HR1945: HR1945 House Study Committee on Examining the Implementation, Funding, and Effectiveness of Georgia's CHINS Framework; create

Georgia's Child in Need of Services (CHINS) program is meant to help troubled youth get support through courts, schools, and community organizations without pushing them into the juvenile justice system. This resolution states that the program has largely operated as an unfunded or underfunded mandate for more than a decade, leading to inconsistent results across the state. To address this, the resolution creates the House Study Committee on Examining the Implementation, Funding, and Effectiveness of Georgia's CHINS Framework. The Speaker of the House would appoint seven House members to the committee and name a chairperson. The committee would study CHINS funding, implementation, and outcomes, hold meetings as needed, and may recommend legislation. Members would receive standard legislative allowances for up to five days unless more are approved, paid from House funds. The committee must file any approved report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Examining the Implementation, Funding, and Effectiveness of Georgia's CHINS Framework, made up of seven House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study how the CHINS program is funded, run, and whether it is producing measurable results for children and families.
• Allows the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for members, capped at five days unless additional days are approved, funded through the House of Representatives budget.
• Requires the chairperson to file any approved report with the Clerk of the House before the committee's abolishment date.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

The resolution directly affects the seven House members appointed to the study committee and House administrative staff who support its work. Indirectly, its findings could affect children and families relying on the CHINS program, juvenile courts, schools, community based service providers, and the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The committee's work could shape future decisions on funding and structuring the CHINS program, which is meant to keep youth with issues like family instability or truancy out of juvenile court. The resolution itself makes no funding or policy changes, only sets up a review process ending by December 1, 2026.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Examining the Implementation, Funding, and Effectiveness of Georgia's CHINS Framework.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at seven House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying CHINS implementation, funding, and outcomes and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (4) lets the chairperson call meetings at any time or place needed to carry out the study.
• Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days absent additional authorization, funded from House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before abolishment, or minutes filed if no report is approved.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-25House Hopper (House)

• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)

• juvenile justice
• CHINS program
• legislative study committee
• child welfare
• status offenses