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing March 19, 2026, as Pace Day at the Capitol; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the Pace Center for Girls was founded in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1985 by Vicki
Burke, who believed girls were entering the juvenile justice system as a consequence of
delinquent behavior often caused by trauma; and
WHEREAS, the Pace Center for Girls provides free year-round middle and high school
academics, case management, counseling, and life skills development in a safe and
supportive environment that recognizes past trauma and builds upon each girl's individual
strengths; and
WHEREAS, this remarkable organization now serves 23 communities and more than 3,000
girls annually throughout Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, giving them the opportunity
to secure a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, the Pace Center for Girls values and promotes the female perspective by
respecting its distinct needs, creating safe and gender-responsive environments, and
celebrating the female experience; and
WHEREAS, the center's nationally recognized early intervention model has proven to be
successful in curbing unemployment and lowering the rate at which girls return to the
juvenile justice system; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this extraordinary organization be
appropriately honored during this special time.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize March 19, 2026, as Pace Day at the Capitol in honor of the Pace Center for Girls'
years of service on behalf of women and girls in need.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Pace Center
for Girls.

## 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 Georgia Senate resolution designates March 19, 2026, as Pace Day at the Capitol to honor the Pace Center for Girls for its work supporting at-risk girls and women.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate, not a change to any law. It recognizes March 19, 2026, as Pace Day at the Capitol, honoring the Pace Center for Girls, an organization founded in 1985 in Jacksonville, Florida that provides free academics, counseling, and life skills programs for girls who have experienced trauma and are at risk of entering the juvenile justice system.
The resolution notes the organization now serves more than 3,000 girls annually across 23 communities in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Pace Center for Girls as a formal token of recognition.

### What it does

- Formally designates March 19, 2026, as Pace Day at the Capitol in the Georgia Senate.
- Honors the Pace Center for Girls for providing free academics, counseling, and life skills training to girls affected by trauma.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Pace Center for Girls.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names the Pace Center for Girls, an organization serving girls in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and the Secretary of the Senate, who must prepare a copy for distribution. It does not create obligations for the general public.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or funding changes; it is a symbolic gesture. Its practical effect is limited to public recognition of the Pace Center for Girls' work and a ceremonial document delivered to the organization.

### Key provisions

- Recites the history and mission of the Pace Center for Girls, founded in 1985 to address trauma-related delinquency among girls.
- Resolves that the Senate recognizes March 19, 2026, as Pace Day at the Capitol.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to the Pace Center for Girls.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-19)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-19)
- Sponsors: David Lucas, Kim Jackson, Kenya Wicks, Harold Jones, Derek Mallow, Gail Davenport, Tonya Anderson, Nan Orrock, Nikki Merritt
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74168

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr974.md?full=1