Track Health Legislation
The 2021 Legislative Session began on January 11, 2021. Below please find a listing of bills that Georgians for a Healthy Future is tracking during this session. New bills will be added as they are introduced. For email updates on how to stay involved sign up for action alerts.
GHF released its 2021 policy priorities at our eleventh annual Health Care Unscrambled event. These annual priorities outline the issues that GHF believes are most pressing for Georgia consumers and are best addressed by the state legislature.
Georgians for a Healthy Future Legislative Priorities
Sort By: Bill Title Bill Status | Bill | Status |
---|---|---|
Mental Health Parity Act; enact | HB 49 | House Second Readers |
Submit state plan amendment to implement express lane enrollment in Medicaid; direct | HB 163 | Bill Passed |
Insurance; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; update references | HB 514 | House Insurance Committee Passed |
Medical assistance; authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments; provisions | HB 630 | House Second Readers |
Georgia All-Payer Claims Database; entities that receive certain tax credits; self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; provide | SB 1 | Senate Read and Referred |
“Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act”; enact | SB 80 | Senate Passed |
Medical Assistance; authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion; provide | SB 172 | Senate Read and Referred |
Education, Department of; develop guidelines for use of telehealth services in public schools
Date | Updates |
February 2, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Support for Students Living in Poverty Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 5 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to program weights and funding requirements under the “Quality Basic Education Act,” so as to provide for grants by the State Board of Education to local units of administration to support students living in poverty; to provide for definitions; to require the State Board of Education to develop rules and regulations; to provide for the calculation of grant amounts; to provide that a minimum required portion of grant funds must be used by local units of administration for direct program expenditures for the benefit of the students living in poverty; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Safe Patient Limits Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to limit the number of patients that may be assigned to a registered professional nurse in specified situations in hospitals; to provide for definitions; to provide that nothing shall preclude a hospital from assigning fewer patients to a registered professional nurse than the established limits; to require the adoption of written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff by hospitals; to provide for sanctions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 44 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to speech-language pathologists and audiologists, so as to revise licensing provisions; to enter into an interstate compact known as the “Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact”; to provide the State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology with the power to administer such compact in this state and to conduct national background checks for which applicants for licensure are required to submit fingerprints; to provide for definitions; to provide for conditions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported |
February 26, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 22, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
Public buildings; indoor air quality assessments; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing, so as to require indoor air quality assessments of all public buildings; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Public schools; operational wheelchair onsite at all times; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to require every public school in this state to have an operational wheelchair onsite at all times; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions regarding income taxes, so as to provide a tax credit for donations of wheelchairs to public schools; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Individual Short-Term Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance generally, so as to provide for certain consumer protections related to individual short-term health insurance plans; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for a 181 day coverage limit; to provide for the inclusion of most essential health benefits; to prohibit medical underwriting; to provide that preventive services shall be included at no additional cost to the insured; to provide that certain consumer disclosures are required; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance, so as to increase consumer access to health care by improving network adequacy; to provide for the inclusion of a consumer “hold harmless” provision; to provide that under certain circumstances, health carriers shall charge for out-of-network services at in-network rates; to provide for a requirement that carriers file network adequacy plans with the department; to provide for a requirement that health carriers notify providers on an ongoing basis of the specific covered health care services for which the provider is responsible; to provide for a standard continuity of care authorization form proscribed by the Commissioner; to provide for an advisory committee for advising on standard continuity of care; to provide for effective dates; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to scholarships, loans, and grants, so as to create a grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas of the state; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
January 28, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Mental Health Parity Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance generally, so as to require that insurer treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other health insurance claims; to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to public assistance, so as to require that care management organization treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other Medicaid claims; to ensure that insurers and care management organizations comply with certain federal law; to provide for reporting; to provide for enforcement; to provide for definitions; to prohibit certain actions; to provide for applicability; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 28, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Penal institutions; policies for breast milk storage and breast feeding; provide “
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inmate policies, so as to provide for policies for breast milk storage and the breast feeding of a delivered child; to provide for definitions; to require the provision of breast pumps by the Department of Public Health; to provide for requirements for prenatal and postpartum care; to require a notice; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 27, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia Women’s Care Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrest by law enforcement officers generally, so as to revise provisions relating to the arrests of pregnant women; to provide that women who have been arrested are offered pregnancy testing upon detention; to enact a provision regarding delayed sentencing for postpartum female inmates; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inmate policies, so as to revise provisions relating to the treatment of pregnant and postpartum female inmates; to provide for the reporting of certain information; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
New Mothers Medicaid Expansion Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to social services, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to newborns to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for amendments to the state plan if necessary; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
January 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Insurance; out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; reduce
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to reduce out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids recipients requiring insulin; to provide for definitions; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Social services; temporary assistance for needy families; revise definition of cash assistance
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to temporary assistance for needy families, so as to revise the definition of “cash assistance”; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 27, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; eliminate duplicative state licensure and regulation of clinical laboratories; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to eliminate duplicative state licensure and regulation of clinical laboratories; to repeal provisions relating to examination of human specimens and methods for selection of blood donors and collection, storage, and processing of human blood; to eliminate state inspections of clinical laboratories; to amend Code Sections 26-4-172 and 42-1-10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license requirements generally under the “Nuclear Pharmacy Act” and preliminary urine screen drug tests for inmates, respectively, so as to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted |
February 26, 2021 |
Senate Read Second Time |
February 17, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Income tax; refundable earned income tax credit; provide credit
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions from income taxes, so as to provide for a refundable earned income tax credit; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 27, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Provide certain immunities from liability claims regarding COVID-19; extend applicability for one year
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act relating to torts to provide certain immunities from liability claims regarding COVID-19, approved August 5, 2020, (Ga L. 2020, p. 798), so as to extend applicability for one year; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 10, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Prohibit providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding health, so as to prohibit providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient; to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance generally, so as to prohibit health insurers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient; to provide for definitions; to provide for health benefit plans and collective bargaining; to provide for applicability; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Public officers and employees; paid parental leave for eligible state employees and eligible local board of education employees; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 20 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding personnel administration, so as to provide for paid parental leave for eligible state employees and eligible local board of education employees; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for certain prohibitions; to provide for rules; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Submit state plan amendment to implement express lane enrollment in Medicaid; direct
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to direct the Department of Community Health to submit a state plan amendment to implement express lane enrollment in Medicaid; to direct the Department of Human Services to automatically enroll and renew eligible children in Medicaid, based on application data received for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted |
February 26, 2021 |
Senate Read Second Time |
February 17, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Prescription Drug Consumer Financial Protection Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to require all health insurers to pass along no less than 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to enrollees that such insurer receives from third parties with regard to such enrollee’s prescription drugs; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 1, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Course of study in sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention instruction is medically accurate
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the “Quality Basic Education Act,” so as to require that any course of study in sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention instruction is medically accurate; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 2, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Public assistance; Medicaid Expansion Program; provide establishment Versions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to provide for a Medicaid expansion program to provide health care coverage to uninsured individuals; to provide for definitions; to provide for the establishment of the Medicaid Expansion Program; to provide for requirements; to provide for submission of a federal waiver request; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 2, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; order not to resuscitate; revise parental requirement for consent
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-39-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to persons authorized to issue order not to resuscitate, so as to revise parental requirement for consent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 22, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 18, 2021 |
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
Full practice authority for advance practice registered nurses; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-13-21, Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, Article 6 of Chapter 4 of Title 26, Title 31, Article 1 of Chapter 26 of Title 43, and Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to controlled substances; health of students; pharmacies; health; registered professional nurses; and physicians, acupuncture, physician assistants, and others, respectively, so as to provide full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses; to authorize the Georgia Board of Nursing to enact rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide for applicability; to provide for statutory construction under the Medical Practice Act; to repeal a provision on delegation of certain medical acts to advanced practice registered nurses by physicians; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Social services; individuals to buy-in to Medicaid coverage; allow
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to allow individuals to buy-in to Medicaid coverage; to provide for definitions; to provide for the establishment of the Medicaid Buy-In Program; to provide for the design and administration of the program; to provide for the establishment of premiums; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for submission of a federal waiver if necessary; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Social services; use of telehealth options in the Medicaid program; expand
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to expand the use of telehealth options in the Medicaid program; to extend the temporary use of telehealth options during the pandemic emergency to a permanent status; to provide for certification and training of providers of medical assistance via telehealth options; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Department of; annual quality and payment reporting for health care plans and programs administered; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Health, so as to provide for annual quality and payment reporting for health care plans and programs administered by the department; to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to include comprehensive dental and vision coverage under Medicaid for adults; to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services; to provide for the submission of a state plan amendment or waiver, if necessary; to provide for related matters; to provide for contingent effectiveness; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
General Assembly; pilot program to evaluate whether health notes to assess the potential health impact by proposed legislation should be required by the General Assembly; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to the General Assembly, so as to provide for a pilot program to evaluate whether health notes to assess the potential health impact by proposed legislation should be required by the General Assembly; to provide for a definition; to provide for recommendations; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for other related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Self-funded Healthcare Plan Opt-in to the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to provide an option for self-funded healthcare plans, exempt from state regulation under federal law, to opt in to Georgia’s Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 11, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
Mental health; Department of Behavioral Health conduct or coordinate all audits of behavioral health providers; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relating to the governing and regulation of mental health, so as to provide that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities conduct or coordinate all audits of behavioral health providers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 2, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Professions and businesses; podiatry; amend a provision relating to fingerprint and criminal background checks
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 35 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to podiatry practice, so as to amend a provision relating to fingerprint and criminal background checks; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
March 3, 2021 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 24, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
The Maternity Supportive Housing Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to children and youth services, so as to provide for registration of maternity supportive housing residences to provide housing for pregnant women; to define a term; to provide for requirements; to prohibit additional rules and regulations; to prohibit constraints imposed by local governments; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 4, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; establish pilot program to conduct a simulated exchange for health care facilities to purchase and sell charity care credits to meet their charity care requirements; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the care and protection of indigent and elderly patients, so as to provide for the establishment of a pilot program to conduct a simulated exchange for health care facilities to purchase and sell charity care credits to meet their charity care requirements; to provide for definitions; to provide for the design of the simulated exchange; to provide for a report; to provide for penalties for nonparticipation; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 4, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Act; enact
heA BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 28 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to occupational therapists, so as to revise licensing provisions; to enter into an interstate compact known as the “Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact”; to authorize the State Board of Occupational Therapy to administer the compact in this state; to provide definitions; to provide for conditions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported |
February 23, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
Community Health, Department of; assess one or more provider matching payments on ambulance services; authorize
