The Georgia statement, Georgia. Merit System, Vol. 2, no. 2 (Apr. 1999)

The Georgia Statement

An informative quarterly of policies, trends and news of all agencies and employees in state government published by the Georgia Merit System

VOLUME 2, NO. 2

APRIL 1999

Public Health disease detectives protect the public

Recent events have brought the work and importance of the Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health into the spotlight. From the E-coli outbreak at a theme park last summer to the recent scares concerning anthrax and bioterrorism, Public Health and the Epidemiology Section (Epi) are definitely in the news. This small group of professionals works very hard to protect the people of Georgia.
Dr. Paul Blake is the states chief epidemiologist. He has 26 years experience with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) where he

specialized in foodborne diseases. He explained the mission of the Epi section beginning with importance of surveillance. Surveillance tracks disease and whether the number of incidences are going up or down, the geographic area, what age group, and which gender and/ or race is being infected.
The reporting is done by laboratories, healthcare centers, physicians, and infection control nurses. When outbreaks or other disease problems are detected, the section Continued on Page7

Photograph by Pat Hewatt Photograph by Jonathan Hillyer

GBA cooks, from left to right, are Cpl. Johnny Smith, Officer Jantzen Jones, and Lt. Charlie Griswell. Helpers from left right, Samantha Bryan, daughter of Michelle Bryan of DOC; Immanuel Brown, son of Jeannetta Tinson; Samuel Wigton, son of Martha Wigton, Senate Research; and Candace Baldridge, daughter of Corliss Baldridge, GSU Physical Plant..

Fun at GBAs Child Care Center

Georgia Building Authority Police were cooking at the Capitol Hill Child Enrichment Center this February and claiming to have the worlds best chili. Few would disagree. While officer Jantzen Jones wielded a mean knife dicing tomatoes, corporal Johnny Smith browned the beef and stirred the pot with help from sergeant Charlie Griswall, captain Les Robinson and quite a few tiny hands. They combined their culinary talents to raise money for the Child Care Centers Parent Advisory Committee. Food was donated by the parents and tickets were sold by parents and committee members to state employees around capitol hill. The funds will be used for teacher training. The center provides care and edu-

cation for children 6 weeks to 12 years, including a summer program. All the teachers are specially trained. Much of their training is above state requirements.
The center functions as an extension of the family. Parents are encouraged to drop in during the day. Parents are, also, just a phone call away. Melanie Stockwell, of the Department of Education, is head of the parent council. She visits son Davis often.
The Center, managed by the GeorgiaBuilding Authority, has 80 enrollees and space for 104. For information, call Katherine Garrison, Center Director at 404-463-8161.

Georgias new award winning

Public Health Lab is a work of art

Government buildings dont usually evoke comments like stunning, beautiful, or fantastic, but thats just what you hear people say about Georgias new Public Health Laboratory. In fact, people walk in off the streets and ask if they may take pictures, have a tour, or just make comments. It won the 1998 Laboratory of the Year Award from Research and Development Magazine. With competition from both public and private sector labs, this was only the second public facility to ever win this prestigious award!
This lab is a winner on all accounts. It features the latest architectural technology and is one of the safest public health labs around. It was built right after the Olympic building boom, so the bidding was very competative. It came to completion early and a million dollars under budget! Georgia granite was recovered from headstone scraps for walls and copper was recycled for shingles to cut cost.
Starting on the outside, there are copper-coated tubular aluminum sunscreens surrounding the glazed curtain wall. They are placed in such a way and at such

an angle that sunlight streams in during winter and is deflected in summer. There are granite piers on one side that act as vertical sunscreens. Every environmental factor that could be of value was considered.
Inside is magnificent. Natural light can be seen from any office or lab in the building. All exterior offices have one granite wall. The lab area is all open and is one of the largest open labs in existence today. In the labs, air makes only one pass through. Every 6 minutes, the air is completely replaced. It is not recirculated.
The most restricted laboratory, where tuberculosis and mycology tests are conducted, is even more safe. In fact, the floor is seamless, so there are no cracks or crevices to harbor anything harmful.
For some 20 years, requests had been made for a new facility. The old lab, which was less than 50,000 sq.ft., was in a public downtown building. It didnt even have a large enough loading dock to off-load large pieces of equipment. Planning started in 1994 and construction funds were allocated in FY1995. Bids were called for after the Olympics when construction work was at a low. So the state

got a good price (10.2 million dollars for 67,000 sq.ft.) and wound up getting a lot for their money. The clinical laboratory, which does testing and support for all Public Health facilities and some private laboratories, features an accessioning lab where incoming samples are numbered and entered into the labs specimen database. Samples are then routed to areas for mycology, parasitology, newbornscreening, mycobactericology, immunology, Continued on page 8
See inside for the 1999-2000 Flexible Benefits Program

