Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia SB535: Mental Health; the re-creation of community service boards; provide
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, so as to provide for the re-creation of community service boards; to amend Code Section 50-14-1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to meetings open to the public, limitation on action to contest agency action, recording, notice of time and place, access to minutes, and teleconferences, so as to revise a provision authorizing community service boards to conduct teleconference meetings under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mental health, so as to provide for the re-creation of community service boards; to reconstitute the governing boards of community service boards; to provide that a governing board contain an executive director; to provide that the executive director be appointed by the commissioner of behavioral health and developmental disabilities; to provide that appointed executive directors are department employees; to provide for individuals currently serving as executive directors…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mental health, so as to provide for the re-creation of community service boards; to reconstitute the governing boards of community service boards; to provide that a governing board contain an executive director; to provide that the executive director be appointed by the commissioner of behavioral health and developmental disabilities; to provide that appointed executive directors are department employees; to provide for individuals currently serving as executive directors; to provide for the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the governing board, community service board, and executive director; to authorize the delegation of authority to the executive director, subject to limitation; to change provisions for community service boards to convert their organizational structures; to provide for definitions; to provide for conforming changes; to amend Code Section 50-14-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to meetings open to the public, limitation on action to contest agency action, recording, notice of time and place, access to minutes, and teleconferences, so as to revise a provision authorizing community service boards to conduct teleconference meetings under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: S. B. SB 535/AP SECTION 1. Title …