---
title: O.C.G.A. § 37-5-2. Declaration of policy.
collection: code
id: 37-5-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 37-5-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-5-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-5-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-5-2/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=260
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/37-5.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-5-1.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-5-3.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 / COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
---

# O.C.G.A. § 37-5-2. Declaration of policy.

Since the State of Georgia accepts a responsibility for its developmentally disabled citizens and an obligation to them which it must discharge, facilities, programs, and services shall be made available to meet the needs of each developmentally disabled person during his entire lifetime. The primary purpose of this chapter shall be to provide community based alternatives to total institutional care so that developmentally disabled individuals can continue to live in their home communities.

## History

Ga. L. 1972, p. 700, § 2; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 3-5/HB 228; Ga. L. 2010, p. 878, § 37/HB 1387.