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to licenses for emergency medical services, so as to authorize the Department of Community Health to assess one or more provider matching payments on ambulance services for the purpose of obtaining federal financial participation for Medicaid; to provide for definitions; to provide for payment into the Indigent Care Trust Fund; to provide for penalties; to provide for the use of funds; to provide for inspection of records; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 24, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 8, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Education; tobacco and vapor products in course of instruction regarding alcohol and drugs; include
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum, so as to include tobacco and vapor products in the course of instruction regarding alcohol and drugs required each year for all students in grades kindergarten through 12; to revise implementation dates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 18, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Passed/Adopted |
Hospitals and nursing homes; policy during a declared public health emergency that limits patients’ abilities to be visited by designated family members and friends; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to prohibit hospitals and nursing homes from instituting any policy during a declared public health emergency that limits patients’ abilities to be visited by designated family members or friends as a condition precedent to obtaining or maintaining a permit to operate a hospital or nursing home; to provide for reasonable safety precautions; to provide for limited liability; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 8, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia Telehealth Act; revise
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to revise the “Georgia Telehealth Act”; to revise definitions; to authorize health care providers to provide telemedicine services from home; to authorize patients to receive telemedicine services from their home, workplace, or school; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
Pharmacies; increase pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio for providing direct supervision at any time
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 26-4-82 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to duties requiring professional judgment and responsibilities of a licensed pharmacist, so as to increase the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio for providing direct supervision at any time; to provide certain requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Insurance; health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to state and local governments to insure inmates and certain other persons in police custody; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to require health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to state and local governments to insure inmates and certain other persons in police custody; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Insurance; health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to hospitals to provide health insurance coverage for uninsured hospital patients; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to require health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to hospitals to provide health insurance coverage for uninsured hospital patients; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Jarom’s Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency medical services personnel, so as to authorize the administration of hydrocortisone sodium succinate to patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia under certain conditions; to provide for definitions; to provide for requirements; to provide for immunity; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 10, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Controlled substances; Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V; change certain provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to controlled substances, so as to change certain provisions relating to Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V controlled substances; to change certain provisions relating to the definition of dangerous drug; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted |
February 24, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 23, 2021 |
House Passed/Adopted |
Physicians; job description submission to Georgia Composite Medical Board; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, assistants, and others, so as to provide that job descriptions entered into between physicians and physician assistants are not required to be submitted to or approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board; to authorize physicians to delegate the authority to physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances under certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; term limits for members of joint hospital authorities; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county and municipal hospital authorities, so as to provide for term limits for members of joint hospital authorities; to provide that joint hospital authorities that lease certain hospitals are subject to limitations on utilization of revenues; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia Women’s Care (Child Care Alternatives, Resources, and Education) Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrest by law enforcement officers generally, so as to revise provisions relating to the arrests of pregnant women; to provide that women who have been arrested are offered pregnancy testing upon detention; to enact a provision regarding delayed sentencing for postpartum female inmates; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inmate policies, so as to revise provisions relating to the treatment of pregnant and postpartum female inmates; to provide for the reporting of certain information; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Expanding Medicaid to Improve Health Outcomes for New Mothers Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to social services, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to newborns to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for amendments to the state plan if necessary; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program; repeal Article
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to repeal Article 2 of Chapter 2A, relating to the Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Vulnerable Child Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to prohibit certain licensed, certified, or registered professionals from engaging in certain acts upon minors; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for a penalty and private cause of action; to explicitly waive sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, and official immunity for such a private cause of action; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Date | Updates |
February 16, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; prohibit state or local governments from requiring individuals to submit to vaccinations as a condition to certain actions if the vaccine does not meet certain conditions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to prohibit state or local governments from requiring individuals to submit to vaccinations as a condition to certain actions if the vaccine does not meet certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Professions and businesses; licensure of advanced practice registered nurses; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to nurses, so as to provide for licensure of advanced practice registered nurses; to amend Code Section 16-13-72, Code Section 31-6-2, and Article 7 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the sale, distribution, or possession of dangerous drugs, definitions relative to state health planning and development, and home health agencies; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 and Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles and medical practice; to amend Code Section 43-26-5 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general powers and responsibilities of the Board of Nursing, so as to authorize the collection of workforce data; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Local government; continue certain contracts for health insurance for spouses or dependents of deceased peace officers; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to require counties and municipal corporations to continue, under certain circumstances, contracts for health insurance for spouses or dependents of peace officers who are killed or who otherwise die while acting within the scope of their employment; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
State employees’ health insurance plan; all contracts contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state employees’ health insurance plan, so as to require that all contracts for health care coverage or services under the state health benefit plan contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Social services; all contracts for health care coverage or services under Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids Program contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to require that all contracts for health care coverage or services under Medicaid and the PeachCare for Kids Program contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Low THC Oil Patient Registry; authorize Department of Public Health to release deidentified data to government entities for research
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-2A-18 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Low THC Oil Patient Registry, so as to authorize the Department of Public Health to release deidentified data to government entities and other entities for research and other purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Insurance; certain coverage requirements concerning providers that become out-of-network during a plan year; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-20C-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to online provider directories, so as to provide for certain coverage requirements concerning providers that become out-of-network during a plan year; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 25, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia Composite Medical Board; require certain training relating to sexual misconduct for members
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, physician assistants, and others, so as to require certain training relating to sexual misconduct for members of the Georgia Composite Medical Board; to amend Chapter 34A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to patient right to know, so as to provide for annual reporting to the General Assembly of the number of physicians investigated or disciplined for the sexual assault of patients; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Governor; continued operation of businesses during a public health state of emergency if they comply with certain health and safety measures; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency powers of the governor, so as to provide for the continued operation of businesses during a public health state of emergency if they comply with certain health and safety measures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 26, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 17, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Controlled substances; provide for concurrent prescribing of an opioid antagonist with opioids under certain circumstances
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the regulation of controlled substances, so as to provide for concurrent prescribing of an opioid antagonist with opioids under certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 18, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 17, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Insurance; require certain insurers to make at least one reasonably priced comprehensive major medical health insurance policy available
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 30 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to group or blanket accident and sickness insurance, so as to require certain insurers to make at least one reasonably priced comprehensive major medical health insurance policy available to residents in this state without limitation or exclusion based on preexisting conditions; to condition such requirement on the repeal or judicial invalidation of certain provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 18, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Insurance; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; update references
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to update references to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
February 18, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Insurance; health care services; provide good faith estimates
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 and Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to health and insurance, respectively, so as to provide good faith estimates regarding the cost of health care services; to provide for definitions; to require health care providers to provide good faith estimates of costs and fees available to consumers upon request; to require health insurers to provide good faith estimates of costs available to consumers upon request; to provide for time limits; to prohibit the limitation of disclosure by contract; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 22, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia; institutional licenses; revise provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the “Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia,” so as to revise provisions relating to institutional licenses; to provide for a definition; to revise a provision relating to United States Drug Enforcement Administration registration; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 18, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Insurance; health care sharing ministries; change a definition
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to change a definition regarding health care sharing ministries; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, and computation of and exemptions from income taxes, so as to provide that a taxpayer may deduct the full amount paid for shares as a member of a health care sharing organization from Georgia taxable income; to provide a definition; to disallow related deductions; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to revise provisions relating to newborn screening for various disorders; to create the Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee to review and make recommendations to the department when a new disorder is added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel; to provide for requests for appropriations to cover new disorders; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Youth Mental Health Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to prohibit the practice of conversion therapy by professional counselors, physicians, or psychologists; to define “conversion therapy”; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Law enforcement officers and agencies; mental health operatives; provide training requirements
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and training of peace officers, so as to provide for training requirements for mental health operatives; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Mental health; grant program to establish assisted outpatient treatment programs; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, so as to provide for a grant program to establish assisted outpatient treatment programs for persons with mental illness who struggle to maintain engagement with essential mental health treatment; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Mental health; marriage and family therapists to perform certain acts which physicians and others are authorized to perform; authorize
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mental health, so as to authorize marriage and family therapists to perform certain acts which physicians, psychologists, and others are authorized to perform regarding emergency examinations of persons for involuntary evaluation and treatment for mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse; to define certain terms; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
February 24, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Torts; gross negligence standard in actions involving COVID-19 liability claims against healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, entities, and individuals; clarify
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 16 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to COVID-19 pandemic business safety, so as to clarify the gross negligence standard in actions involving COVID-19 liability claims against healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, entities, and individuals; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 24, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; provide for authorized electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to care and protection of indigent and elderly patients, so as to provide for authorized electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities; to provide for definitions; to provide consent requirements; to provide for notice to the facility; to provide for relocation of a resident to another room; to provide for installation and costs; to provide for notice to visitors; to prohibit obstruction or destruction of electronic monitoring devices; to provide for protection of privacy rights; to provide for limited liability; to provide for a notification and consent form; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 24, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Professions and businesses; athletic trainers; revise and update definitions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to athletic trainers, so as to revise and update definitions; to eliminate obsolete provisions; to require athletic training students to be under the direct supervision of a physician or licensed athletic trainer; to revise and update certification requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 25, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Health; criminal background checks on individuals independently retained to provide personal care services for elderly persons who reside in a personal care home or assisted living facility; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 14A of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the central caregiver registry, so as to provide for criminal background checks on individuals independently retained to provide personal care services for elderly persons who reside in a personal care home or assisted living facility; to revise definitions; to provide for procedures and notification; to provide for limited liability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 25, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Health; sale and dispensing of contact lenses; eliminate certain restrictions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to eliminate certain restrictions on the sale and dispensing of contact lenses; to revise definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Medical assistance; authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for the authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; to require certain action; to provide for certain restrictions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Health; persons to wear masks, hoods, or other devices to prevent the spread of a contagious or infectious disease during and for 12 months following the conclusion of a public health emergency; authorize
