Daily report, 2022 March 4

Friday March 4,
2022

DAILY REPORT 24th Legislative Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

The House will reconvene for its 25th Legislative Day on Tuesday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. Nine bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 1 Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 1 creates the 'Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act.' The bill provides that the unrestricted outdoor areas of the campuses of the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia's institutions are public forums for their campus communities. The institutions shall not prohibit expressive activities in those areas or designate any campus areas as a "free speech zone". Institutions may maintain and enforce restrictions for expression so long as the restrictions are narrowly tailored to serve a significant institutional interest and employ criteria that is clear, published, neutral, and provides ample alternative means for expression. Restrictions must also allow the community to assemble spontaneously and to distribute literature.
Individuals may engage in expressive activities that do not materially and substantially disrupt the functions of the institution. Disruptions do not include conduct protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The bill does not prevent an institution from prohibiting student-onstudent harassment or unlawful activities.
Policies, regulations, and expectations of student expression on campus will be made public by the institution. The institutions will also develop materials, programs, and procedures regarding student expression for all individuals responsible for the education or discipline of students.
The State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia shall publish an annual report related to its actions on free expression. The report will be shared with the governor and General Assembly on July 1 of each year.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Josh Bonner (72nd) Higher Education
Yeas: 93 Nays: 62

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1084 Education; curricula or training programs which encourage certain concepts; prevent use of
Bill Summary: House Bill 1084 creates the 'Protect Students First Act' which prevents the use of and reliance on curricula or training programs in state public schools which espouse "divisive concepts," such as: one race is inherently superior to another race; the United States of America is fundamentally racist; an individual, by virtue of their race, is inherently racist or oppressive toward individuals of other races; an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of their race; an individual bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other individuals of the same race; an individual should feel anguish or any other form of psychological distress because of his or her race; meritocracies are racist or were created by individuals of one race

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Today on the Floor

to oppress individuals of another race; any other form of race scapegoating or race stereotyping.

No later than August 1, 2022, each local board of education is to adopt a complaint resolution policy to address complaints alleging violations of this new policy. Within three school days of receiving a written complaint, the school principal, or their designee, will determine whether the alleged violation occurred and communicate that decision as well as remedial steps to the complainant within five days. The school principal's determinations will be reviewed by the local school superintendent, or their designee, within 14 days of receiving a written request, and their decision is subject to review by the local board of education or the State Charter Schools Commission.

Decisions may be appealed to the State Board of Education who shall make written findings of any violations. In cases where a local school system has been granted one or more waivers, the State Board of Education will immediately suspend one or more waivers in the local school system's contract. In cases where a school system has not been granted a waiver, the state school superintendent will determine whether to exercise their suspension authority.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Will Wade (9th) Education
Yeas: 92 Nays: 63

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-23-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1178 Parents' Bill of Rights; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 1178 establishes the 'Parents' Bill of Rights' and states that it is the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing and education of their minor children. The bill certifies that no state or local government entity, local board of education, or any officer, employee, or agent thereof may infringe on the fundamental right of a parent without the action being reasonable and necessary to achieve a narrowly tailored, compelling state interest and is otherwise served by less restrictive means. The fundamental rights of parents include: the right to direct the moral and religious upbringing of their minor child; the right to review all instructional materials intended for use in the classroom of their minor child; the right to apply to enroll their minor child into a public or private school, or other available options; the right to access and review all records relating to their child unless prohibited by law; the right to access information relating to promotion and retention policies and high school graduation requirements; and the right to consent in writing before a photograph, video, or voice recording of their child is made.

Each governing body, in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators, will develop and adopt a policy or regulation to promote parental involvement in public schools. The policy will include procedures for a parent to fulfill all the parts of their fundamental rights, as listed above.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Josh Bonner (72nd) Education
Yeas: 98 Nays: 68

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-23-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1183 Criminal procedure; increase time allotted to try a criminal case in judicial emergencies; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1183 revises the timeline for remission of bonds in criminal cases from payment of judgment to entry of judgment and may consider whether any delay by the surety prevented the prosecution of the accused.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Stan Gunter (8th) Judiciary Non-Civil
Yeas: 157 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1352 Property; provide for handling of certain wills
Bill Summary: House Bill 1352 provides processes related to the disposition of unclaimed property as it pertains to the Department of Revenue. If a will, codicil, or other trust instrument is among the

