| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 112 2982 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 252 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Cooper of the 45 |
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| 4 | 4 | | th |
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| 5 | 5 | | , McCollum of the 30 |
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| 6 | 6 | | th |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Hilton of the 48 |
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| 8 | 8 | | th |
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| 9 | 9 | | , Silcox of |
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| 10 | 10 | | the 53 |
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| 11 | 11 | | rd |
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| 12 | 12 | | , and Dempsey of the 13 |
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| 13 | 13 | | th |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 16 | 16 | | Commending the impact of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1 |
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| 18 | 18 | | Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), community service boards (CSBs), and first2 |
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| 19 | 19 | | responders; and for other purposes.3 |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, in 2022, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 403, known as the4 |
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| 21 | 21 | | Georgia Behavioral Health and Peace Officer Co-Responder Act, establishing the framework5 |
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| 22 | 22 | | for Co-Responder programs, which bring together law enforcement officers and behavioral6 |
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| 23 | 23 | | health professionals to respond to mental health crises; and7 |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Co-Responder programs have since demonstrated their commitment and8 |
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| 25 | 25 | | passion for assisting individuals in crisis, effectively intervening in behavioral health-related9 |
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| 26 | 26 | | calls for service, diverting individuals from unnecessary incarceration, and improving access10 |
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| 27 | 27 | | to behavioral health services while enhancing public safety; and11 |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities12 |
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| 29 | 29 | | (DBHDD) has played a key role in supporting the implementation and coordination of13 |
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| 30 | 30 | | Co-Responder teams through collaboration with first responders, community service boards,14 |
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| 31 | 31 | | and behavioral health providers; and15 |
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| 32 | 32 | | H. R. 252 |
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| 33 | 33 | | - 1 - 25 LC 112 2982 |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, these programs have contributed to better outcomes for individuals in crisis by |
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| 35 | 35 | | 16 |
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| 36 | 36 | | facilitating appropriate treatment, reducing strain on law enforcement resources, and17 |
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| 37 | 37 | | strengthening collaboration between public safety agencies and mental health professionals18 |
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| 38 | 38 | | to collectively respond to crises within local communities throughout the State of Georgia;19 |
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| 39 | 39 | | and20 |
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| 40 | 40 | | WHEREAS, maintaining and expanding these efforts will further strengthen Georgia's21 |
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| 41 | 41 | | response to behavioral health crises, redirect individuals from undesirable outcomes, promote22 |
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| 42 | 42 | | collaboration at the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral health, recognize that23 |
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| 43 | 43 | | recovery is possible through early intervention and deflection, and improve the efficiency of24 |
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| 44 | 44 | | public safety and emergency services.25 |
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| 45 | 45 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that26 |
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| 46 | 46 | | the members of this body commend the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and27 |
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| 47 | 47 | | Developmental Disabilities and local Co-Responder programs for their role in responding28 |
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| 48 | 48 | | to mental health crises as well as acknowledge the importance of their continued operation29 |
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| 49 | 49 | | throughout the state.30 |
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| 50 | 50 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body recognize February 19, 2025,31 |
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| 51 | 51 | | as Co-Responder Day at the state capitol to highlight the ongoing efforts of these programs32 |
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| 52 | 52 | | in enhancing crisis response and public safety.33 |
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| 53 | 53 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized34 |
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| 54 | 54 | | and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the35 |
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| 55 | 55 | | Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, law enforcement36 |
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| 56 | 56 | | agencies and community service boards within the State of Georgia, the public, and the press.37 |
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| 57 | 57 | | H. R. 252 |
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| 58 | 58 | | - 2 - |
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