Daily report, 2022 March 8

Tuesday March 8,
2022

DAILY REPORT 25th Legislative Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

The House will reconvene for its 26th Legislative Day on Wednesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 16 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
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.

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2022

Today on the Floor

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 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.

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Today on the Floor

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 genderspecific 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
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Today on the Floor

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.

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: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

House Committee:

Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-02-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 169 Nays: 3

Amendments:

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Today on the Floor

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: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Mack Jackson (128th) Ways & Means
Yeas: 164 Nays: 4

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Structured 03-03-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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: Floor Vote:

Rep. Patty Bentley (139th)

Rule Applied:

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee

Action:

Yeas: 173 Nays: 0

Amendments:

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: Floor Vote:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Health & Human Services
Yeas: 162 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 03-01-2022 Do Pass

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: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Clint Crowe (110th) Motor Vehicles
Yeas: 173 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-15-2022 Do Pass

HB 1304 Georgia Caregivers Act; create
Bill Summary: House Bill 1304, 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.

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Today on the Floor

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Health & Human Services
Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

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 also creates a loan forgiveness program for medical examiners employed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). 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: Floor Vote:

Rep. William Werkheiser (157th) Higher Education
Yeas: 172 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

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

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: Floor Vote:

Rep. Heath Clark (147th) Defense & Veterans Affairs
Yeas: 170 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2022 Do Pass

Postponed Until Next Legislative Day
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

Local Calendar
HB 1475 Elbert County; board of elections and registration; create Bill Summary: House Bill 1475 creates the Elbert County Board of Elections and Registration.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Rob Leverett (33rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 151 Nays: 4

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-07-2022 Do Pass

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Today on the Floor

HB 1476 Colbert, City of; staggered, four-year terms for the mayor and councilmembers; revise provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 1476 revises provisions regarding staggered, four-year terms of office for the mayor and councilmembers of the city of Colbert.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Rob Leverett (33rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 151 Nays: 4

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-07-2022 Do Pass

SB 554 Treutlen County Board of Education; new education districts; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 554 provides for new districts for the Treutlen County Board of Education.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Blake Tillery (19th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 151 Nays: 4

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-07-2022 Do Pass

SB 555 Board of Commissioners of Treutlen County; new commissioner districts; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 555 provides for new districts for the Treutlen County Board of Commissioners.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Blake Tillery (19th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 151 Nays: 4

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-07-2022 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 26th Legislative Day, Wednesday, March 9, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Wednesday, March 9,
at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 27th Legislative Day.

HB 849

Domestic relations; add human resources personnel and supervisory personnel in a workplace that employs minors as mandatory reporters for child abuse
Bill Summary: House Bill 849 adds human resources personnel to the list of persons who are required to report child abuse under O.C.G.A. 19-7-5. "Human resources personnel" is defined as applying to businesses with five or more employees and which employs minors.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Michael Smith (41st) Industry and Labor

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

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

HB 884 Professions and businesses; expedited licenses for military spouses; provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 884 requires professional licensing boards under the purview of the Secretary of State to provide expedited licenses by endorsement within 30 days from the application date, and receipt of all the required materials, to spouses of military service members within Georgia.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. D. C. Belton (112th) Regulated Industries

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-01-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1043 Georgia Endowment for Teaching Professionals; create
Bill Summary: House Bill 1043 amends Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A. to create the Georgia Endowment for Teaching Professionals. HB 1043 allows for public-private partnerships within the Technical College System of Georgia by supporting postsecondary teaching professionals in high-demand courses, subjects, and disciplines. The goal of the endowment is to support education efforts of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and improve public postsecondary education in Georgia. The endowment is a private entity under and in accordance with Georgia law, and shall take all necessary steps to become a Section 501(c)(3) entity under the Internal Revenue Code.

The Georgia Endowment for Teaching Professionals is governed by an 11-member board of trustees and an advisory committee that operates and manages the endowment. No funds are expended until contributions from private donors aggregate to $50,000 and funding and grants from public sources aggregate to $50,000. If this minimum is not met by December 31, 2024, the endowment is to be discontinued effective July 1, 2025.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Higher Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2022 Do Pass

HB 1279 Controlled substances; certain persons to carry prescription medications in a compartmentalized container; authorize
Bill Summary: House Bill 1279 allows people with a chronic disease or over the age of 65 to carry one or more medications prescribed by a licensed physician. Medications must be held in a compartmentalized medication container has the capacity to hold up to a 21-day supply. Persons must provide the names of medication to law enforcement if requested.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-01-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Next on the Floor