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contents of a safe-deposit box, the commissioner shall retain those documents unless they can be delivered to the testator/settlor upon confirmation of identity; delivered to the probate court; permitted to be removed; or delivered to the trustee. A claimant's designated representative may file a claim if he/she claims an interest in any property to be considered by the commissioner and upon approval, the claimant's designated representative swill be paid the balance remaining after deduction. When determining the merits of an unclaimed property claim, the commissioner shall rely on applicable statutes, regulations, and court decisions. The burden is on the claimant to establish entitlement to the property by a preponderance of the evidence. Upon request, the commissioner will provide a claimant's designated representative with relevant account information in a searchable digital format for all unclaimed accounts, with this information being prohibited from distribution. A claimant's designated representative shall register with the commissioner and pay a $1,200 fee for a four-year registration.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Vance Smith (133rd) Judiciary
Yeas: 115 Nays: 47

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-24-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1377 Income tax; equitable relief regarding failure of employers to comply with revenue provisions regarding employees; authorize private causes of action
Bill Summary: House Bill 1377 authorizes a civil cause of action for injunctive relief without having to show special or irreparable damage in the event that a non-government employer fails to properly deduct and withhold from wages as required by Georgia income tax law. The court shall award costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, to the prevailing party.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. James Burchett (176th) Judiciary
Yeas: 157 Nays: 4

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-24-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 472 Public Service Commission; description of the election districts for members; change
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 472 changes the description of the election districts for members of the Public Service Commission.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. John Kennedy (18th) Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Yeas: 97 Nays: 68

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2022 Do Pass

Postponed Until Next Legislative Day
HB 1194 Motor vehicles; federal regulations regarding safe operation of commercial motor vehicles and carriers; update reference date
Bill Summary: House Bill 1194 is the annual update to the 'Uniform Carriers Act.' It updates the effective date from January 1, 2021, to January 1, 2022, to comply with federal law.

Authored By: Rep. Clint Crowe (110th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

HB 1351 Community Health, Department of; pharmacy benefits management for Medicaid program; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1351 requires the Department of Community Health to provide the pharmacy benefits for Medicaid members enrolled in a care management organization (CMO), starting on or after July 1, 2024. The department is to reduce a CMO's contract term payment by 7.5 percent of the CMO's net underwriting gain for the July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, contract year in order to offset costs incurred in program implementation.

Authored By: Rep. David Knight (130th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

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Today on the Floor

Local Calendar
HB 1407 Dawson, City of; increase terms of office for future mayors and councilmembers to four years
Bill Summary: House Bill 1407 increases the terms of office for the future mayor and councilmembers of the city of Dawson.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

HB 1431 City of Rincon Community Improvement Districts Act; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 1431 provides for the creation of one or more community improvement districts in the city of Rincon.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

HB 1432 Dawson County; Board of Elections; provide for appointment of fifth member
Bill Summary: House Bill 1432 provides for the appointment of the fifth member of the Dawson County Board of Elections and Registration.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Will Wade (9th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

HB 1444 Coweta Judicial Circuit; Superior Court; change supplemental salaries for judges
Bill Summary: House Bill 1444 changes the supplemental salaries of the judges of the Coweta Judicial Circuit. Carroll County shall pay $18,000 per year per judge; Coweta County shall pay $17,000 per year per judge; Heard County shall pay $2,000 per year per judge; Meriwether County shall pay $3,500 per year per judge; and Troup County shall pay $9,500 per year per judge.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Randy Nix (69th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

HB 1463 Dougherty County; levy an excise tax
Bill Summary: House Bill 1463 authorizes the governing authority of Dougherty County to levy an excise tax.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

HB 1466 Dougherty County; Magistrate Court; impose and collect county law library fees
Bill Summary: House Bill 1466 authorizes the Dougherty County Magistrate Court to impose and collect county law library fees.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

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HB 1469 Jefferson, City of; fully replace current charter Bill Summary: House Bill 1469 fully replaces the current charter of the city of Jefferson.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Tommy Benton (31st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

HB 1470 Gilmer County; levy an excise tax
Bill Summary: House Bill 1470 authorizes the governing authority of Gilmer County to levy an excise tax.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. David Ralston (7th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

HB 1472 Kennesaw, City of; corporate limits; change provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 1472 changes the provisions relating to the corporate limits of the city of Kennesaw.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Devan Seabaugh (34th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