page 2

The The Georgia Statementeorgia

Y2K: what it means to state employees

Who can open a newspaper or turn on a television news broadcast these days without coming face-toface with the Year 2000? Of course, were referring to the computer-programming convention of using only two digits to indicate the year in a date. When January 1, 2000, arrives, computer systems that arent Year 2000 compliant could malfunction or simply stop running because they cant tell whether the year is 2000 or 1900. Knowing the correct date is critically important to a computer system. Otherwise, how could it print the correct date on your paycheck? For state government, the Year 2000 comes early. Since our Fiscal Year 2000 begins July 1, 1999, many computer systems, including the ones directly affecting state employees, must be fully compliant slightly more than two months from now. To ensure these systems can handle dates without any problems, state government initiated the Phoenix Program during March 1998.
How is the Phoenix Program changing the way state government manages its human resource and financial operations? And what do these changes really mean to state employees?

The Phoenix Program is replacing some but not all of the states human resource and financial systems, including the systems responsible for generating paychecks, crediting leave, or executing payroll deductions. These systems are being replaced with software programs from PeopleSoft, which provides companies and governments throughout the world with leading-edge software technology.
Meanwhile, other existing systems are remaining in operation and are not being replaced by PeopleSoft programs at this time. However, components of these systems are being reworked to ensure both Year 2000 compliance and their ability to share information with the PeopleSoft programs. These include systems that manage our selection of such Flexible Benefit options as life and dental insurance and spending accounts and verify our status as state employees to healthcare providers and companies involved in processing insurance claims.
A large number of people are working long hours to make the transition to new systems as smooth and problem-free as pos-

The Georgia Statement
Volume 2, Number 2
State Personnel Board
Anne H. Kaiser, Chair M. David Alalof, Vice Chair Claybon J. Edwards, Member
Geri P. Thomas, Member

By Michael Clark
sible. Its like creating a jigsaw puzzle, explains Gwen Gable, of the Flexible Benefit Program at the Georgia Merit System and now on loan to the Phoenix Program. Every piece is critical to the overall structure. Every piece must fall into place.
New format for paychecks What changes will state employ-
ees notice as a result of the Phoenix Program? The most striking change is probably the new look of paychecks and the way that flexible benefit options are displayed. These changes will bring additional benefits to employees, Ms. Gable says. They will be better able to understand the details on their paychecks and to verify deductions from their salary more closely and quickly.
The new paycheck format will provide more detailed information about each flexible benefit an employee has selected, including health insurance, short- or longterm disability, life insurance, spending accounts, and so on. Another difference affects the reporting of sick and annual leave on paychecks. Current paychecks show the amounts of leave accrued, taken, and forfeited, but the new paychecks will show only accrued leave. The new system also handles leave accrual differently by crediting half the months leave at the end of the first pay period and half at the end of the second pay period for a semi-monthly payroll. The current system credits leave for the entire month after the employee has worked a total of 80 hours. For a more detailed description of the new paycheck format, see the accompanying article.

Georgia Merit System
Dana R. Russell, Commissioner
Pat P. Hewatt, Editor
contributing artist Huey Theus
The Georgia Statement is published quarterly for state employees by the Commissioner's Office of the Georgia Merit System. If you wish to submit comments or need to correct a distribution problem/address, contact Pat Hewatt, Editor,Georgia Statement, 200 Piedmont Avenue, SE, Suite 504 West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334, or call 404/657-0360. If you have a disability and need this material in an alternative format, notify the Editor at the above listed address, or for TDD Relay Service only: 1-800-255-0056 (text telephone) or 1-800-255-0135 (voice).
The Georgia Merit System is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Outside systems must also be Y2K compliant
The concerns about Year 2000 compliance extend beyond the necessity to replace and rework some human resource and financial systems. These systems must also be able to share information electronically with companies that provide services to the state, such as healthcare providers, health maintenance organizations, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the intermediary who processes claims for employees with standard and high-option health insurance coverage. The computer systems of these business partners

must also be Year 2000 compliant in order to avoid confusion about health insurance coverage or disruptions to claims processing.

than 950 separate entities reporting to HBS, the new telephone system will make it easier and faster for state employees and vendors to complete their calls.

