Archives: Bills

SB 170 would create the Georgia Interagency Council for the Homeless; to provide for the purpose, membership, and duties of such council; to provide for reporting of activities; to provide for compensation; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

House Bill 268 proposes a range of policies to improve student safety, mental health, and well-being in Georgia’s elementary and secondary schools. The bill includes funding for school-based mental health coordinators, new student behavioral assessments, and expanded school safety measures. It also enhances information sharing between schools, law enforcement, and state agencies to improve student support and security.

Key details:

• Mental Health Coordinators: School districts could receive state grants to hire mental health coordinators to support students and provide training on behavioral health.

• Behavioral and Suicide Prevention Training: All teachers would be required to receive annual training in youth violence and suicide awareness. Middle and high school students would receive at least one hour of evidence-based suicide and violence prevention training per year.

• Student Behavioral Threat Assessments & Management: Among other actions to manage potential threats, the bill creates a statewide threat assessment database (School and Student Safety Database, or S3 Database) to help schools identify and track potential threats.

• Student Records & Data Sharing: Schools, law enforcement, and state agencies would have expanded access to student education and behavioral records to better coordinate support for students with behavioral health needs.

• Public School Law Enforcement Agreements: Any law enforcement officers working in schools must have clear agreements outlining how they handle student information and disciplinary matters.

• Parental Rights & School Transfers: Parents must provide behavioral and disciplinary history for students transferring into schools.

• Mandatory Mental Health Screenings for At-Risk Students: The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) would recommend standardized mental health screening assessments for schools.

SB 233 would revise the subcommittees; to extend the automatic repeal date; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 192 would require the Department of Insurance to implement a certain insurance affordability program in response to the pending expiration of certain Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act tax credits; to provide for definitions; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; 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.

SB 262 would provide for health benefit policies to cover preventive services; to provide for definitions; to prohibit cost-sharing requirements; to protect the eligibility of health savings accounts; to provide for review by the Commissioner of Insurance; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 360 would provide for a public option buy-in program to provide healthcare coverage to individuals not eligible for Medicaid coverage or enrollment through a health exchange; to provide for definitions; to provide requirements for the program; to provide for any necessary state plan amendments or waivers; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION creating the Senate Study Committee on a Single-payer Healthcare Program; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Improving Access to Internal Medicine in Rural Areas; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health; and for other purposes.

SB 367 would provide an exemption for health care facilities, services, and equipment dedicated exclusively to the treatment of cancer; to provide for conditions; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.