HB 1280 Revenue and taxation; county tax commissioner duties; revise provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 1280 amends 48-5-359.1, relating to contracts with county tax commissioners to assess and collect municipal taxes and prepare the tax digest, by allowing any municipality to contract for any related county and its county tax commissioner to prepare the tax digest for the municipality; assess and collect municipal taxes, fees, or special assessments in the same manner as county taxes; and to invoke any remedy permitted for the collection of municipal taxes or fees. Any contract must be a three-party contract negotiated between and approved by the municipality, the county, and the county's tax commissioner and may only be applicable to the county tax commissioner's current term of office plus the year immediately following it. The amount to be paid by the municipality must substantially approximate to the cost to the county for providing the services to the municipality. In addition to the county tax commissioner's salary, a county shall pay its tax commissioner any amounts received by the county and due to the commissioner under any contracts, provided the aggregate amount paid to the county tax commissioner for contractual services does not exceed 50 percent of the minimum annual salary of a county tax commissioner.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Marvin Lim (99th) Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 03-03-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 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

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-04-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1371 Rural Health Advancement Commission; create
Bill Summary: House Bill 1371 creates the Rural Health Advancement Commission in order to collaborate with educational institutions and healthcare facilities to develop private-sector solutions to short-term and long-term care workforce shortages, with an emphasis on rural areas. The commission has 13 members and is chaired by the dean of a Georgia medical college, as appointed by the speaker. The bill requires the commission to meet at least every two months and to report annually to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

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

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Next on the Floor

HB 1372 Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act; revise provisions and short title
Bill Summary: House Bill 1372 revises the 'Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act' in order to enhance the processes for locate requests of underground utility facilities or infrastructure and to require 9-1-1 to be contacted if an excavator damages a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline.

The bill states that all owners or operators that maintain underground facilities must participate as members of the Utilities Protection Center (UPC). An "underground facility" is defined as an underground fiber, conductor, pipe, or structure used to provide traffic control; traffic management; electric service; communications service; or carry gas, oil, sewage, wastewater, storm drainage, or other water or liquids. The bill states that all underground facilities, excluding sewer cleanouts and water meter boxes, must be located within the public right-of-way and in accordance to the specifications in the bill. Sewer cleanouts and water meter boxes that establish the exact location of an underground facility must be located within ten feet of the public right-of-way to be considered a permanent marker of the related underground facility.

No person shall blast or excavate with mechanized excavating equipment until the person has submitted a locate request for underground facilities to the UPC. The locate request must include a specific "effective date" or date for which the requested blasting or excavating is expected to start, and the duration of time in which the blasting or excavating is expected to take place. The locate request must also include "appropriate notice", which is associated with the expected effective date for the blasting or excavating to begin. The appropriate notice may not be less than two business days or more than eight business days.

Starting July 1, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) shall participate in and cooperate with the UPC for purposes of receiving locate requests in DOT's right-of-way. DOT shall not participate in the funding of the UPC or its activities.

HB 1372 is effective on September 1, 2022.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Vance Smith (133rd) Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-01-2022 Do Pass

HB 1381 Local government; water and sewer authority board members to complete yearly continuing training courses; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 1381 requires members of local water or sewer authorities to complete training courses on water, sewer, or environmental quality programs. The required training will serve as a prerequisite for the authority to receive specified funding.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Governmental Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2022 Do Pass

HB 1383 Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978; hearing before an administrative law judge; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1383 concerns the Commission on Equal Opportunity and provides a framework for administrative hearings with the commission. The position of "hearing officer" is created and defined as an administrative law judge of the Office of State Administrative Hearings, or if that office is a respondent, a special master selected by the governor. The hearing officer will be the recipient of complaints rather than a special master. Additionally, processes are added to the bill. If the administrator is unable to complete the investigation within 90 days of filing, the administrator shall notify the parties of the reasons for failing to complete the investigation. The administrator shall also issue status reports every 60 days following that initial 90-day period.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Michael Wilensky (79th) Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2022 Do Pass

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Next on the Floor

HB 1385 Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office; revise annexation reporting requirements
Bill Summary: House Bill 1385 requires municipalities to notify the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly when annexing property, enlarging municipal corporation limits, and annexing unincorporated islands.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Victor Anderson (10th) Governmental Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

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

HB 1396 Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council; create
Bill Summary: House Bill 1396 creates the Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council as an institution designed to improve municipal courts, assist municipal court staff, and assist in training municipal court staff. The council is a state agency and is composed of the municipal court staff of all municipal courts in the state. The council is authorized to elect officers and an executive committee.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bill Yearta (152nd) Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2022 Do Pass