...its like a jigsaw puzzle. Every piece is
critical to the overall structure. Every piece must fall into place.
Gwen Gable, Phoenix Program
The efforts of the Georgia Merit System to assess the Year 2000 compliance of HMOs, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and other health-care entities is one example of the cooperation taking place between the state and its business partners to ensure a smooth transition. Earlier this year, the Georgia Merit System began surveying various health-care organizations to determine the status of their Year 2000 compliance, says Mr. Charles Penuel, Division Director for Health Benefit Services at the Georgia Merit System.
The Phoenix Program is not replacing the current state system related to health insurance, but components of the system require updating. Earlier this year, officials began testing these changes and the Year 2000 compliance of health-related vendors by exchanging sample data. More extensive tests were continuing well into spring. But as far as obvious operational changes, says Mr. Penuel, state employees with standard or highoption coverage will most likely see a new format to the statement they receive that explains the payment of health insurance claims. In addition, Health Benefit Services is upgrading its telephone system to make it Year 2000 compliant and taking advantage of the opportunity to add enhanced customer-service features. With more

Employee retirement: protecting your golden treasure
The Employee Retirement System (ERS) is replacing its pension management system with the PeopleSoft Pension module from the companys Human Resources application suite. This effort is called the GRIFN Project, with the acronym standing for Georgia Retirement Information System. It also alludes to the Griffon, a mythical animal with the head, talons, and wings of an eagle and the body, hind legs, and tail of a lion. The Griffon was responsible for guarding a golden treasure, which further invokes ERS fundamental mission.
Are we going to be ready for Y2K? Yes, says ERS Deputy Director Jim Larche. When will we be ready? July 1. This past winter, ERS officials began limited tests of the new pension systems ability to accept data from the existing pension system, and they implemented rigorous, full-scale testing during March. This will expand to include simultaneous testing with the states new payroll system during May. With conversion to the new system, ERS officials will connect online to the states payroll system for the first time. This means ERS can electronically access all information about promotions, salary increases, and related matters in order to easily update an employees retirement records, Mr. Larche explains. As with most other aspects of the conversion to new human resource and financial systems, retirees shouldnt notice significant operational differences. But just as the look of paychecks is changing, so is the look of pension disbursements that retirees receive, and ERS is sending a newsletter explaining the new look to all retirees this spring.
Throughout this entire effort, our primary concern has been ERS members and retirees, Mr. Larche says. With the new system, our response time and the accuracy of our data will continue to be among the best in state government.

he The Georgia Statement

page 3

Get ready for Phoenix change management

From left to right, Irving Mitchell, Governors Office; Phillip Vishna, Georgia Merit System; William McChesney, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography; and Deputy Commisioner Robert L. Stephens, Georgia Merit System.
Charitable Contributions Awards Presented to Top Contributing Agencies/Colleges/Universities
Charitable Contributions coordinators from across Georgia gathered in the Floyd Room, Floyd Building, Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate another successful Charitable Contributions campaign. The final total for the 1998-99 campaign is $2.6 million, which is a 10% increase over last years campaign.
Governors Cups, the highest award given, were presented by Irving Mitchell to Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (for the third year), and the Georgia Merit System. Mitchell represented Governor Barnes, and Dr. Betty Siegel, President of Kennesaw State University and the 1998-99 SCCP General Campaign Chair. Governors Cups are based on a performance formula, which calculates the highest contribution per employee adjusted for each organizations average salary.
Governors Awards were presented to a college/university and a state agency in each of the following categories: Highest Overall Percent of Employee Population Participating, Largest Increase in Total Dollars Raised, Highest Per Capita Contribution, and Highest Increase in Percent of Participation.
State Agencies
Commission on Equal Opportunity Highest Percent of Employee Population Participating Department of Labor Largest Increase in Total Dollars Raised Employees Retirement System Highest Per Capita Contribution Gwinnett-Rockdale-Newton Community Service Board Highest Increase in Percent of Participation
Colleges/Universities
Atlanta Metropolitan College won in three categories Highest Overall Percent of Employee Population Participating, Highest Per Capita Contribution and Highest Increase in Percent of Participation. University of Georgia Largest Increase in Total Dollars Raised Commissioners Awards were presented to the highest performing state agency and/or college/ university in each of five size groups by total employee population using the Governors Cup performance formula.
Following is a list of Commissioners Award recipients: Georgia Student Finance Commission, Subsequent Injury Trust Fund, Administrative Office of the Courts, Department of Banking and Finance, Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission, Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Pineland Community Service Board, Ogeechee Community Service Board, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Department of Education, Department of Revenue, Department of Transportation and Department of Human Resources.

