---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-7-171. Legislative findings.
collection: code
id: 31-7-171
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-7-171 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-171
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-171.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-171/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=437
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-170.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / REGULATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE FACILITIES / HOSPICE CARE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-7-171. Legislative findings.

(a) The General Assembly finds that there is an interest in and need for hospice care, an alternative form of health care, for terminally ill patients and their families. The General Assembly further finds that hospice care is an important innovation which should be recognized and encouraged.

(b) Recognizing that hospice programs respond to the need for responsible, compassionate, palliative care for terminally ill persons and for their families, extending into the bereavement period, this General Assembly establishes definitions, standards, and provisions for licensure and regulation for hospice programs in this state.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-7-171, enacted by Ga. L. 1983, p. 1317, § 2.