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to authorize persons to wear masks, hoods, or other devices to prevent the spread of a contagious or infectious disease during and for 12 months following the conclusion of a public health emergency; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the O.C.G.A., relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to transfer the direction and supervision of Georgia Industries for the Blind from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to the commission; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; visitation by essential visitors to patients in hospitals and residents in long-term care facilities; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to provide for visitation by essential visitors to patients in hospitals and residents in long-term care facilities; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations by the Department of Community Health; to provide for conforming policies by hospitals and long-term care facilities; to provide for sanctions for noncompliance; to provide that the Governor is not authorized to waive the provisions in a declared public health emergency; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Inmate Mental Health Act; enact
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Narcotic treatment programs; licensing; revise composition of regions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 26-5-48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prerequisites to licensing narcotic treatment programs, waivers, and creation of regions, so as to revise the composition of the regions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
March 3, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the O.C.G.A., relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to transfer the direction and supervision of Georgia Industries for the Blind from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to the commission; to amend Chapter 9 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the transfer of the Division of Rehabilitation Services to the Department of Labor, so as to establish the role of the commission in facilitating the operation by blind persons and other persons with disabilities of vending facilities on state property; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
March 3, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Community Health, Department of; notify the applicable local law enforcement agencies; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to drug abuse treatment and education programs, so as to require the Department of Community Health to notify the applicable local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, licensing departments, and planning and zoning departments upon issuance of a license to operate a drug abuse treatment and education program that is a residential care center; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health care data collection; hospitals maintain certain technology; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 12 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health care data collection, so as to require hospitals to participate in a survey disclosing whether such hospitals maintain technology allowing the electronic sharing of certain patient information with other hospitals; to provide for definitions; to provide that the department shall collect the survey results and submit a report to the legislature; to provide for repeal; to require the use of certified electronic health technology by certain hospitals; to provide for rule and regulation; to provide for applicability; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
Mental health; authorization of peace officers to take a person to a physician or emergency receiving facility for emergency examination under certain circumstances; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to examination and treatment for mental illness, so as to provide for authorization of peace officers to take a person to a physician or emergency receiving facility for emergency examination under certain circumstances; to provide for immunity; to provide for reports; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
March 3, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to enact the “Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act”; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for definitions; to require perinatal facilities in this state to implement evidence based implicit bias programs for its health care professionals; to require certain components in such programs; to provide for initial and refresher training; to provide for the compilation and tracking of data on severe maternal morbidity and pregnancy related deaths; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
March 3, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Medicaid; coverage for doula services provided to an expectant mother; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid coverage for doula services provided to an expectant mother; to provide for a definition; to provide that doulas are considered providers of medical assistance; to require the Department of Community Health to submit a state plan amendment for coverage of antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum services; to provide for minimum reimbursement rates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Education; wraparound services in the multi-tiered system of supports to be provided prior to expelling or assigning a student in preschool through third grade to out-of-school suspension for more than five consecutive days during a school year; include
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Social services; temporary assistance for needy families; increase access to benefits
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to temporary assistance for needy families, so as to increase access to benefits; to increase the lifetime maximum for benefits; to provide that assets are disregarded in determining eligibility; to repeal the drug felony ban for eligibility; to repeal the family cap on benefits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Psychiatric Advance Directive Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, so as to provide for a psychiatric advance directive; to provide for a competent adult to express his or her mental health care treatment preferences and desires directly through instructions written in advance and indirectly through appointing an agent to make mental health care decisions on behalf of that person; to amend Titles 16, 29, 31, 37, and 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, guardian and ward, health, mental health, and social services, respectively, so as to provide for interaction and relationship with advance directives for health care; to provide for application; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for conforming references and consistent terminology; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Insurance; life insurers to provide certain policy information to funeral homes within 24 hours of receipt of the funeral home’s notification of an insured’s death; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to require life insurers to provide certain policy information to funeral homes within 24 hours of receipt of the funeral home’s notification of an insured’s death; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Georgia Community Midwife Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to repeal in its entirety Chapter 26, relating to the practice of midwifery; to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the licensure and regulation of community midwives; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to amend Code Section 43-26-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exceptions to the operation of the “Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act,” so as to provide for an exception relating to the practice of midwifery; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Evidence; voluntary open communications related to healthcare; allow
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical and other confidential information, so as to allow for voluntary open communications related to healthcare under rules of evidence; to provide for definitions; to provide that certain open communications shall not be subject to future disclosure; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Sales and use tax; certain menstrual products; create exemption
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sales and use taxes, so as to create an exemption from state sales and use tax for certain menstrual products; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Prescription Drug Rebate Financial Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to require all health insurers to pass along no less than 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to enrollees that such insurer receives from third parties with regard to such enrollee’s prescription drugs; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Medical assistance; Medicaid coverage for medically necessary donor human milk; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid coverage for medically necessary donor human milk; to provide for submittal of a state plan amendment or waiver request, if necessary; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Joint Study Committee on Childhood Lead Exposure; create
Racism; public health crisis in Georgia; declare
A RESOLUTION declaring racism a public health crisis in Georgia; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 4, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
House Study Committee on Health in Georgia; create
A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Health in Georgia; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 4, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
House Study Committee on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to Improve the Health of Women and Children; create
A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to Improve the Health of Women and Children; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Joint Medicaid Sustainability Study Committee; create
A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Medicaid Sustainability Study Committee; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Medicaid; expansion; urge
A RESOLUTION urging for the expansion of Medicaid; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; creation; support
A RESOLUTION supporting the creation of a State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
House Study Committee on the Safe Staffing of Nurses in Georgia; create
A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on the Safe Staffing of Nurses in Georgia; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia All-Payer Claims Database; entities that receive certain tax credits; self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-53-40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database, so as to provide that entities that receive certain tax credits and that provide self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Date | Updates |
January 12, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
January 12, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Programs; patient brokering; prohibit; definitions; exceptions; penalties; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 26 of the O.C.G.A., relating to drug abuse treatment and education programs, so as to prohibit patient brokering; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for penalties; to provide for enforcement; to provide for venue; to provide for reasonable expenses; to provide for cumulative actions; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to provide that excessive, fraudulent, or high-tech drug testing of certain individuals is considered a fraudulent insurance act; to provide for investigation by the Commissioner of Insurance; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Professions and Businesses; patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; to provide for patients under conscious sedation in dental settings and for dental procedures in medispas; to provide for patients under varying levels of sedation in physician offices and medispas; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for enforcement; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
Hospitals and other Health Care Facilities; hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 26, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Noncovered Eye Care Services Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-6-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the enumeration of unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices and penalty, so as to provide that certain actions by health care insurers offering eye care benefit plans constitute unfair trade practices; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 18, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
“Noncovered Eye Care Services Act”; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-6-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the enumeration of unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices and penalty, so as to provide that certain actions by health care insurers offering eye care benefit plans constitute unfair trade practices; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Certain medical personnel to administer vaccines during public health emergencies under certain conditions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to authorize certain medical personnel to administer vaccines during public health emergencies under certain conditions; to provide for vaccination information to third parties under certain public health conditions; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical practice, so as to revise certain provisions relating to the administration of vaccines under vaccine protocol agreements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 18, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
Program of premium assistance to enable eligible individuals to obtain health care coverage
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for a program of premium assistance to enable eligible individuals to obtain health care coverage; to provide for definitions; to require personal responsibility premiums from eligible individuals; to provide for a compliance pool; to provide for any necessary state plan amendments or federal waivers; to provide for termination of the program under certain circumstances; to provide for the Legislative Oversight Committee for Health Care Premium Assistance; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
‘Georgia Family Medical Leave Act’; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 34 of the O.C.G.A., relating to labor and industrial relations, so as to provide for the creation of a program to compensate in part for the wage loss sustained by any individual who is unable to work due to such individual’s own sickness or injury, the sickness or injury of a family member, or the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child; to create the Family Medical Leave Fund; to provide for contributions to such fund; to provide for filing determination and payment of claims; to provide for the promulgation of rules and regulations by the Department of Labor; to provide for related matters; to provide a contingent effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
“Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act”; enact
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 3, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 3, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 2, 2021 |
Senate Hopper |
Emergency Medical Services; prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; clarify
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency medical services, so as to clarify that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to also clarify that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
Senate Read Second Time |
Public Assistance; Medicaid public option program to provide healthcare coverage to individuals not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or the PeachCare for Kids Program; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to provide for a Medicaid public option program to provide healthcare coverage to individuals not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or the PeachCare for Kids Program; to provide for definitions; to provide for the establishment of the PeachCare Public Option Program; to provide requirements for the design of the program; to provide requirements for the administration and implementation of the program; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a design and actuarial study; to provide for contingent effectiveness and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 4, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Health; local boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no charge to the students; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to require local boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no charge to the students; to authorize the Department of Education to promulgate model policies and guidance for local boards of education; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
February 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; diagnostic examinations for breast cancer shall not be treated less favorably than screening examinations for breast cancer with respect to cost-sharing requirements and treatment limitations; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to provide that diagnostic examinations for breast cancer shall not be treated less favorably than screening examinations for breast cancer with respect to cost-sharing requirements and treatment limitations; to provide for definitions; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
February 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the O.C.G.A., relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to transfer the direction and supervision of Georgia Industries for the Blind from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to the commission; to amend Chapter 9 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the transfer of the Division of Rehabilitation Services to the Department of Labor, so as to establish the role of the commission in facilitating the operation by blind persons and other persons with disabilities of vending facilities on state property; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
Senate Read Second Time |
February 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Health; licensure and regulation of community midwives; ‘Georgia Community Midwife Act’
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health, so as to repeal in its entirety Chapter 26, relating to the practice of midwifery; to amend Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the licensure and regulation of community midwives; to amend Code Section 43-26-12 of the O.C.G.A., relating to exceptions to the operation of the “Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act,” so as to provide for an exception relating to the practice of midwifery; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Children and Youth Services; registration of maternity supportive house residences to provide housing for pregnant women; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to children and youth services, so as to provide for registration of maternity supportive housing residences to provide housing for pregnant women; to define a term; to provide for requirements; to prohibit additional rules and regulations; to prohibit constraints imposed by local governments; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
HIV Tests; modernization of HIV related laws to align with science; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-11-471, Title 16, and Code Section 31-22-9.1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to definitions relative to juvenile delinquency, crimes and offenses, and who may perform HIV tests, respectively, so as to provide for the modernization of HIV related laws to align with science to ensure that laws and policies support current understanding of best public health practices for preventing and treating HIV, scientific evidence about routes of transmission, and the public health goals of promoting HIV prevention and treatment; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 16, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to require health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other matters.