By Michael Clark By now, you have probably heard the expression, Phoenix is coming! Perhaps youve wondered what that means to you, or how you can begin to prepare for the new Phoenix systems. If you are a current user of statewide financial and human resources management systems and will migrate to the Phoenix programs in July, here are some suggestions for actions that you can begin to take now. After all, the best way to adapt to change is to be ready for it.
Visit the Phoenix web site at http://www2.state.ga.us/departments/doas/phoenix/.
Download the PeopleSoft navigational tutorial from the web page. Work through it to learn how to navigate through panels in PeopleSoft applications.
Print the User Tasks spreadsheets from the Financial or HRMS sections of the web. These documents list the functional tasks that users will perform in each module of the new system.
Become a proficient user of Windows applications.
Learn to use Word and Excel, if the User Tasks spreadsheets indicate that you may need these applications for your spe-

cific Phoenix module. Test your computer knowledge on the web site, by linking to a Skills Assessment test compiled by the Merit System and found on Phoenixs Training page. Print the business process lists from the web page. This will help you understand the functions the new systems can do. Talk to the Phoenix Sponsor in your agency. Each agency has a designated Phoenix Implementation Team, led by the Sponsor. These are the folks who receive all the official communications that they are sharing with all staff members in their agencies. Ask questions! Work with others in your agency to find out how roles and responsibilities within agencies may change within the new system. Your Phoenix Sponsor should be a valuable resource for most of your questions.
In short, understanding and analyzing the skills you use for your job will lead you to recognize which of those skills may require updating. Remember, taking action now is the best way to be prepared for change.

White Water & Stone

Mountain Specials

Sponsored by the State Personnel Council

Discount Prices on Advanced Ticket Purchases are:

White Water Adult

$18.85

White Water Child (3-7) $13.00

3 Park Pass -White Water, American Adventures,

Stone Mountain

$32.00

White Water Season Pass $48.25

( adults and children)

Mail ticket order and payment ( and a self addressed stamped envelope for

return tickets) to:

State Personnel Council

P.O.Box 347206

Atlanta, GA 30334

Name:

Address:

Department:

Work Phone:

page 4

The Georgia Statement

Governors Children and Youth Coordinating Council offers free videos
Mediation Training for the Workplace

A 32 hour seminar for professionals to obtain skills, strategies and techniques, negotiation skills and problem solving
techniques
June 15-18 Training and Organizational Development
529A Church Street Decatur, GA
More and more professionals are using mediation skills to settle differences in the workplace and the boardroom. Resolving conflicts constructively, managing stress and interpersonal conflict takes special skills. Designed for professionals who want these skills, the course includes rethinking conflict, dispute resolution, the mediation process, developing negotiation skills, cross- cultural communication, non-verbal communication, managing power differences, creating empathy and multi-party mediation.
Registration: The cost of this training is $675.00
Method of Payment: [ ] Money Order [ ] Check [ ] Bill us [ ] P.O. Number
If you are unable to attend, a substitute registrant will be welcome in your place. If this is not suitable and you cancel at least 10 workdays before the course, we will refund your registration fee. Registrations canceled after that time will not be refunded.
Send you name, agency, training coordinator, mailing address and phone number with authorizing signature (and billing address if different) to:
Training and Organization Development at FAX# (404) 371-7388 Please feel free to call Training for registration information at (404) 371-7371
For content and other information call Georgia Merit System, Employee Management at 404-656-2740.

The Governors Children and Youth Coordinating Council offers these award winning videos for any organization, church, or anyone working with youth and families. There is no charge. Each runs about half and hour. Three of the four are available in Spanish and for the hearing impaired. The Parenting Principle is available in English only at this time. Choose from the following for your group: Multiple Choice -a Juvenile Crime Prevention video. Won two emmy awards, one for Best Youth Program and one for Best Director. The Parenting Principle-is about responsibility and giving children the direction they need. Driving Ambition-explains the new driving laws and looks at the results reckless driving, speeding and DUI can have. A message for families and teens. For information contact: Judy Reynolds

10 Park Place south, suite 410 Atlanta, GA 30303 or call her at 404-656-9345, fax 404-651-9354, or #cyccjudyr@mindspring.com. the e-mail address.

Environmental Fund for Georgia invites you to celebrate Green Day April 24

For the second year, the Environmental Fund for Georgia is organizing and promoting Down To Earth Day. Scheduled for late April this year, it is a communitywide celebration designed to honor Georgias environment and encourage public involvement. More than eighty activities are slated, including a statewide high school contest and Green Day, which is an all volunteer day. Other events include field trips, bike rides, park and stream clean-

ups, workshops, mountain wild flower strolls and more.
Saturday, April 24th, is Green Day and everyone is invited to get their hands dirty by pitching in and helping to clean up. In Atlanta, the group is working closely with Hands On Atlanta and others to organize a series of urban, suburban, and rural outdoor volunteer projects around the metro area. For information call 404-8733173 or visit the web site at WWW.efg.org.