SB 547 Carrollton Board of Education; the description of the education wards; change
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 547 changes the description of the education wards of the Carrollton Independent School System.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Mike Dugan (30th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

SB 548

City of Carrollton, Georgia; exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Georgia Constitution; authorize
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 548 authorizes the city of Carrollton to exercise all redevelopment powers found in Code and the Constitution.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Mike Dugan (30th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

SB 549 City of Carrollton; description of the election wards for the city council; change
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 549 changes the description of the election wards for the Carrollton City Council.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Mike Dugan (30th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 147 Nays: 11

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-03-2022 Do Pass

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Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 25th Legislative Day, Tuesday, March 8, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, March 8, at
9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 26th Legislative Day.
HB 1013 Mental Health Parity Act; enact
Bill Summary:
Part I: 'Georgia Mental Health Parity Act' House Bill 1013 requires that all health care insurance plans provide coverage for mental health treatment or substance use disorders in any managed care plan offered and must do so in accordance with the federal 'Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.' Health care entities must also provide an annual comparative analysis report to the insurance commissioner, which will be available on the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire's (OCI) website. The commissioner is to ensure compliance with mental health parity requirements among health care entities and establish a process for addressing complaints about mental health parity violations. A mental health parity officer is appointed by the commissioner. The commissioner will make reasonable efforts to provide culturally and linguistically sensitive materials for consumers through the complaint process.
The bill revises the definition of "department" to reference OCI rather than the Department of Community Health in the existing Act. Further, this bill creates a new definition for "generally accepted standards of mental health or substance use disorder care" and defines it as standards of care and clinical practice recognized by certain specialty health care providers, including psychiatry, psychology, clinical sociology, addiction medicine and counseling, and behavioral health treatment. Additionally, the definition specifies valid, evidence-based sources of accepted standards of mental health or substance use disorder care. The definition of "medical necessity," "medically-necessary care," or "medically necessary and appropriate" is also revised to include behavioral health services that screen, prevent, diagnose, manage, or treat an illness.
HB 1013 requires that all state health care entities provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorders to the same degree as the treatment for a physical illness, and coverage extends to a spouse and dependent(s) covered under a plan. Health care entities must provide annual comparative analysis reports to the Department of Community Health (DCH) commissioner, which will be available on the department's website. The DCH commissioner is to perform parity-compliance reviews of state health care entities on an annual basis, which will be posted on the department's website, as well as establish a process for addressing complaints about mental health parity violations.
The DCH and OCI commissioners are required to make reasonable efforts to provide culturally and linguistically sensitive materials to consumers through the complaint process.
Care management organizations (CMOs) are required to maintain a minimum 85 percent medical loss ratio (MLR) or a higher minimum established in a contract between DCH and CMOs. If the minimum ratio is not met, the CMO must provide a remittance of the amount determined by DCH. DCH will post on its website the aggregate MLR for all CMOs, the MLR for each CMO, and required remittances.
Part II: Workforce and System Development The bill authorizes service cancelable educational loans for Georgia residents enrolled in educational training for pediatrics, family medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, mental health, substance use, clinical nurse specialist in mental health, or other clinicians or specialists recommended by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Loans are conditional on the student agreeing to practice as a professional within an approved geographical area of the state.
The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce is required to create a Behavioral Health Care Workforce Data Base to collect and analyze surveys for behavioral healthcare professional applicants
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and licensees. Licensing boards will require these surveys to be completed by professionals upon licensure, and the surveys must include the professional's demographics, practice status, education and training, specialties, average hours worked per week, percent of practice engaged in direct care, retirement plan if retiring in the next five years, child and adolescent specialized training, information on accepting new patients, and types of accepted insurance including Medicaid and Medicare.
Part III: Assisted Outpatient Treatment HB 1013 creates a three-year assisted outpatient treatment grant program to establish the efficacy of the assisted outpatient treatment model in Georgia.
The bill defines "assisted outpatient treatment" as involuntary outpatient care provided by a community service board or a private provider in collaboration with other community partners in order to: identify current residents who qualify as outpatients; establish procedures that lead to a petition being filed in the appropriate probate court when an individual is believed to be an outpatient; provide evidence-based treatment and case management under an individualized plan; safeguard the due process rights of those alleged to require and those civilly committed to involuntary outpatient care; establish communication between the court and providers; continually evaluate each care plan and respond to non-compliance; partner with law enforcement agencies to provide an alternative to the arrest, incarceration, and prosecution of individuals who may qualify as outpatients; and maintain a patient's connection to treatment services upon transition to voluntary outpatient care.
