LC 56 0424S
The House Committee on Rules offers the following substitute to HR 611:
A RESOLUTION
Creating the House Study Committee on Abandoned Child Placement Following Hospital1
Discharge; and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, study is needed to provide gap analysis of community services and resources3
provided by the public, nonprofit, and private sectors to better support minors being4
discharged from psychiatric hospitalization and acute hospital emergency rooms; and5
WHEREAS, exploration is also needed into the availability of step-down services,6
community-based support services, and evidence-based prevention and treatment services7
and to identify shortfalls in such services; and8
WHEREAS, clearly defined and delineated responsibilities of the state, hospital providers,9
and health insurers should be determined regarding their obligations to serve minors admitted10
and discharged from psychiatric hospitalization or any other type of out-of-home care; and11
WHEREAS, exploration is needed to understand how to engage care coordination more12
effectively to better serve minors being discharged from psychiatric hospitalization or any13
other type of out-of-home care; and14
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WHEREAS, better determinations are needed of the costs associated with meeting the needs15
of Georgia children with mental health issues seeking services; and16
WHEREAS, exploration is needed of programs that will prevent parents' disengagement, and17
abandonment, and that will assist parents in achieving goals concerning service, treatment,18
and reunification plans.19
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:20
(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee21
on Abandoned Child Placement Following Hospital Discharge.22
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the23
House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of24
Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson25
of the committee.26
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the challenges faced27
by abandoned children following discharge from psychiatric hospitalization or other types28
of out-of-home care.29
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee30
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or31
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and32
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.33
(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive34
the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia35
Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any36
member of the committee for more than three days unless additional days are authorized.37
Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds38
appropriated to the House of Representatives.39
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(6) Report.40
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that41
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the42
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to43
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.44
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for45
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)46
of this paragraph.47
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of48
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.49
A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with50
the Clerk of the House of Representatives.51
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the52
House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu53
thereof.54
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.55
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