Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System; create

This resolution creates a 20-member Joint Study Committee to examine Georgia's rapidly rising foster care costs, which have increased 159% since 2022 (from $141 million to over $164 million projected for 2026). The committee includes state agency leaders, legislative members, and child welfare representatives to assess service costs, funding sustainability, and potential efficiencies in the foster care system. It will operate until December 2026, with the goal of identifying recommendations for future legislative action to address cost challenges. The study focuses on analyzing current costs and system operations, not implementing immediate policy changes.