Ultimate Choice is the winner of 3 Emmy awards. It is a film on teen pregnancy prevention

The Georgia Statement

page 5

Paychecks take on a new look July 1

Names in the news
Georgia Department of Human Resources welcomes new Health District Epidemiologists Laura Axelson (Cobb), Sokei Harry (Fulton), Siobhan Gilcrist (Dekalb), Mike Coletta (Lagrange), Claire Moran (Macon), Joy Miller (Augusta), Larisa Dawkins (Columbus), Kirsten Wright (Valdosta), and Jackie Jenkins (Albany). The position in Savannah is yet to be filled.
Georgia Merit Systems Deputy Commissioner Steve Stephens is this years president of the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE). NASPE is affiliated with the Council of State Governments, which Stephens is a member of and has received their prestigious Toll Fellow award.
Congratulations to Henry Palmer, new Patient Account Officer at Gracewood State School and Hospital.
Congratulations to Cheryl Finn. She is the new Chief of Program Policy and Development for the Department of human Resources, Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse.
Renaissance Festival

By Brett Huber The Phoenix Program will go live in July. This means that your first paycheck that month will be one that is printed in the new system. Following is a description of how some key information on your paycheck will look, along with a voucher from the new system. To understand some of the terms used in Phoenix, heres an explanation:
Pay Group is how the payroll system combines employees in order to pay them
Advice is the name of the pay voucher for an employee on direct deposit
Department is an organization number
Location will generally equate to the county where you work
The Phoenix paycheck format will differ from your current paychecks in a variety of ways. Your social security number will still appear on the check voucher, but a new identifier called Employee ID will also be printed on it. This Employee ID is a system-generated number and will be the main identifier for you throughout the Phoenix Human Resource Management System (HRMS). This will provide greater security of your personal information since the Employee ID will appear on most reports rather than the

social security number. Earnings and deductions
will be identified with a more descriptive title, e.g., Regular Salaried instead of 98Reg.Sal.
Deductions will be separated into several groups: taxes, after-tax, and beforetax.
All tax deductions will be printed in one area of the voucher with totals. Tax computations will differ in amounts by a few cents due to different calculation rules. Plus, supplemental income such as Overtime Pay will be taxed at the same tax table rates as your regular salary instead of the current flat rate of 28%. Earned Income Credit will no longer be treated as an income amount as it is currently. It will show as a negative tax deduction, which means it still adds to your net pay. For those people who have earned income credit, it is just shown in a different area on the pay voucher.
Non-cash items such as vehicle allowance and imputed income (FLEX life insurance over $50,000 is subject to federal tax withholdings) will be printed in a separate area.
The remaining deductions will be separated based on

whether the deduction reduces gross income before taxes are computed or after taxes are computed. Another change is that the Flexible Benefits deductions will be printed as individual options rather than as a lump sum of all pre-tax and all after-tax. Therefore, you will see the individual options such as life insurance, dental insurance, long term disability, etc. on your voucher. Since deductions are being standardized, some (agency specific) deductions may come out in a different pay period from what they do currently, e.g., AFLAC will be deducted on the second pay period instead of the first pay period.
Leave balances will still be printed on the pay voucher. A new category of Holiday Leave will be included with the other leave balances. The forfeited leave for annual and sick leave will be combined within Phoenix and will be shown on the voucher as one balance. Leave usage for the previous pay period will not be printed. Leave balances will be expressed in hours and thousandths of hours.
The following items will not appear on your Phoenix voucher: personnel actions such as promotions and salary advances; payroll data changes such as credit union and deduction changes.

Spring Festival Special for State Employees
Saturdays and Sundays April - May 31 and Memorial Day May 31 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Ticket Prices
Adults: $10.50 Children 6-12: $5.00 Children under 5: free
Tickets @$10.50 ___________ Tickets @ $5.00 ____________
TOTAL: __________
A self addressed and stamped envelope must accompany all orders for return tickets. Payments should be made by check or money order payable to: State Personnel Council P.O.Box 47206 Atlanta, GA 30334 Do not send cash. Allow 10 days to receive tickets. Name: Department: Home address: City, State, Zip: Business phone:
Deadline for ordering is May 23, 1999.

