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Senate commends DBHDD and local co-responder programs for crisis response
Summary
The Senate adopted a resolution commending the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and local co-responder programs for their work responding to mental health crises following the 2022 co-responder law; officials and program leaders attended the floor ceremony.
ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate on Feb. 19 adopted a resolution commending the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and local co-responder programs that pair behavioral health professionals with law enforcement to respond to mental-health crises.
Senate Resolution 182 cites the 2022 law (Senate Bill 403, the Georgia Behavioral Health and Peace Officer Co-Responder Act) as the framework for local co-responder programs and recognizes Feb. 19, 2025 as Co-Responder Day at the State Capitol. The resolution was adopted without objection.
DBHDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner and program representatives joined the Senate on the floor. Tanner described the co-responder model as a partnership "that brings together a law enforcement officer and a mental health professional to respond and ensure that those individuals in crisis is able to get the help that they need in the most desperate times of their lives." Program staff said the model helps keep people out of jail and connect them to treatment and follow-up care. "They don't need jail. They need resources, they need a doctor, they may need a hospital," a program representative said.
The resolution and floor recognition highlighted local programs'work in counties including Gwinnett and noted community-service boards and first responders who collaborate with DBHDD. Senators thanked program staff and first responders for their work and successful crisis de-escalation efforts.
Ending: The Senate adopted the resolution and commended DBHDD and local partners; officials and local co-responder staff were acknowledged on the chamber floor.
