| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 56 0415 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | Senate Resolution 533 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | By: Senator James of the 28th |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | A RESOLUTION |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | Creating the Senate Study Committee on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health; and for |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | 1 |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | other purposes.2 |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autism3 |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique challenges during emergencies, which can lead to4 |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | communication barriers, heightened anxiety, and difficulties in following emergency5 |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | responders' instructions; and6 |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, medical chain bracelets have helped countless individuals with heart issues,7 |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | epilepsy, and seizures; and8 |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, introducing officially recognized safety devices, similar to existing medical9 |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | bracelets, to help first responders identify individuals experiencing a PTSD episode or10 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | autism-related distress, would help ensure better outcomes from such encounters; and11 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Public Health may develop such bracelets in12 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | collaboration with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and13 |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | with support from state and local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and ASD14 |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | advocacy groups; and15 |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | S. R. 533 |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | - 1 - 25 LC 56 0415 |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, such a program would enhance public safety while promoting a more inclusive |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | 16 |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | and compassionate emergency response system; and17 |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, a study is needed to evaluate the impact of implementing an official emergency18 |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | alert bracelet program in Georgia.19 |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:20 |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee21 |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health.22 |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (2) Members and officers. The President of the Senate shall appoint five members of23 |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | the Senate and shall designate two such members as cochairpersons of the committee. 24 |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | One such cochairperson shall be a member of the majority party and one such25 |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | cochairperson shall be a member of the minority party.26 |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,27 |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or28 |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.29 |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (4) Meetings. The cochairpersons shall call all meetings of the committee. The30 |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem31 |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform32 |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.33 |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | (5) Allowances and funding.34 |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided35 |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.36 |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | (B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member37 |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | of the committee for more than four days unless additional days are authorized. Funds38 |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds39 |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | appropriated to the Senate.40 |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | S. R. 533 |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | - 2 - 25 LC 56 0415 |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | (6) Report. |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | 41 |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that42 |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file a report of the43 |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to44 |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.45 |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for46 |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file the report, subject to47 |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.48 |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of49 |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 50 |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | A report so approved shall be signed by the cochairpersons of the committee and filed51 |
|---|
| 63 | 63 | | with the Secretary of the Senate.52 |
|---|
| 64 | 64 | | (D) In the absence of an approved report, the cochairpersons may file with the53 |
|---|
| 65 | 65 | | Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu54 |
|---|
| 66 | 66 | | thereof.55 |
|---|
| 67 | 67 | | (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.56 |
|---|
| 68 | 68 | | S. R. 533 |
|---|
| 69 | 69 | | - 3 - |
|---|