The state legislature is considering bills to address the problems Georgia’s foster care system faces, including the practice of housing children in hotels or state offices when placements cannot be found.
A package of four Senate bills would streamline or expedite the process of making legal decisions about the transfer of children to state custody and adoption proceedings. For example, one bill would allow doctors to testify without being present in person to ensure expert testimony can be provided within the quick time frame needed for child custody proceedings.
Though the bills would not solve all of the foster-care problems in Georgia, they are aimed at making procedural changes as soon as possible.
It’s likely the state will set up a task force or commission to examine the problem in more depth once the legislative session ends.