HB 1406 Zoning; changes to ordinances that revise single-family residential classifications; provide additional notice and hearing provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 1406 provides guidelines and requirements for zoning decision hearings for zoning decisions related to revising zoning classifications from single-family residential uses to multifamily residential uses.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chuck Martin (49th) Governmental Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

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

HB 1455 Georgia Ports Authority; provide for powers of authority
Bill Summary: House Bill 1455 expands the arrest authority for the officers of the Georgia Ports Authority (Ports) in certain circumstances. Ports officers are given the ability to investigate motor vehicle accidents that occurred on any property under jurisdiction of the authority and on public or private property within one mile thereof. The same one-mile radius is given to the arrest authority of an officer who is arresting for state law violations.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st)

Rule Applied:

Public Safety & Homeland Security 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.

Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee
HB 1152 Fair Business Practices Act of 1975; require merchants to accept cash for purchases
Bill Summary: House Bill 1152 forbids merchants from refusing legal tender, including cash, by requiring the use of credit for a transaction, with the following exceptions: the merchant is operating at an event with an expected attendance exceeding 500 persons; the merchant is a sole proprietor or is a business with one employee; or, the merchant operates online or through an automated machine. If exact change is unavailable, the merchant must offer a store credit.

A violation can result in a class action and damages shall be the greater of either the actual damages or $10 per violation.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mesha Mainor (56th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1384 Buildings and housing; amend Georgia state minimum standard codes to authorize certain uses of ungraded lumber; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 1384 requires the Department of Community Affairs to amend Georgia state minimum standard codes to allow for the use of ungraded lumber for uninhabited structures on property zoned for either residential or agricultural use. The agency shall make the change on or after July 1, 2023.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Jenkins (132nd) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass

HB 1443 Mobile food service establishments; operate in county of origin or other counties without an additional permit; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1443 allows for a mobile food establishment that is permitted in one county to operate in other counties in the state. To do so, the establishment must both submit a copy of a permit from the county of origin to the outside county of operation as well as await the outside county's board of health to verify that the permit is in good standing with the Georgia Department of Public Health. The outside county may reject the establishment's permit if the permit is not in good standing with the county of origin. A mobile food service establishment must renew its permit annually in the county of origin and provide the renewed permit to any outside counties within which it operates.

Outside counties may conduct periodic and unannounced inspections on any mobile food service establishment with a permit from another county. If an establishment fails an inspection, the outside county may both notify the county of origin, or any other county within which the establishment is permitted, as well as levy a fine or terminate the permit. Any fees for inspections shall be paid by the next business day and failure to do so will result in termination of a permit in that county.

The Department of Public Health may establish rules and regulations regarding mobile food service establishments, including an expedited permit process.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 12 of 18

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2022

Committee Actions

Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee
HB 1322 Public utilities and public transportation; deployment of electric vehicle charging equipment; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1322 provides for the deployment of electric vehicle charging equipment by stating that the Public Service Commission's (PSC) authority and jurisdiction does not extend to people or businesses who provide electric vehicle charging services. The bill requires any power company subject to regulation by the PSC to file a "tariff" or a fixed price with the PSC on or before September 1, 2022, for the sale of electricity to electric vehicle charging providers. Any power company regulated by the PSC that provides or owns electric vehicle charging equipment must do so through a separate, unregulated entity and must do so on the same rates and conditions offered to private providers. After August 31, 2022, no electric supplier regulated by the PSC shall recover from ratepayers the cost to provide or own electric vehicle charging equipment. All electric membership corporations and municipalities that furnish electric service are strongly encouraged to develop a tariff for private electric vehicle charging providers.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Alan Powell (32nd) Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Health & Human Services Committee
HB 1069 Mental health; adult mental health programs; provide licensure
Bill Summary: House Bill 1069 provides for the classification, evaluation, licensure, and monitoring of mental health treatment and recovery programs. Certain governing bodies are prohibited from operating adult residential mental health programs without a valid or provisional license. Unlicensed programs may receive a civil penalty of $100 per bed per day for each violation, which is doubled if unlicensed operations continue after notification. Operators and owners of unlicensed programs will also be guilty of a misdemeanor for the first violation and could face a felony under certain circumstances.
The Department of Community Health is required to create minimum quality standards across several areas, including admission criteria, adequate facilities and equipment, training standards, service content, referral arrangements, and prescription dispensing. Records pertaining to someone with a mental illness seeking or receiving treatment will be confidential except under certain circumstances. The department will conduct regular on-site inspections of licensed adult mental health programs.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1449 Community Health, Department of; contract with dental care administrators to cover dental service for recipients of medical assistance; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1449 requires the Department of Community Health to enter into a contract with two to three dental care administrators to provide services to Medicaid and PeachCare members. Dental administrators are selected through a competitive bidding process, and the final contract will be available for public view. The selected dental administrator is required to provide an annual public report that will include summaries on network adequacy, oral health outcome changes, patient and provider satisfaction, covered services adequacy, provider fee adequacy, administrative issues, provider credentialing delays, and claims processing efficiency.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Tabled