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) will establish a grant program for the implementation of assisted outpatient treatment and provide three years of funding, technical support, and oversight to five grantees. The grantees must be a collaboration between community service boards or private providers, probate courts or other courts with jurisdiction, and sheriffs' offices. The bill outlines the process for the application and award of the grants. An assisted outpatient treatment unit is created within DBHDD to supervise, coordinate, and support grantees. The assisted outpatient treatment unit is also tasked with establishing a statewide repository of information on individuals with behavioral health issues who: have had high services utilization, involuntary or assisted outpatient treatment orders, or guardianships; are currently incarcerated or have had multiple incarcerations; or have had multiple long-term hospitalizations, behavioral health emergency services, or encounters with law enforcement. The DBHDD is also required to establish an 11-member Assisted Outpatient Treatment Advisory Council to consult and provide advice, feedback, and recommendations to the department.
HB 1013 requires the department to contract with a third-party organization prior to awarding the grants in order to evaluate the program and its effectiveness. The grantees must provide the required information to the third-party organization, and the department must contractually require the thirdparty organization to produce a report and send it to the governor and the chairpersons of the respective House and Senate committees by December 31, 2025.
The definition of "inpatient" is amended by removing "imminent" in relation to the risk of harm an individual poses to themselves or others and replacing "imminently" with "a reasonable expectation that" a life-endangering crisis or a significant psychiatric deterioration will occur in the near future, is reasonably likely to improve from inpatient treatment, will not benefit from alternatives, and declines voluntary inpatient treatment.
Current statute states that when a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that an individual is mentally ill and requiring involuntary treatment, the officer is able to take that person to a physician or emergency-receiving facility for an examination. HB 1013 states that the officer does not need to formally charge an individual with committing a crime before taking them to the provider and adds mobile crisis teams to this clause. The law enforcement agency and mobile crisis team are responsible for ensuring the person's initial safety and security during the emergency examination. The emergency-receiving facility is required to coordinate subsequent transportation relating to the emergency treatment with law enforcement or an ambulance or non-emergency transport provider.
Part IV: Mental Health Courts and Corrections The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will create a grant program to fund accountability courts serving the mental health and co-occurring substance use disorder population to implement gender-
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specific trauma treatment and an employee to issue technical assistance to the courts. Funds can also be used for emergency transportation costs associated with emergency receiving, evaluation, and treatment.
HB 1013 adds to the list of authorized expenditures of the County Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Fund to include drug abuse treatment and education programs relating to controlled substances, alcohol, and marijuana for adults and children. Additionally, the fund can be used by a mental health court division that serves those with co-occurring substance use disorders.
The bill expands the powers and duties of the Office of Health Strategy and Coordination (OHSC) to: partner with the Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice to evaluate mental health wraparound services to meet client needs in the state reentry plan; partner with the Department of Community Supervision to evaluate the ability to share mental health data between agencies in order to facilitate tracking and treating people under community supervision who receive communitybased mental health services; coordinate mental health policy across state agencies; develop and implement a solution to ensure appropriate health care services and supports; oversee coordination of behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and adults by monitoring plans to expand access to children's behavioral health services across the state. OHSC is also required to conduct a survey or study on emergency psychiatric transportation to identify the transportation methods used across the state. The DBHDD commissioner is to provide a publicly available annual report to support this effort, and periodically identify nationally available clearinghouses of related research and best practices for schools and practitioners. The OHSC is to partner with community service boards to ensure that behavioral health services are being made available, establish an advisory committee, and examine ways to increase certified peer specialists in rural and other underserved or unserved communities.
HB 1013 creates a task force to coordinate activities and assist local communities in keeping patients with severe mental illness out of jails and detention facilities. The task force is appointed by the governor and comprised of state and local officials, experts, and stakeholders. The DBHDD is to create a statewide technical assistance center, which serves as a clearinghouse to share information across counties and provides planning and implementation grants, when funding is available, to local authorities to support the implementation of the initiatives. The task force will submit an annual report with recommendations to the governor, General Assembly, OHSC, and Behavioral Reform and Innovation Commission.
A network of local co-response teams is to be implemented to increase access to pre-arrest diversion and connect those that come into contact with law enforcement with community-based services. Teams must consist of at least one peace officer and one trained behavioral health professional who respond to emergency calls for interactions involving a person in a behavioral health crisis. A minimum of three to five teams are to be implemented in geographically-diverse areas. Additional teams will be developed depending on the success of the initial teams after one year. The co-response teams are required to undergo cultural sensitivity training and use culturally and linguistically capable personnel or materials for interactions as appropriate and practicable.
The Mental Health Courts and Corrections Subcommittee of the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission is authorized to submit recommendations to DBHDD regarding the development and future expansion of the program and continue exploring community supervision strategies. The Mental Health Courts and Corrections Subcommittee of the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission is also tasked with continuing to explore community supervision strategies for individuals with mental illnesses.
HB 1013 adds the following persons to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council: the commissioner of the Department of Early Care and Learning; the commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia; a behavioral-health expert employed by the University System of Georgia and designated by the chancellor of the university system; the state's child advocate; an expert on infant and early-childhood mental health appointed by the governor; an expert on child and adolescent health appointed by the governor; and a pediatrician appointed by the governor.

