---
title: O.C.G.A. § 35-5-8. Responding to at-risk individuals facing emergencies; training.
collection: code
id: 35-5-8
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 35-5-8 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-5-8
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-5-8.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-5-8/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t35-t36-ch1-59-(v27)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=66569db4_0#page=222
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.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES / GEORGIA PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER
---

# O.C.G.A. § 35-5-8. Responding to at-risk individuals facing emergencies; training.

(a) The Georgia Public Safety Training Center shall create and maintain an at-risk adult training course available to all peace officers, emergency medical personnel, and behavioral health co-responders relating to responding to at-risk adults, including those individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

(b) Such training course shall, at a minimum, provide training in:

(1) Investigating criminal violations involving benefits trafficking and related offenses;

(2) Investigating criminal violations involving the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult or elder person;

(3) Responding to reports of missing persons;

(4) Interacting with victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in a victim centered and trauma informed way; and

(5) Certain aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and cognitive impairment, including;

(A) Instruction in interacting with persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia;

(B) Techniques for recognizing the behavioral symptoms and characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia;

(C) Techniques for effective communication with persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia;

(D) Techniques for employing alternatives to physical restraints; and

(E) Protocols for contacting caregivers when an individual with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia is found wandering or during an emergency situation.

(c) The training course provided for in this Code section shall be developed by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in collaboration with the Forensic Special Initiatives Unit of the Division of Aging Services of the Department of Human Services.

(d) The number of hours and specific curriculum required for the training course provided for in this Code section shall be approved by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.

## History

Code 1981, § 35-5-8, enacted by Ga. L. 2025, p. 805, § 1/HB 238, effective July 1, 2025.

## Effective Date

This Code section became effective July 1, 2025.