Bill > HB584

Introduced Session

AN ACT To amend Titles 26, 31, and 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to food, drugs, and cosmetics, health, and mental health, respectively, so as to reassign licensing and oversight of drug abuse treatment and education programs, narcotic treatment programs, community living arrangements, and adult residential mental health programs from the Department of Community Health to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; to provide for departmental regulation of such licensed programs; to provide for definitions; to provide for a schedule of fees; to provide for departmental enforcement; to provide civil penalties; to provide for the promulgation of rules and regulations; to authorize the issuance of emergency orders in certain circumstances; to provide for emergency plans; to authorize on-site inspections; to provide protections for residents and former residents in community living arrangements; to require reports by certain persons concerning suspected abuse or exploitation; to provide for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and certain law enforcement agency duties; to provide for confidentiality of reports; to provide immunity for certain persons; to prohibit retaliation; to revise and provide definitions; to amend various titles of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to make conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. HB 584/AP

Committee Categories

Katie Dempsey (R)*,  John LaHood (R)*,  Jesse Petrea (R)*,  Brian Prince (D)*,  Ron Stephens (R)*,  Darlene Taylor (R)*,  Bo Hatchett (R), 

Effective Date 2026-01-01 (on 05/01/2025)

Official Document