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Committee advances bill to reorganize Community Service Boards, sponsors say it brings oversight and consistency
Summary
SB 535 would change governance of Community Service Boards (CSBs), create a state executive director role and add oversight mechanisms after several CSB financial failures; supporters said the bill preserves CSB corporate status while improving top-line accountability, and the committee voted to advance the measure.
The committee voted to advance SB 535 after testimony from state officials, advocacy groups and family members who said the changes are needed to protect services.
Senator (presenter) said SB 535 is a department bill intended to standardize governance and address inconsistent performance among community service boards across the state. The measure would authorize a state-level executive director role and strengthen oversight by aligning some authorities and safeguards across CSBs, supporters said.
Commissioner Tanner (introduced to the committee) and DBHDD officials described prior CSB financial failures that prompted the draft changes. "We had to take over two CSBs this past calendar year that failed financially at a cost to the state of several million dollars," an agency official said. Support letters from county commissions groups were noted in the record and the CSB Association indicated it had voted to support the legislation.
Family advocates and service users offered testimony that illustrated service gaps. Brandy O'Reilly described her son’s experience needing crisis and stabilization services and traveling hours for care; she urged accountability to ensure families do not have to drive long distances to receive needed services. Kim Jones of NAMI Georgia said the proposal continues work begun earlier on behavioral health access and asked the committee for support.
Committee members pressed sponsors about whether the bill would erode CSB independence or create conflicts of interest when a state-employed executive director interacts with locally appointed boards. Sponsors and supporters said the CSBs remain separate legal entities with corporate powers, and that the bill was carefully drafted to resolve prior concerns raised by disability advocates. After discussion, a committee member moved a do-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded, a voice vote was taken and the chair declared the ayes had it.
The record indicates SB 535 was advanced out of committee at this hearing; sponsors said additional outreach and education will continue.