Page 13 of 18

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2022

Committee Actions

Human Relations & Aging Committee
HB 1436 Long-term Care Ombudsman Program; long-term care facilities post certain notice on their websites; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 1436 relates to the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program and requires each long-term care facility that maintains a website to post a weblink to the ombudsman website.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Michael Smith (41st) Human Relations & Aging

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1520 Georgia Council on Addressing Health Care Workforce Challenges; create
Bill Summary: House Bill 1520 creates the Georgia Council on Addressing Health Care Workforce Challenges in order to provide strategic thought leadership and recommendations on the future of the health care workforce in Georgia. The council is composed of 27 members, including specified appointments from the governor, president of the Senate, and speaker of the House of Representatives. HB 1520 requires the council to meet at least twice a year and includes specific duties and powers of the council. The council is abolished on June 30, 2025.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Human Relations & Aging

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
SB 559 City of Thomson; description of the election districts for the members of the city council; change Bill Summary: Senate Bill 559 changes the description of the election districts for the members of the Thomson City Council.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Max Burns (23rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass

SB 570

Sumter County Board of Education and School Superintendent; provide for seven education districts; the description of the education districts; change
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 570 provides for seven education districts for the Sumter County Board of Education.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Freddie Sims (12th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass

Juvenile Justice Committee

HB 274

Courts; certain juvenile court judges; provide salary supplement
Bill Summary: House Bill 274 requires that each juvenile court judge is paid by the Council of Juvenile Court Judges a total supplement of $6,000 in equal quarterly installments of state funds as long as the circuit has implemented a drug court division, mental health court division, family treatment court, veterans court, or other alternative accountability court division. The effective date of the bill is July 1, 2022.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (23rd) Juvenile Justice

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 14 of 18

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2022

Committee Actions

HB 1234 Juvenile proceedings; right to an attorney for any child receiving extended care services from Department of Family and Children Services; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1234 requires the court to appoint an attorney under O.C.G.A. 15-11-103 for any child receiving extended care youth services from the Division of Family and Children Services.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (23rd) Juvenile Justice

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass

Motor Vehicles Committee
HB 1103 Motor vehicles; heavy-duty equipment motor vehicle; revise definition
Bill Summary: House Bill 1103 provides the definition of a "heavy-duty equipment motor vehicle" as it relates to separately stated fees in a motor vehicle rental agreement between a motor vehicle rental company and a rental customer.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mike Cheokas (138th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass

HB 1379 Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Commission; establish
Bill Summary: House Bill 1379 requires the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to establish a grant program, subject to available funding, to provide funds to local law enforcement agencies and multi-jurisdiction task forces for the following purposes: prevention and reduction of motor vehicle crimes and motor vehicle thefts; establishment of multi-jurisdiction task forces; motor vehicle-related fraud investigations; hiring personnel, purchasing equipment, and providing training in support of preventing and reducing motor vehicle crimes; and public awareness materials and programs.

The bill establishes the Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board, which will solicit and review grant applications in order to make grant recipient recommendations to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. John Corbett (174th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1387 Motor vehicles and traffic; suspension for failure to pay a civil penalty for a violation of overtaking a school bus or speeding in a school zone; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1387 establishes that non-payment of penalties and fees resulting from overtaking a school bus or speeding in a school zone will result in the suspension of motor vehicle registration.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. J. Collins (68th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1478 Motor vehicles and traffic; electronic submission of certificates of title to Department of Revenue by motor vehicle dealers; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1478 allows for the option to submit certificate of title applications electronically.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jason Ridley (6th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2022