Date | Updates |
February 16, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Medical Assistance; authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for the authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; to provide for certain restrictions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 16, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; require
Medicaid Coverage for Lactation and Postpartum Care; Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 49-4-159 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Medicaid coverage for lactation and postpartum care, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Insurance; out-of-pocket cost of consumers requiring insulin; reduce
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to reduce out-of-pocket cost of consumers requiring insulin; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 16, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; fully funded services to individuals on the New Options Waiver (NOW) or Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) waiting list; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities regarding the governing and regulation of mental health, so as to require the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to provide fully funded services over a five-year period to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities who are on the New Options Waiver (NOW) or Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) waiting list; to prohibit the department from capping or limiting community living support services under the COMP waiver; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative findings; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 22, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Regulation of Hospitals; certified medication aides to administer certain medications to nursing home residents; authorize
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to authorize certified medication aides to administer certain medications to nursing home residents under certain circumstances; to provide criteria and requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
February 22, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Offenses Against Public Order; offense of wearing a mask, hood, or device which conceals the identity of the wearer; revise
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to revise the offense of wearing a mask, hood, or device which conceals the identity of the wearer; to clarify application; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
County Boards of Health; comprehensive reorganization; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 12, Code Section 16-12-4, Code Section 19-11-9, Chapter 2 of Title 26, Title 31, and Code Section 43-18-75 of the O.C.G.A., relating to conservation and natural resources, cruelty to animals, location of absent parents by department, standards, labeling, and adulteration of food, health, and inspections, suspension or revocation of license, and other disciplinary actions, respectively, so as to provide for the reorganization of county boards of health; to revise the powers of county boards of health; to authorize the Department of Public Health to select district health directors; to provide for qualifications of district health directors; to authorize the commissioner of public health to select chief medical officers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Health; pilot program to fund rural birthing centers associated with hospitals with emergency departments; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to provide for a pilot program to fund rural birthing centers associated with hospitals with emergency departments; to define a term; to provide for the solicitation of grants of funding; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a report; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Racial Equity and Reconciliation Commission of Georgia; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to create the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Commission of Georgia; to provide for membership and operation; to provide for an executive director; to provide for an advisory committee; to provide for duties; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Education; testing of drinking water in child care learning centers and schools for lead contamination; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to require testing of drinking water in child care learning centers and schools for lead contamination; to provide for definitions; to provide for notice and reporting of test results and remediation plans; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for an exemption; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
COVID-19; include within the meaning of occupational disease for essential workers
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 8 of Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to compensation for occupational disease, so as to include COVID-19 within the meaning of occupational disease for essential workers; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Family Medical Leave Fund; create
A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to create the Family Medical Leave Fund; to authorize the dedication of certain revenues to be deposited into such fund; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Joint PeaceCare Public Option Study Committee; create
A RESOLUTION creating the Joint PeachCare Public Option Study Committee; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 25, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Legislation we’re watching
Sort By: Bill Title Bill Status | Bill | Status |
---|---|---|
Education, Department of; develop guidelines for use of telehealth services in public schools | HB 9 | House Second Readers |
Support for Students Living in Poverty Act; enact | HB 10 | House Second Readers |
Safe Patient Limits Act; enact | HB 11 | House Second Readers |
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act; enact | HB 34 | Bill Passed |
Public buildings; indoor air quality assessments; require | HB 36 | House Prefiled |
Public schools; operational wheelchair onsite at all times; require | HB 37 | House Prefiled |
Individual Short-Term Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act | HB 39 | House Prefiled |
Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act | HB 41 | House Prefiled |
Grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas | HB 42 | House Prefiled |
Penal institutions; policies for breast milk storage and breast feeding; provide “ | HB 57 | House Second Readers |
Georgia Women’s Care Act | HB 58 | House Prefiled |
New Mothers Medicaid Expansion Act | HB 72 | House Second Readers |
Insurance; out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; reduce | HB 73 | House Second Readers |
Social services; temporary assistance for needy families; revise definition of cash assistance | HB 91 | House Second Readers |
Health; eliminate duplicative state licensure and regulation of clinical laboratories; provisions | HB 93 | Bill Passed |
Income tax; refundable earned income tax credit; provide credit | HB 95 | House Second Readers |
Provide certain immunities from liability claims regarding COVID-19; extend applicability for one year | HB 112 | Bill Passed |
Prohibit providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient | HB 128 | Bill Passed |
Public officers and employees; paid parental leave for eligible state employees and eligible local board of education employees; provide | HB 146 | House Passed |
Prescription Drug Consumer Financial Protection Act | HB 164 | House Special Committee On Access to Quality Health Passed |
Course of study in sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention instruction is medically accurate | HB 195 | House Second Readers |
Public assistance; Medicaid Expansion Program; provide establishment Versions | HB 209 | House Second Readers |
Health; order not to resuscitate; revise parental requirement for consent | HB 212 | Senate Read and Referred |
Full practice authority for advance practice registered nurses; provide | HB 213 | House Second Readers |
Social services; individuals to buy-in to Medicaid coverage; allow | HB 214 | House Second Readers |
Social services; use of telehealth options in the Medicaid program; expand | HB 215 | House Second Readers |
Department of; annual quality and payment reporting for health care plans and programs administered; provide | HB 217 | House Second Readers |
General Assembly; pilot program to evaluate whether health notes to assess the potential health impact by proposed legislation should be required by the General Assembly; provide | HB 219 | House Second Readers |
Self-funded Healthcare Plan Opt-in to the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act; enact | HB 234 | Bill Passed |
Mental health; Department of Behavioral Health conduct or coordinate all audits of behavioral health providers; provide | HB 239 | House Second Readers |
Professions and businesses; podiatry; amend a provision relating to fingerprint and criminal background checks | HB 245 | House Passed |
The Maternity Supportive Housing Act; enact | HB 257 | House Second Readers |
Health; establish pilot program to conduct a simulated exchange for health care facilities to purchase and sell charity care credits to meet their charity care requirements; provide | HB 261 | House Second Readers |
The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Act; enact | HB 268 | Bill Passed |
Community Health, Department of; assess one or more provider matching payments on ambulance services; authorize | HB 271 | Bill Passed |
Education; tobacco and vapor products in course of instruction regarding alcohol and drugs; include | HB 287 | House Passed |
Hospitals and nursing homes; policy during a declared public health emergency that limits patients’ abilities to be visited by designated family members and friends; provisions | HB 290 | Senate Tabled |
Georgia Telehealth Act; revise | HB 307 | House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub |
Pharmacies; increase pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio for providing direct supervision at any time | HB 316 | Bill Passed |
Insurance; health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to state and local governments to insure inmates and certain other persons in police custody; require | HB 320 | House Second Readers |
Insurance; health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to hospitals to provide health insurance coverage for uninsured hospital patients; require | HB 321 | House Second Readers |
Jarom’s Act; enact | HB 346 | House Passed |
Controlled substances; Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V; change certain provisions | HB 367 | Bill Passed |
Physicians; job description submission to Georgia Composite Medical Board; provisions | HB 369 | Senate Tabled |
Health; term limits for members of joint hospital authorities; provide | HB 370 | House Passed |
Georgia Women’s Care (Child Care Alternatives, Resources, and Education) Act; enact | HB 377 | House Public Safety and Homeland Security Passed |
Expanding Medicaid to Improve Health Outcomes for New Mothers Act; enact | HB 381 | House Second Readers |
Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program; repeal Article | HB 382 | House Second Readers |
Vulnerable Child Protection Act; enact | HB 401 | House Second Readers |
Health; prohibit state or local governments from requiring individuals to submit to vaccinations as a condition to certain actions if the vaccine does not meet certain conditions | HB 413 | House Second Readers |
Professions and businesses; licensure of advanced practice registered nurses; provide | HB 430 | House Second Readers |
Local government; continue certain contracts for health insurance for spouses or dependents of deceased peace officers; require | HB 434 | House Second Readers |
State employees’ health insurance plan; all contracts contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; require | HB 447 | House Second Readers |
Social services; all contracts for health care coverage or services under Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids Program contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; require | HB 448 | House Second Readers |
Low THC Oil Patient Registry; authorize Department of Public Health to release deidentified data to government entities for research | HB 450 | Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; certain coverage requirements concerning providers that become out-of-network during a plan year; provide | HB 454 | House Passed |
Georgia Composite Medical Board; require certain training relating to sexual misconduct for members | HB 458 | House Passed |
Governor; continued operation of businesses during a public health state of emergency if they comply with certain health and safety measures; provide | HB 468 | House Committee Judiciary Passed |
Controlled substances; provide for concurrent prescribing of an opioid antagonist with opioids under certain circumstances | HB 474 | House Second Readers |
Insurance; require certain insurers to make at least one reasonably priced comprehensive major medical health insurance policy available | HB 509 | Bill Passed |
Insurance; health care services; provide good faith estimates | HB 523 | House Second Readers |
Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia; institutional licenses; revise provisions | HB 539 | Senate Lost |
Insurance; health care sharing ministries; change a definition | HB 552 | House Second Readers |
Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee; create | HB 567 | House Passed |
Youth Mental Health Protection Act; enact | HB 569 | House Second Readers |
Law enforcement officers and agencies; mental health operatives; provide training requirements | HB 571 | House Second Readers |
Mental health; grant program to establish assisted outpatient treatment programs; provide | HB 590 | House Second Readers |
Mental health; marriage and family therapists to perform certain acts which physicians and others are authorized to perform; authorize | HB 591 | House Passed |
Torts; gross negligence standard in actions involving COVID-19 liability claims against healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, entities, and individuals; clarify | HB 592 | House Second Readers |
Health; provide for authorized electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities | HB 605 | House Did Not Pass |
Professions and businesses; athletic trainers; revise and update definitions | HB 627 | House Second Readers |
Health; criminal background checks on individuals independently retained to provide personal care services for elderly persons who reside in a personal care home or assisted living facility; provide | HB 628 | House Second Readers |
Health; sale and dispensing of contact lenses; eliminate certain restrictions | HB 629 | House Second Readers |
Health; persons to wear masks, hoods, or other devices to prevent the spread of a contagious or infectious disease during and for 12 months following the conclusion of a public health emergency; authorize | HB 637 | House Second Readers |
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act; enact | HB 648 | House Second Readers |
Health; visitation by essential visitors to patients in hospitals and residents in long-term care facilities; provide | HB 649 | House Second Readers |
Inmate Mental Health Act; enact | HB 678 | House Second Readers |
Narcotic treatment programs; licensing; revise composition of regions | HB 690 | House Second Readers |
Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; create | HB 692 | House Second Readers |
Community Health, Department of; notify the applicable local law enforcement agencies; require | HB 695 | House Second Readers |
Health care data collection; hospitals maintain certain technology; provisions | HB 697 | Senate Read and Referred |
Mental health; authorization of peace officers to take a person to a physician or emergency receiving facility for emergency examination under certain circumstances; provide | HB 717 | House Second Readers |
Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act; enact | HB 722 | House Second Readers |
Medicaid; coverage for doula services provided to an expectant mother; provide | HB 727 | House Second Readers |
Health; hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures; require | HB 731 | House Second Readers |
Education; wraparound services in the multi-tiered system of supports to be provided prior to expelling or assigning a student in preschool through third grade to out-of-school suspension for more than five consecutive days during a school year; include | HB 735 | House Second Readers |
Social services; temporary assistance for needy families; increase access to benefits | HB 741 | House Second Readers |
Psychiatric Advance Directive Act; enact | HB 752 | House Second Readers |
Insurance; life insurers to provide certain policy information to funeral homes within 24 hours of receipt of the funeral home’s notification of an insured’s death; require | HB 779 | House Second Readers |
Georgia Community Midwife Act; enact | HB 806 | House Second Readers |
Evidence; voluntary open communications related to healthcare; allow | HB 807 | House Second Readers |
Sales and use tax; certain menstrual products; create exemption | HB 810 | House Second Readers |
Prescription Drug Rebate Financial Protection Act; enact | HB 823 | House Second Readers |
Medical assistance; Medicaid coverage for medically necessary donor human milk; provide | HB 825 | House Second Readers |
Joint Study Committee on Childhood Lead Exposure; create | HR 52 | Bill Passed |
Racism; public health crisis in Georgia; declare | HR 78 | House Second Readers |
House Study Committee on Health in Georgia; create | HR 131 | House Second Readers |