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Part V: Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health DBHDD is to provide the following annual reports to OHSC: complaints made by individuals receiving behavioral health services; status of housing placements and needs; programs designed to serve disabled infants, children, and youth; and performance and fiscal status of each community service board.

HB 1013 clarifies that community service boards provide mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases services to both adults and children.

A task force within DCH is established to assess various items, including postpartum Medicaid coverage extension, Medicaid billing codes for behavioral health services for young children, and mental and behavioral health care support for children in foster care, adoption, and juvenile justice populations. The task force will also evaluate best practices for community behavioral health service reimbursements.

The bill adds a deadline of October 1, 2024, for the creation of a statewide system for sharing data between various state agencies for the purposes of the care and protection of children.

The Multi-Agency Treatment for Children (MATCH) team is established within the Department of Human Services and is composed of members from the following agencies: the Division of Family and Children Services; the Department of Juvenile Justice; the Department of Early Care and Learning; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Community Health; the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; the Department of Education; the Office of the Child Advocate; and the Department of Corrections. The MATCH team facilitates cross-agency collaboration to explore resources and solutions for the treatment needs of children.

Part VI: Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission HB 1013 requires DCH to study and submit a report by December 31, 2022, for its insurance programs (Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, and the State Health Benefit Plan) that compares reimbursement rates for mental health services to other states; reviews reimbursing providers of mental health care services; allows for same-day reimbursement for patients seeking more than one provider in a day; and provides an accurate accounting of mental health fund distribution across state agencies.

The bill requires the Georgia Data Analytic Center's administrator to prepare an annual unified report of suspected mental health parity violations with data received from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire and the Department of Community Health.

The bill also requires DCH to provide Medicaid coverage for any prescription prescribed to an adult by a licensed practitioner that is medically necessary for the treatment of schizophrenia and schizotypal or other delusion disorders if certain criteria are met.

The abolishment date of the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission is extended from June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Ralston (7th) Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1039 Income tax; expenditures on maintenance for Class III railroads; extend tax credit

Bill Summary: House Bill 1039 amends 48-7-40.34, relating to tax credits for Class III railroads and

reporting, by extending the sunset date on when credits may be earned from December 30, 2026, to

December 30, 2028; extending the sunset date on when credits may be transferred from January 1,

2027, to January 1, 2029; and extending the annual reporting requirement to 2029.

Authored By: Rep. Mack Jackson (128th)

Rule Applied: Structured

House Committee:

Ways & Means

Committee Action:

03-03-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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HB 1040 Social services; community action agencies to submit audit reports and IRS forms before any contracts are made with DHS; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 1040 requires that renewed contracts between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and community action agencies entered into on or after October 1, 2022, are to be executed by the board of directors of the community action agency, or its designee, and shall only be offered by DHS if a community action agency has submitted a current IRS Form 990 and audit reports to the Department of Audits and Accounts.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Patty Bentley (139th)

Rule Applied:

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1042 OneGeorgia Authority Act; grant program to establish primary care medical facilities in health professional shortage areas; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1042 requires the OneGeorgia Authority to create a grant program subject to appropriations. This program provides grants to eligible development authorities seeking to establish primary care medical facilities in health professional shortage areas. "Primary care medical facility" is defined as any facility where the majority of the services provided are primary care, dental, or mental health services. Awarded grant amounts shall not to exceed $200,000 and are determined by the review of the primary care shortage; local commitment; consistency with local healthcare objectives; readiness and feasibility; geographic distribution of current primary care facilities; and cost estimates. Pending grant awards will be approved by the governor and the Board of Community Health.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-01-2022 Do Pass

HB 1304 Georgia Caregivers Act; create
Bill Summary: House Bill 1304, known as the 'Georgia Caregivers Act,' allows inpatients to designate at least one caregiver to be involved in the patient's discharge planning process. The hospital will notify the caregiver of the patient's discharge, and failure to make contact will not interfere with appropriate medical care or discharge. The caregiver and patient will be actively engaged by the hospital in discharge planning tailored to the patient's aftercare needs.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-22-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1319 Georgia Student Finance Authority; provide for Georgia LEO Scholarship grant
Bill Summary: House Bill 1319 creates the Georgia Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Service Cancelable Loan to provide a $2,000 per year loan for eligible Georgia peace officers to pursue an associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice or related social science field. Eligible recipients must be actively employed as a peace officer in a state or local government agency. Recipients are eligible to receive up to $8,000 in awards and may have the loan forgiven at a rate of one year of service for each year of study for which a loan was made.

HB 1319 creates a loan forgiveness program for medical examiners employed by the GBI as the next step in creating a compensation package to attract and retain talent in a nationally competitive environment. The bill authorizes the Georgia Student Finance Authority to provide for the repayment of loans of medical examiners employed full time by the GBI in the amount of $20,000 per year of service, not to exceed $120,000.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. William Werkheiser (157th) Higher Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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HB 1344 Public officers and employees; updated language regarding spouses of armed forces service members; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1344 updates language related to employment discrimination of military spouses by replacing "wife" with "spouse."

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Heath Clark (147th) Defense & Veterans Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2022 Do Pass

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Committee Actions

Committee Actions
Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar.

Education Committee
HB 1295 Quality Basic Education Act; group of performance evaluation ratings; remove needs development rating
Bill Summary: House Bill 1295 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-210 and 20-2-212, relating to employment under the 'Quality Basic Education Act.' The bill removes the needs development rating from the group of teacher performance evaluation ratings. The needs development ratings have previously adversely impacted an educator's ability to obtain a renewable certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and adversely impacted an educator's ability to obtain a year of creditable service on the state's minimum salary schedules.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. John Corbett (174th) Education

Committee Action:

03-04-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1357 Professional Standards Commission; standards and procedures for certification programs; provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 1357 revises O.C.G.A 20-2-984, which relates to the Professional Standards Commission's authority to create and implement standards and procedures for certifying educational personnel, recommending standards and procedures for certification, continuation of teaching certificates, and restrictions. The bill provides that the commission's standards and procedures for alternative routes to professional teacher certification shall be neutral with respect to whether such programs are provided by for-profit or not-for-profit entities and shall consider certification teacher programs outside of the state that meet accreditation and certification requirements.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Tyler Smith (18th) Education

Committee Action:

03-04-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 4, 2022

Committee Meetings

Committee Meeting Schedule
This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule, please visit www.house.ga.gov and click on Meetings Calendar.

Monday - March 7, 2022 9:00 AM Governmental Affairs State & Local Government Subcommittee 10:00 AM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL COMMITTEE 10:00 AM Governmental Affairs General Government Subcommittee 11:00 AM Regulated Industries Occupational / Professional Licensing
Subcommittee 2:00 PM Natural Resources and Environment Resource Management
Subcommittee Tuesday - March 8, 2022 8:00 AM MOTOR VEHICLES COMMITTEE 9:00 AM RULES COMMITTEE 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD 25) 2:00 PM REGULATED INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE 2:00 PM RETIREMENT COMMITTEE

506 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO 132 CAP HYBRID VIDEO 506 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO 506 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO

Agenda Agenda Agenda Agenda

406 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

606 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO

341 CAP

VIDEO

House Chamber VIDEO

506 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO

406 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO

Agenda Agenda
Agenda Agenda

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