---
title: O.C.G.A. § 37-4-1. Declaration of policy.
collection: code
id: 37-4-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 37-4-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-4-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-4-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-4-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t37-t39-(v28)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=c6b9c518_0#page=224
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/37-4.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-3-215.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-4-2.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MENTAL HEALTH / HABILITATION OF THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED GENERALLY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 37-4-1. Declaration of policy.

The State of Georgia recognizes the capacity of all of its citizens, including those who are developmentally disabled, to be both personally and socially productive; and it further recognizes its obligation to provide aid in the form of a coordinated system of community facilities, programs, and services to developmentally disabled citizens so that they may achieve a greater measure of independence and fulfillment and more fully enjoy their rights of citizenship.

## History

Code 1933, § 88-2501, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 499, § 1; Ga. L. 1978, p. 1826, § 1; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 3-5/HB 228.