House Study Committee on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to Improve the Health of Women and Children; create | HR 146 | House Second Readers |
Joint Medicaid Sustainability Study Committee; create | HR 186 | House Second Readers |
Medicaid; expansion; urge | HR 187 | House Second Readers |
State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; creation; support | HR 188 | House Health & Human Services Committee Passed |
House Study Committee on the Safe Staffing of Nurses in Georgia; create | HR 236 | House Second Readers |
Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Programs; patient brokering; prohibit; definitions; exceptions; penalties; provide | SB 4 | Senate Passed |
Professions and Businesses; patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; provide | SB 5 | Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub |
Hospitals and other Health Care Facilities; hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; require | SB 19 | Senate Read and Referred |
Noncovered Eye Care Services Act | SB 43 | House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
“Noncovered Eye Care Services Act”; enact | SB 43 | Senate Passed |
Certain medical personnel to administer vaccines during public health emergencies under certain conditions | SB 46 | Senate Passed |
Program of premium assistance to enable eligible individuals to obtain health care coverage | SB 50 | Senate Read and Referred |
‘Georgia Family Medical Leave Act’; enact | SB 55 | Senate Read and Referred |
Emergency Medical Services; prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; clarify | SB 82 | House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
Public Assistance; Medicaid public option program to provide healthcare coverage to individuals not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or the PeachCare for Kids Program; provide | SB 83 | Senate Read and Referred |
Health; local boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no charge to the students; require | SB 91 | Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; diagnostic examinations for breast cancer shall not be treated less favorably than screening examinations for breast cancer with respect to cost-sharing requirements and treatment limitations; provide | SB 103 | Senate Read and Referred |
Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; create | SB 108 | Senate Read Second Time |
Health; licensure and regulation of community midwives; ‘Georgia Community Midwife Act’ | SB 111 | Senate Read and Referred |
Children and Youth Services; registration of maternity supportive house residences to provide housing for pregnant women; provide | SB 116 | House Second Readers |
HIV Tests; modernization of HIV related laws to align with science; provide | SB 164 | Senate Did Not Pass |
Insurance; health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; require | SB 170 | Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; require | SB 172 | Senate Read and Referred |
Medicaid Coverage for Lactation and Postpartum Care; Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year; require | SB 173 | Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; out-of-pocket cost of consumers requiring insulin; reduce | SB 181 | Senate Read and Referred |
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; fully funded services to individuals on the New Options Waiver (NOW) or Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) waiting list; require | SB 208 | Senate Read and Referred |
Regulation of Hospitals; certified medication aides to administer certain medications to nursing home residents; authorize | SB 215 | Senate Passed |
Offenses Against Public Order; offense of wearing a mask, hood, or device which conceals the identity of the wearer; revise | SB 235 | Senate Passed |
County Boards of Health; comprehensive reorganization; provide | SB 256 | House Reconsidered |
Health; pilot program to fund rural birthing centers associated with hospitals with emergency departments; provide | SB 270 | Senate Read and Referred |
Racial Equity and Reconciliation Commission of Georgia; create | SB 272 | Senate Read and Referred |
Education; testing of drinking water in child care learning centers and schools for lead contamination; require | SB 288 | Senate Read and Referred |
COVID-19; include within the meaning of occupational disease for essential workers | SB 291 | Senate Read and Referred |
Family Medical Leave Fund; create | SR 42 | Senate Read and Referred |
Joint PeaceCare Public Option Study Committee; create | SR 153 | Senate Read and Referred |
Education, Department of; develop guidelines for use of telehealth services in public schools
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the health of students generally, so as to require the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and others, to develop guidelines for the use of telehealth services in public schools to provide mental health and behavioral health services to students at school or during any school related function; to define the term “telehealth”; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 2, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Support for Students Living in Poverty Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 5 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to program weights and funding requirements under the “Quality Basic Education Act,” so as to provide for grants by the State Board of Education to local units of administration to support students living in poverty; to provide for definitions; to require the State Board of Education to develop rules and regulations; to provide for the calculation of grant amounts; to provide that a minimum required portion of grant funds must be used by local units of administration for direct program expenditures for the benefit of the students living in poverty; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Safe Patient Limits Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to limit the number of patients that may be assigned to a registered professional nurse in specified situations in hospitals; to provide for definitions; to provide that nothing shall preclude a hospital from assigning fewer patients to a registered professional nurse than the established limits; to require the adoption of written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff by hospitals; to provide for sanctions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 44 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to speech-language pathologists and audiologists, so as to revise licensing provisions; to enter into an interstate compact known as the “Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact”; to provide the State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology with the power to administer such compact in this state and to conduct national background checks for which applicants for licensure are required to submit fingerprints; to provide for definitions; to provide for conditions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported |
February 26, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 22, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
Public buildings; indoor air quality assessments; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing, so as to require indoor air quality assessments of all public buildings; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Public schools; operational wheelchair onsite at all times; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to require every public school in this state to have an operational wheelchair onsite at all times; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions regarding income taxes, so as to provide a tax credit for donations of wheelchairs to public schools; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Individual Short-Term Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance generally, so as to provide for certain consumer protections related to individual short-term health insurance plans; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for a 181 day coverage limit; to provide for the inclusion of most essential health benefits; to prohibit medical underwriting; to provide that preventive services shall be included at no additional cost to the insured; to provide that certain consumer disclosures are required; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance, so as to increase consumer access to health care by improving network adequacy; to provide for the inclusion of a consumer “hold harmless” provision; to provide that under certain circumstances, health carriers shall charge for out-of-network services at in-network rates; to provide for a requirement that carriers file network adequacy plans with the department; to provide for a requirement that health carriers notify providers on an ongoing basis of the specific covered health care services for which the provider is responsible; to provide for a standard continuity of care authorization form proscribed by the Commissioner; to provide for an advisory committee for advising on standard continuity of care; to provide for effective dates; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to scholarships, loans, and grants, so as to create a grant program to encourage certain physicians to practice in underserved areas of the state; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
January 28, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Mental Health Parity Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance generally, so as to require that insurer treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other health insurance claims; to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to public assistance, so as to require that care management organization treatment of claims concerning mental and substance use disorders are treated in parity with other Medicaid claims; to ensure that insurers and care management organizations comply with certain federal law; to provide for reporting; to provide for enforcement; to provide for definitions; to prohibit certain actions; to provide for applicability; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 28, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Penal institutions; policies for breast milk storage and breast feeding; provide “
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inmate policies, so as to provide for policies for breast milk storage and the breast feeding of a delivered child; to provide for definitions; to require the provision of breast pumps by the Department of Public Health; to provide for requirements for prenatal and postpartum care; to require a notice; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 27, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia Women’s Care Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrest by law enforcement officers generally, so as to revise provisions relating to the arrests of pregnant women; to provide that women who have been arrested are offered pregnancy testing upon detention; to enact a provision regarding delayed sentencing for postpartum female inmates; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inmate policies, so as to revise provisions relating to the treatment of pregnant and postpartum female inmates; to provide for the reporting of certain information; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
New Mothers Medicaid Expansion Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to social services, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to newborns to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for amendments to the state plan if necessary; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
January 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Insurance; out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; reduce
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to reduce out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin; to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids recipients requiring insulin; to provide for definitions; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Social services; temporary assistance for needy families; revise definition of cash assistance
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to temporary assistance for needy families, so as to revise the definition of “cash assistance”; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 27, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; eliminate duplicative state licensure and regulation of clinical laboratories; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to eliminate duplicative state licensure and regulation of clinical laboratories; to repeal provisions relating to examination of human specimens and methods for selection of blood donors and collection, storage, and processing of human blood; to eliminate state inspections of clinical laboratories; to amend Code Sections 26-4-172 and 42-1-10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license requirements generally under the “Nuclear Pharmacy Act” and preliminary urine screen drug tests for inmates, respectively, so as to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted |
February 26, 2021 |
Senate Read Second Time |
February 17, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Income tax; refundable earned income tax credit; provide credit
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions from income taxes, so as to provide for a refundable earned income tax credit; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 27, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Provide certain immunities from liability claims regarding COVID-19; extend applicability for one year
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act relating to torts to provide certain immunities from liability claims regarding COVID-19, approved August 5, 2020, (Ga L. 2020, p. 798), so as to extend applicability for one year; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 10, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Prohibit providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding health, so as to prohibit providers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient; to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance generally, so as to prohibit health insurers from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient; to provide for definitions; to provide for health benefit plans and collective bargaining; to provide for applicability; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Public officers and employees; paid parental leave for eligible state employees and eligible local board of education employees; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 20 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding personnel administration, so as to provide for paid parental leave for eligible state employees and eligible local board of education employees; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for certain prohibitions; to provide for rules; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Submit state plan amendment to implement express lane enrollment in Medicaid; direct
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to direct the Department of Community Health to submit a state plan amendment to implement express lane enrollment in Medicaid; to direct the Department of Human Services to automatically enroll and renew eligible children in Medicaid, based on application data received for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted |
February 26, 2021 |
Senate Read Second Time |
February 17, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Prescription Drug Consumer Financial Protection Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to require all health insurers to pass along no less than 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to enrollees that such insurer receives from third parties with regard to such enrollee’s prescription drugs; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 1, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Course of study in sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention instruction is medically accurate
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the “Quality Basic Education Act,” so as to require that any course of study in sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention instruction is medically accurate; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 2, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Public assistance; Medicaid Expansion Program; provide establishment Versions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to provide for a Medicaid expansion program to provide health care coverage to uninsured individuals; to provide for definitions; to provide for the establishment of the Medicaid Expansion Program; to provide for requirements; to provide for submission of a federal waiver request; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 2, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; order not to resuscitate; revise parental requirement for consent
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-39-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to persons authorized to issue order not to resuscitate, so as to revise parental requirement for consent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 22, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 18, 2021 |
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
Full practice authority for advance practice registered nurses; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-13-21, Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, Article 6 of Chapter 4 of Title 26, Title 31, Article 1 of Chapter 26 of Title 43, and Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to controlled substances; health of students; pharmacies; health; registered professional nurses; and physicians, acupuncture, physician assistants, and others, respectively, so as to provide full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses; to authorize the Georgia Board of Nursing to enact rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide for applicability; to provide for statutory construction under the Medical Practice Act; to repeal a provision on delegation of certain medical acts to advanced practice registered nurses by physicians; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Social services; individuals to buy-in to Medicaid coverage; allow
