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SB428 - This bill would require Georgia's Department of Community Health to formally ask the federal government for permission to use Medicaid dollars to pay for certain home and community-based services. If the federal government approves the request, Georgia will then put the new coverage into effect.
Last Action: In House Health Committee.
GCDD is following this bill because it could expand Medicaid-funded home and community-based mental health services for adults, allowing people to receive support in the community before reaching a crisis that requires institutional care.
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SB433 - This bill does two main things:
1. It creates a new type of specialty license plate for people who have autism or a developmental disability — and also for their spouse, parent, or legal guardian. This way, if someone is pulled over or in an accident, first responders can immediately know they may be interacting with someone who has special needs.
2. It requires law enforcement officers in Georgia to receive training on how to handle interactions with people who have autism or developmental disabilities. This training would be developed with input from the Department of Community Health and nonprofit organizations that work in this space.
Last Action: In House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
GCDD is following this bill because it promotes safe interactions between law enforcement and people with autism or developmental disabilities by creating a voluntary identifier license plate and requiring officer training on recognizing and communicating with individuals with these disabilities. These changes could improve safety and understanding during traffic stops and other law enforcement encounters. GCDD is concerned that they could also have unintended negative consequences.
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HB465- This bill expands Georgia’s “Mattie’s Call” alert system, which helps law enforcement quickly notify the public when a vulnerable person goes missing. The bill specifically adds people with autism spectrum disorder to the list of individuals covered by the alert system, alongside missing disabled adults and medically endangered persons. It also directs law enforcement to prioritize searching nearby waterways when a person with autism is missing, since research shows individuals with autism may be drawn to water. The bill also requires alerts to include helpful information such as the person’s last known location, clear descriptions, and behavioral characteristics that could assist the public in recognizing the missing individual.
Last Action: In the Senate Public Safety Committee.
GCDD is following this bill because GCDD’s mission includes promoting policies that protect the health, safety, and community inclusion of people with developmental disabilities, the organization tracks legislation like this that could improve emergency response and outcomes for vulnerable individuals.
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HB943- This bill creates a temporary pilot program requiring Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services to screen foster children for autism, provide clinical evaluations and support services, and train the people who work with them. At the end of the program, the agency must submit a final report with recommendations on whether it should be expanded statewide.
Last Action: In the Senate Children and Families Committee.
GCDD is following this bill because it establishes a pilot program to provide autism screenings, clinical evaluations, and training for caregivers and professionals serving children in foster care. The bill could improve identification and support for foster youth with autism or developmental disabilities.
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HB1220 - This bill updates Georgia’s Student Scholarship Organization program to expand access to tax-credit scholarships for students with disabilities. The bill allows students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, or certain diagnosed disabilities—such as autism, dyslexia, speech-language disorders, hearing loss, and other intellectual or developmental disabilities—to qualify for scholarships without first attending a public school. It also permits higher scholarship amounts for these students and requires the Georgia Department of Education to publish a list of participating private schools and the disabilities or conditions they are equipped to accommodate.
Last Action: In the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
GCDD is following this bill because it directly affects educational access and services for students with disabilities. Monitoring the bill helps ensure students’ rights and access to appropriate services remain protected.
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HB1238 - This bill directs Georgia's Department of Community Health to apply for federal permission to allow certain family caregivers to be reimbursed through Medicaid for providing respite care. Respite care is temporary relief care that gives primary caregivers a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Because Medicaid rules are set at the federal level, Georgia must first request a waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services before it can make this change. If the federal government approves the request, the state would then move forward with implementing the program.
Last Action: In the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
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GCDD is following this bill because it proposes allowing certain caregivers to receive Medicaid reimbursement for respite care and related services for children with complex behavioral health needs who are at risk of out-of-home placement. This policy could expand support for families caring for children with significant disabilities or behavioral health conditions.
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HB1368/SB535 - This bill would officially re-establish Community Service Boards — the local organizations across Georgia that provide mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services to communities. It also updates the rules around when and how these boards can hold virtual or phone meetings.
Last Action: HB1368 is in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.SB535 In the House Rules Committee.
GCDD is following this bill because they restructure Georgia’s community service boards, which provide mental health and developmental disabilities services, and shifts more authority over leadership and governance to the state (Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities). These changes could affect how disability services are delivered and overseen.
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HR1657 - This bill would create a small group of House members to dig into Georgia's Medicaid Waiver programs. These are the programs that help people with disabilities and other needs get care at home or in their communities instead of in institutions.
They will look at:
- Who uses these waiver programs and what those people need
- How the programs are set up and run
- Whether the state can keep paying for them long-term
- Whether any new laws need to be passed to fix program problems
Last Action: In the House Special Rules Committee.
GCDD is following this bill because they will be looking at who uses Medicaid Waiver programs and what those people need, how the programs are set up and funded, and whether any new laws need to be passed.
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