page 6

The Georgia Statement

Savannah DFCS finds help in the Georgia Statement

Last fall an article in the Georgia Statement about the Georgia Department of Defense Youth Challenge program brought many responses. One from the Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is a great example of how state agencies pull together for the good of our citizens.
Nancy Jackson, with Family Preservation unit of Chatham DFCS, called for more information on how to get a young woman in the 22 week program for troubled youths. She was referred to Ken Baldowski of the Department of Defense for further information. In January of this year, Andi (as well call the young woman) made the decision to try the program. Out of 300 young people starting out, some 200 are still there. Andi is one of them. Chatham County DFCS is made up of the social services division and the benefits and payment branch. The Social Services branch is made up of Intake, Family Preservation, Protective Services, Foster Home and Adoption, and Adult Protective Services. The Benefits branch is made up of the Food Stamp program and the TANF Program (temporary aid to needy families).
Referrals to DFCS are made by law enforcement, mental health

organizations, schools, relatives, hospitals, concerned citizens, and friends. Hundreds of cases a year are processed. The resolutions arent usually as happy as this one. Attempts are made to reduce risk and effect permanency for all children and families referred for services.
I wouldnt hesitate to recommend this program to any worker in the state who might have a child that
fits this catagory...it gives
them a chance.
Nancy Jackson, Chatham County DFCS
In Andis case, Protective Services was called because of a younger brother in the household who was physically abusing a sister. The mother in this home had a chronic and debilitating illness. She was unable to control his or anyone elses behavior in the home.

It was determined that this son would live with a relative. With all the chaos and lack of stability, Andi began to act out. She skipped school. She wouldnt see her counselor. Finally, she quit school all together. The unit, headed by Linda Gordon, never gave up trying to get Andi interested in school, helping at home, trying just about anything to get her on track. Hattie Owens, Family Service Worker, spent time talking to Andi, befriending her. She took her an old vacuum cleaner so she could help around the house. Without Hattie, Andi might never have made it. Not much was working to save this bright kid.
Then, Nancy Jackson saw the Youth Academy story. The decision to give it a shot was all Andis. Sure it would be tough. The Youth Challenge Academy is all about regimentation, physical training, rules and regulations, taking orders and getting along with all the other cadets things that had been traditionally hard for her. First, she had to make the cut. Then she had to make the changes. Now shes on her way. Certainly not all DFCS stories have a such a good ending. But for Andi, her caseworkers and mentors, this was a team effort. For information call 912-7674015.

Six Flags announces yet another new rollercoaster, The Georgia Scorcher. Guests will have to put their Feet to the Fire on the Scorcher because its standing room only. Standing four abreast and strapped in sleek purple and gold bullet-nosed trains, riders climb over 10 stories into the unknown before plummeting almost straight down at 54 miles per hour! Tickets will be on sale beginning in April at all the State Employees Credit Union offices or you may order by mail. Mail orders should allow at least seven (7) calendar days for processing and return mailing. Call 404-656-3748 or toll Free: 1-800-659-7328
STATE EMPLOYEES DAYS @ 6 FLAGS
State Employees Credit Union Tickets Good Anytime in 1999!
Total Enclosed: Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Home Phone: Office Phone:
Please send me ___ tickets to Six Flags good anytime in 1999 for the special price of $20.00
each. Special sale prices good from April
thru May 15th
(Please allow at least 7 days for processing and mail)
Send order with check or money order and stamped, self addressed envelope to:
State Employees Credit Union 130 Memorial Drive Atlanta, GA 30303
National Clean Air Week is May 17-23
Clean Commute Day is May 20

The Georgia Statement

page 7

Partnership for a Smog-Free

Georgia season begins May 1

Georgia completed its first ozone action season with a winning report card according to Jeane Pierce, Coordinator of the Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia program, a part of the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources.
Eighty-five state agencies, twenty- five federal

surveys, awareness of the ozone problem in metro Atlanta went up 50%.
T h i s y e a r, t h e Vo l u n t a r y Ozone Action Program has a brand new name---The Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia-- and it is a season long program, not just specified action days. Coordinators will enjoy the new coordinator Toolkit that has been designed to make

agencies,

twenty five cor-

porate entities

and fifteen lo-

cal govern-

ments partici-

pated and were

successful in

reducing single

occupancy ve-

hicles (SOV)

on the road on

ozone action

days. Last year

there were

thirty five action

days .

Also, last year,

by executive or-

der, state govern-

ment was asked to

reduce SOVs by 20% on action days. This year, the request is for 20% during the entire season which runs from May 1 to the end of September.

the job easier to manage a successful Smog Reduction Plan. The kit will be updated throughout the season. Why the switch from ozone to smog? Smog better reflects the

air quality issues that prevail in

Atlanta and Georgia. Smog is

made up of ozone and particles

and debris from the road.