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to allow individuals to buy-in to Medicaid coverage; to provide for definitions; to provide for the establishment of the Medicaid Buy-In Program; to provide for the design and administration of the program; to provide for the establishment of premiums; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for submission of a federal waiver if necessary; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Social services; use of telehealth options in the Medicaid program; expand
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to expand the use of telehealth options in the Medicaid program; to extend the temporary use of telehealth options during the pandemic emergency to a permanent status; to provide for certification and training of providers of medical assistance via telehealth options; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
You can make a difference today in the outcome of this bill!
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Department of; annual quality and payment reporting for health care plans and programs administered; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Health, so as to provide for annual quality and payment reporting for health care plans and programs administered by the department; to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to include comprehensive dental and vision coverage under Medicaid for adults; to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services; to provide for the submission of a state plan amendment or waiver, if necessary; to provide for related matters; to provide for contingent effectiveness; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
General Assembly; pilot program to evaluate whether health notes to assess the potential health impact by proposed legislation should be required by the General Assembly; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to the General Assembly, so as to provide for a pilot program to evaluate whether health notes to assess the potential health impact by proposed legislation should be required by the General Assembly; to provide for a definition; to provide for recommendations; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for other related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Self-funded Healthcare Plan Opt-in to the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to provide an option for self-funded healthcare plans, exempt from state regulation under federal law, to opt in to Georgia’s Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 11, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
Mental health; Department of Behavioral Health conduct or coordinate all audits of behavioral health providers; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relating to the governing and regulation of mental health, so as to provide that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities conduct or coordinate all audits of behavioral health providers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 2, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Professions and businesses; podiatry; amend a provision relating to fingerprint and criminal background checks
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 35 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to podiatry practice, so as to amend a provision relating to fingerprint and criminal background checks; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
March 3, 2021 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 24, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
The Maternity Supportive Housing Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to children and youth services, so as to provide for registration of maternity supportive housing residences to provide housing for pregnant women; to define a term; to provide for requirements; to prohibit additional rules and regulations; to prohibit constraints imposed by local governments; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 4, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; establish pilot program to conduct a simulated exchange for health care facilities to purchase and sell charity care credits to meet their charity care requirements; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the care and protection of indigent and elderly patients, so as to provide for the establishment of a pilot program to conduct a simulated exchange for health care facilities to purchase and sell charity care credits to meet their charity care requirements; to provide for definitions; to provide for the design of the simulated exchange; to provide for a report; to provide for penalties for nonparticipation; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 4, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Act; enact
heA BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 28 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to occupational therapists, so as to revise licensing provisions; to enter into an interstate compact known as the “Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact”; to authorize the State Board of Occupational Therapy to administer the compact in this state; to provide definitions; to provide for conditions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported |
February 23, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
Community Health, Department of; assess one or more provider matching payments on ambulance services; authorize
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to licenses for emergency medical services, so as to authorize the Department of Community Health to assess one or more provider matching payments on ambulance services for the purpose of obtaining federal financial participation for Medicaid; to provide for definitions; to provide for payment into the Indigent Care Trust Fund; to provide for penalties; to provide for the use of funds; to provide for inspection of records; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 24, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 8, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Education; tobacco and vapor products in course of instruction regarding alcohol and drugs; include
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum, so as to include tobacco and vapor products in the course of instruction regarding alcohol and drugs required each year for all students in grades kindergarten through 12; to revise implementation dates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 18, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Passed/Adopted |
Hospitals and nursing homes; policy during a declared public health emergency that limits patients’ abilities to be visited by designated family members and friends; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to prohibit hospitals and nursing homes from instituting any policy during a declared public health emergency that limits patients’ abilities to be visited by designated family members or friends as a condition precedent to obtaining or maintaining a permit to operate a hospital or nursing home; to provide for reasonable safety precautions; to provide for limited liability; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 8, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia Telehealth Act; revise
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to revise the “Georgia Telehealth Act”; to revise definitions; to authorize health care providers to provide telemedicine services from home; to authorize patients to receive telemedicine services from their home, workplace, or school; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
Pharmacies; increase pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio for providing direct supervision at any time
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 26-4-82 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to duties requiring professional judgment and responsibilities of a licensed pharmacist, so as to increase the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio for providing direct supervision at any time; to provide certain requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Insurance; health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to state and local governments to insure inmates and certain other persons in police custody; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to require health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to state and local governments to insure inmates and certain other persons in police custody; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Insurance; health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to hospitals to provide health insurance coverage for uninsured hospital patients; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to require health care insurers to offer group health benefit plans to hospitals to provide health insurance coverage for uninsured hospital patients; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Jarom’s Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency medical services personnel, so as to authorize the administration of hydrocortisone sodium succinate to patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia under certain conditions; to provide for definitions; to provide for requirements; to provide for immunity; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 10, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Controlled substances; Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V; change certain provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to controlled substances, so as to change certain provisions relating to Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V controlled substances; to change certain provisions relating to the definition of dangerous drug; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted |
February 24, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 23, 2021 |
House Passed/Adopted |
Physicians; job description submission to Georgia Composite Medical Board; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, assistants, and others, so as to provide that job descriptions entered into between physicians and physician assistants are not required to be submitted to or approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board; to authorize physicians to delegate the authority to physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances under certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; term limits for members of joint hospital authorities; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county and municipal hospital authorities, so as to provide for term limits for members of joint hospital authorities; to provide that joint hospital authorities that lease certain hospitals are subject to limitations on utilization of revenues; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia Women’s Care (Child Care Alternatives, Resources, and Education) Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrest by law enforcement officers generally, so as to revise provisions relating to the arrests of pregnant women; to provide that women who have been arrested are offered pregnancy testing upon detention; to enact a provision regarding delayed sentencing for postpartum female inmates; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inmate policies, so as to revise provisions relating to the treatment of pregnant and postpartum female inmates; to provide for the reporting of certain information; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Expanding Medicaid to Improve Health Outcomes for New Mothers Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to social services, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to newborns to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for amendments to the state plan if necessary; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program; repeal Article
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to repeal Article 2 of Chapter 2A, relating to the Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Vulnerable Child Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to prohibit certain licensed, certified, or registered professionals from engaging in certain acts upon minors; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for a penalty and private cause of action; to explicitly waive sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, and official immunity for such a private cause of action; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Date | Updates |
February 16, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; prohibit state or local governments from requiring individuals to submit to vaccinations as a condition to certain actions if the vaccine does not meet certain conditions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to prohibit state or local governments from requiring individuals to submit to vaccinations as a condition to certain actions if the vaccine does not meet certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Professions and businesses; licensure of advanced practice registered nurses; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to nurses, so as to provide for licensure of advanced practice registered nurses; to amend Code Section 16-13-72, Code Section 31-6-2, and Article 7 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the sale, distribution, or possession of dangerous drugs, definitions relative to state health planning and development, and home health agencies; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 and Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles and medical practice; to amend Code Section 43-26-5 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general powers and responsibilities of the Board of Nursing, so as to authorize the collection of workforce data; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Local government; continue certain contracts for health insurance for spouses or dependents of deceased peace officers; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to require counties and municipal corporations to continue, under certain circumstances, contracts for health insurance for spouses or dependents of peace officers who are killed or who otherwise die while acting within the scope of their employment; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
State employees’ health insurance plan; all contracts contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state employees’ health insurance plan, so as to require that all contracts for health care coverage or services under the state health benefit plan contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Social services; all contracts for health care coverage or services under Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids Program contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to require that all contracts for health care coverage or services under Medicaid and the PeachCare for Kids Program contain provisions relating to disclosure of cost related data; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Low THC Oil Patient Registry; authorize Department of Public Health to release deidentified data to government entities for research
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-2A-18 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Low THC Oil Patient Registry, so as to authorize the Department of Public Health to release deidentified data to government entities and other entities for research and other purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Insurance; certain coverage requirements concerning providers that become out-of-network during a plan year; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-20C-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to online provider directories, so as to provide for certain coverage requirements concerning providers that become out-of-network during a plan year; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 25, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia Composite Medical Board; require certain training relating to sexual misconduct for members
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, physician assistants, and others, so as to require certain training relating to sexual misconduct for members of the Georgia Composite Medical Board; to amend Chapter 34A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to patient right to know, so as to provide for annual reporting to the General Assembly of the number of physicians investigated or disciplined for the sexual assault of patients; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Governor; continued operation of businesses during a public health state of emergency if they comply with certain health and safety measures; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency powers of the governor, so as to provide for the continued operation of businesses during a public health state of emergency if they comply with certain health and safety measures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 26, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 17, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Controlled substances; provide for concurrent prescribing of an opioid antagonist with opioids under certain circumstances