Committee Actions

HB 1481 Motor vehicles; standards for issuance of dealer license plates; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1481 provides guidelines for allocating specified plates to motor vehicle dealers.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
HB 1004 Education; unified campus police forces through agreements entered into by colleges and universities; provide for establishment
Bill Summary: House Bill 1004 provides for the establishment of unified campus police forces through agreements entered into by colleges and universities.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mesha Mainor (56th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1448 Motor vehicles and traffic; enforcement of laws regarding expired, revoked, canceled, or suspended registration by civil monetary penalty; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1448 provides that driving a vehicle with expired, revoked, suspended, or canceled registration will receive a monetary civil penalty when enforced using recorded images.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. J. Collins (68th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Regulated Industries Committee

HB 972

Professional counselors; licensing requirements; change certain definitions
Bill Summary: House Bill 972 updates the 'Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists Licensing Law.' The bill allows for people participating in an internship, a practicum under supervision, or under the direction of a person certified as a rehabilitation counselor, to be exempt from licensure requirements for practicing professional counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy.

The bill also removes the authorization for those exempt under O.C.G.A. 43-10A-7 to serve as supervisors without being licensed. The requirement that applicants have at least two personal references from supervisors or teachers is replaced with a requirement that they have completed a graduate level course or equivalent.

In order to obtain an associate professional counselor license, a candidate must have a minimum of a master's degree in clinical counseling or counseling psychology and must have registered an acceptable contract with the board for obtaining the post-degree experience required for licensure as a professional counselor. In order to obtain a professional counselor license, a candidate must have a minimum of a master's degree in clinical counseling or counseling psychology and two years of postdegree experience under direction and supervision in an acceptable work setting.

The bill raises the minimum fine for individuals who violate O.C.G.A. 43-10A-19 or O.C.G.A. 4310A-7 to $500 for each offense, and expands the potential punishment for business entities who violate O.C.G.A. 43-10A-21 to include imprisonment for up to 12 months.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. D. C. Belton (112th) Regulated Industries

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 16 of 18

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2022

Committee Actions

HB 1424 Georgia Lottery for Education Act; administrative procedures regarding coin operated amusement machines shall be subject to Chapter 13 of Title 50; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1424 clarifies that only Article 1 (General Provisions) and Article 2 (Setoff of Debt Collection Against Lottery Prizes) are exempt from Chapter 13 of the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.' Any licensure, rules, regulations, procedures, or administrative hearings regarding violations of Article 3 (Bona Fide Coin Operated Amusement Machines) are subject to Chapter 13 of the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.' Further, hearings under O.C.G.A. 50-27-102 will be held in accordance with the Georgia Arbitration Code.

The bill sets a maximum redemption award on a per-play basis for a Class A machine to the wholesale value of $50. The terms "gift certificate" and "gift card" are defined as being a prepaid card that can be reloaded, but not exchanged for cash or other currency.

A location owner or location operator is permitted to offer gift cards for non-cash redemption for Class A and Class B coin-operated amusement machines. Winnings can be redeemed for goods or services that are lawful to purchase, for a gift certificate, or for a gift card. Players can redeem their winnings from a self-service gift card or gift certificate redemption device. An exemption to O.C.G.A. 50-27-84 is added for historical fraternal benefit associations and veterans organizations.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Alan Powell (32nd) Regulated Industries

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1441 Professions and businesses; exempt a certified peace officer employed as an independent contractor from certain requirements
Bill Summary: House Bill 1441, relating to operators of private detective and security businesses, removes the requirement that licensees certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) must also obtain a license to serve as a guard, watchman, or patrolman.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. J. Collins (68th) Regulated Industries

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass

Rules Committee

HR 920

Invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation; condemn
Bill Summary: House Resolution 920 condemns the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The State of Georgia expresses its desire to cease hostilities, including divesting investments in Russia-associated equities and other assets. The resolution calls on Russia to end its unprovoked aggression and both the President and the Congress of the United States to continue to take prudent actions to bring about a peaceful and timely end to this conflict.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Ralston (7th) Rules

Committee Action:

03-08-2022 Do Pass

Page 17 of 18

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 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.

Wednesday - March 9, 2022 8:00 AM INSURANCE COMMITTEE

8:00 AM BANKS & BANKING COMMITTEE

8:00 AM JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

8:30 AM AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

8:30 AM Regulated Industries Lottery Oversight-Gaming Subcommittee 8:30 AM CODE REVISION COMMITTEE

9:00 AM RULES COMMITTEE 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD 26) 1:00 PM HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

1:30 PM WAYS & MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE

2:00 PM EDUCATION COMMITTEE 2:00 PM GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

3:00 PM Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

3:00 PM Special Committee on Election Integrity

3:00 PM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL

3:00 PM BUDGET & FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

3:00 PM 3:30 PM

Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Solar Consumer Subcommittee
ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

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