Partners, including state

agencies, are requesting that
The Ride-match employees vanpool, carpool,

hot line number that will help

use public transportation, telework, bike and even walk. Also, we need to initiate ride

you find a

share with a guaranteed ride home for emergenices if you

carpool, vanpool ride share. One popular change

or ride-share buddy is

is going to a four day work week or an alternative, flex schedule. Some agencies did

1-87-RIDEFRIEND

this last year and more are expected to this year.

(1-877-433-3463)

Another big portion of re-

....solving the ozone
problem in metro
Atlanta is the hardest
problem we have ever
faced
Harold Reheis, Director, Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia
ducing smog during the season is operations and maintenance actions. Just as last year agencies and the private sector were asked to do certain things, this years list includes no fueling of vehicles or equipment until after 6 P.M. on alert days, delay use of off-road construction equipment, delay or reduce use of small, outdoor motors, no refueling of fleet vehicles and encourage the purchase of clean fueled fleet vehicles. For example Georgia Power has a fleet of electric vehicles. Other actions the PSG recommends is reducing or delaying the use of solvents and cleaners, shift from oil-based paints to water-based paints and applying them with rollers and brushes, as opposed to spray painting. Everyone is encouraged to alter their means of transportation during this season. In fact, alternative transportation needs to become a way of life says Jeane Pierce.

continued from page 1
assists districts and counties in investigating the problems. They learn how to control the problem and how to prevent it in the future.
The epidemiology section continuously performs field studies in an effort to head off outbreaks of diseases such as influenza, meningitis, and E-coli. All public health departments and investigators are in direct contact with the state office, which is turn works closely with CDC. For example, Epi is doing throat swab field studies in two counties. One county has a relatively high rate of meningoccal disease, while the other county has a low rate of the disease. Epi is culturing the throats of high school students to study the relationship between carriage and disease. Prevention depends on better understanding of the organism.
The unit works hard to help health districts and local health departments with a base of professionals who can investigate and support by phone or make field visits. The five actual units that make up the epidemiology section are Infectious Disease, Maternal and Child, Chronic Disease and Injury (two types of injury-intentional and unintentional), Tuberculosis, and Sexually Transmitted Disease and HIV.
In the case of bioterrorism, the threat of which is very real, the epidemiology unit is applying for federal money to develop plans for rapid detection and response

when needed. Something of this nature would be a multi-agency task, of which, epidemiology would be a vital part.
There are nineteen health regions in Georgia. Last year the legislature voted to fund ten new positions for epidemiologists in health districts that have the highest number of reported infectious diseases. Until these positions were created, there was not extensive disease investigations going on at the district level. These professionals will be able to help in research, data collection and analysis.
The goal is to improve the quality of the data collected and to encourage programs to use data in prevention strategies, outcome evaluation and resource allocation. Missions will vary from district to district. These new district level people will enhance the capacity to recognize outbreaks, know how to investigate them, and how to evaluate the data in hopes of predicting the best method of follow up.
Each day in the downtown state office there is an Epi-on-call to route incoming calls. A call about a treatment resistant strain of TB came in and was routed to that area.
Next a call came in from a frightened mother in northwest Georgia. Several other calls came in a short period of time.
Many calls come in each day and theres always someone to handle the problem.

New Department of Community Health
oked by legislature
In the closing hours of the 1999 legislative session, the governors proposed new Department of Community Health got the go-ahead nod and the department is now in formation. It will be phased in over the next year. The proposed new department will perform certain functions and duties currently performed by other agencies, including the Department of Medical Assistance and its Medicaid functions; the Health Planning Agency which regulates health care facilities and the Employee Health Benefits Division of the Georgia Merit System. It would also oversee the Composite Board of Medical Examiners, which regulates and disciplines doctors. State employees who will be transferring to the new agency will maintain all their current salary, benefits and leave. The cost and efficiency of coordinating health care allows the state to maximize its purchasing power, minimize duplication and remove overlapping functions, and develop a better health care infrastructure that is more responsive to the consumers it serves while improving access to and coverage for health care. A new Office of Womens Health will raise awareness of womens non- reproductive health issues. For the first time, the state will be involved with educating, informing, planning and coordinating efforts around the state concerning womens health.

According to telephone

page 8

he The Georgia Statement

Georgia Building Authority Police are on the job

continued from page 1

virology and bacteriology testing. These labs also do

what is called reference testing. They confirm results

or make definite identifications.

The lab is a conduit to CDC for specimens from

within Georgia. The lab backs up other labs if needed.

They are capable of covering outbreaks and backing

up

the

epidemiology

section.