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the regulation of controlled substances, so as to provide for concurrent prescribing of an opioid antagonist with opioids under certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 18, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 17, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Insurance; require certain insurers to make at least one reasonably priced comprehensive major medical health insurance policy available
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 30 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to group or blanket accident and sickness insurance, so as to require certain insurers to make at least one reasonably priced comprehensive major medical health insurance policy available to residents in this state without limitation or exclusion based on preexisting conditions; to condition such requirement on the repeal or judicial invalidation of certain provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 18, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Insurance; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; update references
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to update references to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
February 18, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Insurance; health care services; provide good faith estimates
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 and Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to health and insurance, respectively, so as to provide good faith estimates regarding the cost of health care services; to provide for definitions; to require health care providers to provide good faith estimates of costs and fees available to consumers upon request; to require health insurers to provide good faith estimates of costs available to consumers upon request; to provide for time limits; to prohibit the limitation of disclosure by contract; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 22, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia; institutional licenses; revise provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the “Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia,” so as to revise provisions relating to institutional licenses; to provide for a definition; to revise a provision relating to United States Drug Enforcement Administration registration; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 18, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Insurance; health care sharing ministries; change a definition
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to change a definition regarding health care sharing ministries; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, and computation of and exemptions from income taxes, so as to provide that a taxpayer may deduct the full amount paid for shares as a member of a health care sharing organization from Georgia taxable income; to provide a definition; to disallow related deductions; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to revise provisions relating to newborn screening for various disorders; to create the Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee to review and make recommendations to the department when a new disorder is added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel; to provide for requests for appropriations to cover new disorders; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Youth Mental Health Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to prohibit the practice of conversion therapy by professional counselors, physicians, or psychologists; to define “conversion therapy”; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Law enforcement officers and agencies; mental health operatives; provide training requirements
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and training of peace officers, so as to provide for training requirements for mental health operatives; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Mental health; grant program to establish assisted outpatient treatment programs; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, so as to provide for a grant program to establish assisted outpatient treatment programs for persons with mental illness who struggle to maintain engagement with essential mental health treatment; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Mental health; marriage and family therapists to perform certain acts which physicians and others are authorized to perform; authorize
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mental health, so as to authorize marriage and family therapists to perform certain acts which physicians, psychologists, and others are authorized to perform regarding emergency examinations of persons for involuntary evaluation and treatment for mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse; to define certain terms; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
February 24, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Torts; gross negligence standard in actions involving COVID-19 liability claims against healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, entities, and individuals; clarify
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 16 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to COVID-19 pandemic business safety, so as to clarify the gross negligence standard in actions involving COVID-19 liability claims against healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, entities, and individuals; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 24, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; provide for authorized electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to care and protection of indigent and elderly patients, so as to provide for authorized electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities; to provide for definitions; to provide consent requirements; to provide for notice to the facility; to provide for relocation of a resident to another room; to provide for installation and costs; to provide for notice to visitors; to prohibit obstruction or destruction of electronic monitoring devices; to provide for protection of privacy rights; to provide for limited liability; to provide for a notification and consent form; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 24, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Professions and businesses; athletic trainers; revise and update definitions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to athletic trainers, so as to revise and update definitions; to eliminate obsolete provisions; to require athletic training students to be under the direct supervision of a physician or licensed athletic trainer; to revise and update certification requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 25, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Health; criminal background checks on individuals independently retained to provide personal care services for elderly persons who reside in a personal care home or assisted living facility; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 14A of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the central caregiver registry, so as to provide for criminal background checks on individuals independently retained to provide personal care services for elderly persons who reside in a personal care home or assisted living facility; to revise definitions; to provide for procedures and notification; to provide for limited liability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 26, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 25, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Health; sale and dispensing of contact lenses; eliminate certain restrictions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to eliminate certain restrictions on the sale and dispensing of contact lenses; to revise definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Medical assistance; authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for the authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; to require certain action; to provide for certain restrictions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Health; persons to wear masks, hoods, or other devices to prevent the spread of a contagious or infectious disease during and for 12 months following the conclusion of a public health emergency; authorize
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to authorize persons to wear masks, hoods, or other devices to prevent the spread of a contagious or infectious disease during and for 12 months following the conclusion of a public health emergency; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the O.C.G.A., relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to transfer the direction and supervision of Georgia Industries for the Blind from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to the commission; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; visitation by essential visitors to patients in hospitals and residents in long-term care facilities; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to provide for visitation by essential visitors to patients in hospitals and residents in long-term care facilities; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations by the Department of Community Health; to provide for conforming policies by hospitals and long-term care facilities; to provide for sanctions for noncompliance; to provide that the Governor is not authorized to waive the provisions in a declared public health emergency; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Inmate Mental Health Act; enact
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Narcotic treatment programs; licensing; revise composition of regions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 26-5-48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prerequisites to licensing narcotic treatment programs, waivers, and creation of regions, so as to revise the composition of the regions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
March 3, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the O.C.G.A., relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to transfer the direction and supervision of Georgia Industries for the Blind from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to the commission; to amend Chapter 9 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the transfer of the Division of Rehabilitation Services to the Department of Labor, so as to establish the role of the commission in facilitating the operation by blind persons and other persons with disabilities of vending facilities on state property; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
March 3, 2021 |
House First Readers |
Community Health, Department of; notify the applicable local law enforcement agencies; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to drug abuse treatment and education programs, so as to require the Department of Community Health to notify the applicable local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, licensing departments, and planning and zoning departments upon issuance of a license to operate a drug abuse treatment and education program that is a residential care center; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health care data collection; hospitals maintain certain technology; provisions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 12 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health care data collection, so as to require hospitals to participate in a survey disclosing whether such hospitals maintain technology allowing the electronic sharing of certain patient information with other hospitals; to provide for definitions; to provide that the department shall collect the survey results and submit a report to the legislature; to provide for repeal; to require the use of certified electronic health technology by certain hospitals; to provide for rule and regulation; to provide for applicability; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
Mental health; authorization of peace officers to take a person to a physician or emergency receiving facility for emergency examination under certain circumstances; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to examination and treatment for mental illness, so as to provide for authorization of peace officers to take a person to a physician or emergency receiving facility for emergency examination under certain circumstances; to provide for immunity; to provide for reports; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
March 3, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to enact the “Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act”; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for definitions; to require perinatal facilities in this state to implement evidence based implicit bias programs for its health care professionals; to require certain components in such programs; to provide for initial and refresher training; to provide for the compilation and tracking of data on severe maternal morbidity and pregnancy related deaths; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 8, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
March 3, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Medicaid; coverage for doula services provided to an expectant mother; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid coverage for doula services provided to an expectant mother; to provide for a definition; to provide that doulas are considered providers of medical assistance; to require the Department of Community Health to submit a state plan amendment for coverage of antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum services; to provide for minimum reimbursement rates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Health; hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 9, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Education; wraparound services in the multi-tiered system of supports to be provided prior to expelling or assigning a student in preschool through third grade to out-of-school suspension for more than five consecutive days during a school year; include
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Social services; temporary assistance for needy families; increase access to benefits
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to temporary assistance for needy families, so as to increase access to benefits; to increase the lifetime maximum for benefits; to provide that assets are disregarded in determining eligibility; to repeal the drug felony ban for eligibility; to repeal the family cap on benefits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Psychiatric Advance Directive Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, so as to provide for a psychiatric advance directive; to provide for a competent adult to express his or her mental health care treatment preferences and desires directly through instructions written in advance and indirectly through appointing an agent to make mental health care decisions on behalf of that person; to amend Titles 16, 29, 31, 37, and 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, guardian and ward, health, mental health, and social services, respectively, so as to provide for interaction and relationship with advance directives for health care; to provide for application; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for conforming references and consistent terminology; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Hopper |
Insurance; life insurers to provide certain policy information to funeral homes within 24 hours of receipt of the funeral home’s notification of an insured’s death; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to require life insurers to provide certain policy information to funeral homes within 24 hours of receipt of the funeral home’s notification of an insured’s death; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Georgia Community Midwife Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to repeal in its entirety Chapter 26, relating to the practice of midwifery; to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the licensure and regulation of community midwives; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to amend Code Section 43-26-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exceptions to the operation of the “Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act,” so as to provide for an exception relating to the practice of midwifery; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Evidence; voluntary open communications related to healthcare; allow
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical and other confidential information, so as to allow for voluntary open communications related to healthcare under rules of evidence; to provide for definitions; to provide that certain open communications shall not be subject to future disclosure; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Sales and use tax; certain menstrual products; create exemption
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sales and use taxes, so as to create an exemption from state sales and use tax for certain menstrual products; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Prescription Drug Rebate Financial Protection Act; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to require all health insurers to pass along no less than 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to enrollees that such insurer receives from third parties with regard to such enrollee’s prescription drugs; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Medical assistance; Medicaid coverage for medically necessary donor human milk; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid coverage for medically necessary donor human milk; to provide for submittal of a state plan amendment or waiver request, if necessary; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Joint Study Committee on Childhood Lead Exposure; create
Racism; public health crisis in Georgia; declare
