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Bill

HB 238

Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; create and maintain an at-risk adult training course focusing on officer response to individuals with Alzheimer's disease or dementia

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Clint Crowe and 4 co-sponsors

Georgia requires law enforcement training on responding to adults with Alzheimer's and dementia to improve officer safety protocols and reduce harm during encounters.

Effective Date
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Bill Summary · HB 238

Legislative bill overview

HB 238 mandates that Georgia's Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council create and maintain a specialized training course for law enforcement officers on responding to adults with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The course focuses on de-escalation techniques, communication strategies, and safety protocols specific to individuals experiencing cognitive decline.

Why is this important

Georgia's aging population means officers increasingly encounter individuals with dementia in distress situations. Specialized training can reduce unnecessary arrests, hospitalizations, injuries, and fatalities by equipping officers with evidence-based techniques tailored to how dementia affects behavior and comprehension. This addresses a gap in standard police training that typically does not address neurodegenerative diseases.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Developing, maintaining, and delivering new training requires POST Council resources and potentially increases officer training requirements, with unclear funding mechanisms
  • Scope and mandate clarity: The bill does not specify whether training is mandatory for all officers, what minimum curriculum standards apply, or how effectiveness will be measured
  • Liability and expectations: Creating a specialized training course may increase legal liability if officers fail to apply techniques, or conversely, may set expectations that exceed what brief training can realistically achieve in crisis situations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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