When there was an outbreak of E-coli last year at a

water park, this state health lab was able to do routine

cultures as well as a procedure called PFGE (Pulse

Field Gel Electrophoresis) which is a way of testing

bacterial DNA in order to determine the relatedness

between the E-coli

specimens. Identify-

ing E-coli is not dif-

ficult. Its identify-

ing the source that is

difficult. And with a

mobile population,

as was in attendance

at the park, finding

the common source

was very difficult.

Kids were tested

from 16 different

states. It was

determeined that

two of the kids that

were treated for E-

coli did not get it from the park. They got it from an-

other source. All of this had to be analyzed and done

so quickly. The Georgia Public Lab was recognized

nationally for their quick response to this outbreak.

This lab and the 3 regional public health labs in Ma-

con, Albany and Waycross, do over 2 million tests a

year! Many of the tests they do are standard ones like

STDs, HIV, TB, parasites (more cases because At-

lanta is an international city), and rabies. Also, every

baby born in the State of Georgia, and thats about

115,000 a year, is tested for 7 metabolic diseases and

hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell anemia). About 150

babies a year test positive for one of the metabolic

diseases. They are treated and most continue normal

development. If left untreated, these 150 kids could

wind up institutionalized at a cost of hundreds of thou-

sands of dollars a year. Just by performing these simple

tests, quality of life is assured and money is saved.

The lab functions as a training facility for the state

and CDC, and it has many international visitors. Re-

cently, a scientist from CDC was spending time

working in the TB lab. He will later model interna-

tional TB labs on Georgias lab. And although TB

is on the decline in Georgia and the United States,

it is on the rise worldwide.

With the rise of bioterrorism and its threat, state

labs are facing serious renovations and many are

looking to Georgias lab as a model. Currently pro-

tocols are being developed by the CDC and federal

law enforce-

ment to deal

with these types

of events. Their

intent is to use

existing state

health labs and

grant money for

increasing ca-

pacity, person-

nel, testing and

triage capabili-

Jonathan Hillyer

ties in the case

of

a

bioterrorism at-

tack.

The lab is

headed by

Elizabeth A. Franco, Dr.P.H. She has over 30 years

experience with 20 years in public health laborato-

ries. She asked what her staff wanted in a lab and

set out to make sure that an environment was cre-

ated that satisfied this as well promoted pride. She

attributes the success of this project to the close

interaction with the architects in charge of the project

through programming, planning and design. They

forced my laboratorians to articulate exactly what

they needed. The project manager for the new

building was Karl E. Hoenes, who worked with lab

staff, districts, DHR, contractors and all parties in-

volved in the construction.

The two of them are justifiably proud of this lab.

And so is the State of Georgia.

Photograph by Jonathan Hillyer

Georgia Building Authoritys ( GBAs )Capitol Hill Police protect the life and property of governmental facilities including the area around the capitol, the offices in Decatur, on MLK, and other locations. They perform their duties on bicycle, motorcycle, cars and foot patrol. Of the 43 sworn men and women officers each has completed training at the police academy and has passed an extensive background search. Training is continuous and each officer must be recertified each year. Officers present crime prevention programs at offices around the capitol and at public schools.
GBA police are first responders to incidents around the hill. They evaluate the situation, contain and secure the area and may call upon the Georgia State Patrol, Atlanta Police Department or the Georgia Bureau of Investigation if the situation warrants it.
One of their favorite tasks is to keep a watchful eye on the kids at the Child Care Center. They drop in several times a day. Their response time should, something happen, is under 2 minutes!
Their presence in state office buildings makes work sites more secure. They are always on heightened alert and are hyper vigilant of suspicious people and of packages. They are specially trained in the event of bioterrorism. Each facility has its own plans.
In support of all these efforts, GBA also has over 122 security officers. These men and women are assigned to the buildings and grounds throughout the capitol hill complex. Each is attending a year long course towards certification. They act as the eyes and ears for GBA police. They also work three shifts, around

the clock, monotoring the 200 video cameras placed through out the area. These security officers answer any duress calls that come in. Armed with only a radio, the security officers can really be in harms way, yet their presence is so important to all state employees and all are appreciated.
Many of these safety officers work video control. The monitor the 200 cameras stationed thoughout the capitol hill complex. This job is continuous, 3
shifts a day, 7 days a week. They respond to all duress systems. Theres the communication center, located in the East Tower of the Twin Towers, that takes all calls from the hill and dispatch appropriate services.
Heading both of these groups is Chief W.W. Holley, a thirty year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department. He was a major and retired as Zone 1 Commander. He founded the Red Dog Unit, known to be the tough anti-drug squad that worked the streets. Their mission was to hit hard and fast, because of the high level of danger involved. The chief is a native of Bambridge, Georgia, and attended Morris Brown, National Lewis University and the FBI Academy. He is an experienced hostage negotiator.