A RESOLUTION declaring racism a public health crisis in Georgia; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 4, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
House Study Committee on Health in Georgia; create
A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Health in Georgia; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 4, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
House Study Committee on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to Improve the Health of Women and Children; create
A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to Improve the Health of Women and Children; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 17, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Joint Medicaid Sustainability Study Committee; create
A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Medicaid Sustainability Study Committee; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Medicaid; expansion; urge
A RESOLUTION urging for the expansion of Medicaid; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 23, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; creation; support
A RESOLUTION supporting the creation of a State Workgroup to Increase Chronic Disease Information and Screenings in Communities of Color; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
House Study Committee on the Safe Staffing of Nurses in Georgia; create
A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on the Safe Staffing of Nurses in Georgia; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 1, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Georgia All-Payer Claims Database; entities that receive certain tax credits; self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-53-40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database, so as to provide that entities that receive certain tax credits and that provide self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans are submitting entities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Date | Updates |
January 12, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
January 12, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Programs; patient brokering; prohibit; definitions; exceptions; penalties; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 26 of the O.C.G.A., relating to drug abuse treatment and education programs, so as to prohibit patient brokering; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for penalties; to provide for enforcement; to provide for venue; to provide for reasonable expenses; to provide for cumulative actions; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to provide that excessive, fraudulent, or high-tech drug testing of certain individuals is considered a fraudulent insurance act; to provide for investigation by the Commissioner of Insurance; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 11, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
Professions and Businesses; patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; to provide for patients under conscious sedation in dental settings and for dental procedures in medispas; to provide for patients under varying levels of sedation in physician offices and medispas; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for enforcement; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 17, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
Hospitals and other Health Care Facilities; hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
January 26, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Noncovered Eye Care Services Act
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-6-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the enumeration of unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices and penalty, so as to provide that certain actions by health care insurers offering eye care benefit plans constitute unfair trade practices; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 18, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
“Noncovered Eye Care Services Act”; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-6-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the enumeration of unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices and penalty, so as to provide that certain actions by health care insurers offering eye care benefit plans constitute unfair trade practices; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Certain medical personnel to administer vaccines during public health emergencies under certain conditions
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to authorize certain medical personnel to administer vaccines during public health emergencies under certain conditions; to provide for vaccination information to third parties under certain public health conditions; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical practice, so as to revise certain provisions relating to the administration of vaccines under vaccine protocol agreements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
February 18, 2021 |
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
Program of premium assistance to enable eligible individuals to obtain health care coverage
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for a program of premium assistance to enable eligible individuals to obtain health care coverage; to provide for definitions; to require personal responsibility premiums from eligible individuals; to provide for a compliance pool; to provide for any necessary state plan amendments or federal waivers; to provide for termination of the program under certain circumstances; to provide for the Legislative Oversight Committee for Health Care Premium Assistance; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
‘Georgia Family Medical Leave Act’; enact
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 34 of the O.C.G.A., relating to labor and industrial relations, so as to provide for the creation of a program to compensate in part for the wage loss sustained by any individual who is unable to work due to such individual’s own sickness or injury, the sickness or injury of a family member, or the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child; to create the Family Medical Leave Fund; to provide for contributions to such fund; to provide for filing determination and payment of claims; to provide for the promulgation of rules and regulations by the Department of Labor; to provide for related matters; to provide a contingent effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
“Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act”; enact
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 3, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 3, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
February 2, 2021 |
Senate Hopper |
Emergency Medical Services; prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; clarify
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency medical services, so as to clarify that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to also clarify that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
Senate Read Second Time |
Public Assistance; Medicaid public option program to provide healthcare coverage to individuals not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or the PeachCare for Kids Program; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to provide for a Medicaid public option program to provide healthcare coverage to individuals not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or the PeachCare for Kids Program; to provide for definitions; to provide for the establishment of the PeachCare Public Option Program; to provide requirements for the design of the program; to provide requirements for the administration and implementation of the program; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a design and actuarial study; to provide for contingent effectiveness and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 4, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Health; local boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no charge to the students; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to require local boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no charge to the students; to authorize the Department of Education to promulgate model policies and guidance for local boards of education; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Date | Updates |
February 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; diagnostic examinations for breast cancer shall not be treated less favorably than screening examinations for breast cancer with respect to cost-sharing requirements and treatment limitations; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to provide that diagnostic examinations for breast cancer shall not be treated less favorably than screening examinations for breast cancer with respect to cost-sharing requirements and treatment limitations; to provide for definitions; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Date | Updates |
February 8, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the O.C.G.A., relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to transfer the direction and supervision of Georgia Industries for the Blind from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to the commission; to amend Chapter 9 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the transfer of the Division of Rehabilitation Services to the Department of Labor, so as to establish the role of the commission in facilitating the operation by blind persons and other persons with disabilities of vending facilities on state property; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
Senate Read Second Time |
February 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Health; licensure and regulation of community midwives; ‘Georgia Community Midwife Act’
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health, so as to repeal in its entirety Chapter 26, relating to the practice of midwifery; to amend Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the licensure and regulation of community midwives; to amend Code Section 43-26-12 of the O.C.G.A., relating to exceptions to the operation of the “Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act,” so as to provide for an exception relating to the practice of midwifery; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 9, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Children and Youth Services; registration of maternity supportive house residences to provide housing for pregnant women; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to children and youth services, so as to provide for registration of maternity supportive housing residences to provide housing for pregnant women; to define a term; to provide for requirements; to prohibit additional rules and regulations; to prohibit constraints imposed by local governments; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 3, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 18, 2021 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute |
HIV Tests; modernization of HIV related laws to align with science; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-11-471, Title 16, and Code Section 31-22-9.1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to definitions relative to juvenile delinquency, crimes and offenses, and who may perform HIV tests, respectively, so as to provide for the modernization of HIV related laws to align with science to ensure that laws and policies support current understanding of best public health practices for preventing and treating HIV, scientific evidence about routes of transmission, and the public health goals of promoting HIV prevention and treatment; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 10, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
February 16, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to require health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other matters.
Date | Updates |
February 16, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Medical Assistance; authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for the authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; to provide for certain restrictions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 16, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Insurance; health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; require
Medicaid Coverage for Lactation and Postpartum Care; Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 49-4-159 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Medicaid coverage for lactation and postpartum care, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Insurance; out-of-pocket cost of consumers requiring insulin; reduce
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to reduce out-of-pocket cost of consumers requiring insulin; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 16, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; fully funded services to individuals on the New Options Waiver (NOW) or Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) waiting list; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities regarding the governing and regulation of mental health, so as to require the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to provide fully funded services over a five-year period to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities who are on the New Options Waiver (NOW) or Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) waiting list; to prohibit the department from capping or limiting community living support services under the COMP waiver; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative findings; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 22, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Regulation of Hospitals; certified medication aides to administer certain medications to nursing home residents; authorize
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to authorize certified medication aides to administer certain medications to nursing home residents under certain circumstances; to provide criteria and requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
February 22, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Offenses Against Public Order; offense of wearing a mask, hood, or device which conceals the identity of the wearer; revise
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to revise the offense of wearing a mask, hood, or device which conceals the identity of the wearer; to clarify application; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Date | Updates |
March 5, 2021 |
House Second Readers |
County Boards of Health; comprehensive reorganization; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 12, Code Section 16-12-4, Code Section 19-11-9, Chapter 2 of Title 26, Title 31, and Code Section 43-18-75 of the O.C.G.A., relating to conservation and natural resources, cruelty to animals, location of absent parents by department, standards, labeling, and adulteration of food, health, and inspections, suspension or revocation of license, and other disciplinary actions, respectively, so as to provide for the reorganization of county boards of health; to revise the powers of county boards of health; to authorize the Department of Public Health to select district health directors; to provide for qualifications of district health directors; to authorize the commissioner of public health to select chief medical officers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Health; pilot program to fund rural birthing centers associated with hospitals with emergency departments; provide
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to provide for a pilot program to fund rural birthing centers associated with hospitals with emergency departments; to define a term; to provide for the solicitation of grants of funding; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a report; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Racial Equity and Reconciliation Commission of Georgia; create
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to create the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Commission of Georgia; to provide for membership and operation; to provide for an executive director; to provide for an advisory committee; to provide for duties; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Education; testing of drinking water in child care learning centers and schools for lead contamination; require
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to require testing of drinking water in child care learning centers and schools for lead contamination; to provide for definitions; to provide for notice and reporting of test results and remediation plans; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for an exemption; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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COVID-19; include within the meaning of occupational disease for essential workers
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 8 of Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to compensation for occupational disease, so as to include COVID-19 within the meaning of occupational disease for essential workers; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
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Family Medical Leave Fund; create
A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to create the Family Medical Leave Fund; to authorize the dedication of certain revenues to be deposited into such fund; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 1, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |
Joint PeaceCare Public Option Study Committee; create
A RESOLUTION creating the Joint PeachCare Public Option Study Committee; and for other purposes.
Date | Updates |
February 25, 2021 |
Senate Read and Referred |