Legislative Report for March 10

Posted on March 13, 2017

The General Assembly has worked through 31 Legislative Days, leaving only nine to go.

Scott Maxwell, legislative liaison for GPHA, provides weekly reports on activity concerning public health throughout the state legislative session. Click here to read his report for the week ending March 10, 2017.

The legislative report includes updates on these public health bills still in contention:

  • HB 38, Issuance of license for three-wheeled motor vehicle, (Rep. Alan Powell-R). Provide for the issuance of a noncommercial Class C driver’s license for the operation of three-wheeled motor vehicles equipped with a steering wheel for directional control; to provide for the issuance of a noncommercial Class M driver’s license for the operation of motorcycles equipped with handlebars for directional control.
  • HB 198, Requires schools to provide info about the influenza vaccine to parents of 6-12 students, (Rep. Katie Dempsey-R) Relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to require local school systems to provide certain information to parents and guardians of students in grades six through 12 on influenza and its vaccine whenever other health information is provided.
  • HB 210, Certain specimen collection stations and blood banks aren’t considered clinical labs, (Rep. Jodi Lott-R)  Relating to definitions relative to clinical laboratories, so as to provide that certain specimen collection stations and blood banks are not considered clinical laboratories.
  • HB 241, Cove’s Law, (Rep. Lee Hawkins-R)  Relating to control of hazardous conditions, so as to add Krabbe disease to the list of metabolic and genetic conditions for which newborn screening may be conducted pursuant to the Department of Public Health; to provide for the screening at the option of the parent or parents.
  • HB 382, Georgia Commission on Women, (Rep. Jimmy Pruett-R)  Relating to the Georgia Commission on Women, so as to place said commission under the administration of the Department of Public Health.
  • HB 405, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, (Rep. Bill Hitchens-R) Relating to the emergency powers of the Governor, so as to require the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to establish a state-wide system to facilitate the transport and distribution of essentials in commerce during a state of emergency declared by the Governor.
  • SB 81, Jeffrey Dallas Gay, Jr., Act., (Sen. Renee Unterman-R) Provide that the state health officer may issue a standing order permitting certain persons and entities to obtain opioid antagonists under the conditions the state health officer may impose.
  • SB 88, ‘Narcotic Treatment Programs Enforcement Act’, (Sen. Jeff Mullis-R) Relating to drug abuse treatment, approaching lawyers for domestic violence charges and education programs, so as to provide for regulation of narcotic treatment programs.
  • SB 193, Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program, (Sen. Renee Unterman-R) Relating to the Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program, so as to revise the program mission and practice; to remove certain references to medically indigent women.
  • SB 200, Synchronizing patients’ chronic medications, (Sen. Chuck Hufstetler-R) Relating to insurance generally, so as to provide for synchronizing patients’ chronic medications.

The following public health bills did not pass one chamber before Crossover Day, and are considered “dead for the session.”

  • HB 28, Test for lead contamination in drinking water, public and private schools, (Rep. Billy Mitchell-D)
    To require testing of drinking water in public and private schools for lead contamination; to provide for remediation plans or alternate sources of drinking water.
  • HB 200, Authorizing students to carry and self-administer sunscreen, (Rep. Mark Newton-R)
    Require local boards of education to adopt policies authorizing students to carry and self-administer sunscreen.
  • HB 263, Provide dental services for Medicaid recipients and PeachCare for Kids, (Rep. Darlene Taylor-R) Relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for administrators for dental services for Medicaid recipients and PeachCare for Kids participants; to require the Department of Community Health to competitively bid out and contract with such administrators.
  • HB 274, Makes smoking inside of any motor vehicle when a person under 13 is present an offense, (Rep. Sandra Scott-D)
    Relating to general provisions regarding offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for the offense of smoking inside any motor vehicle when a person who is under 13 years of age is present; to provide for a criminal penalty.
  • HB 454, Publicly funded health facilities offering HIV testing, (Rep. Park Cannon-D)
    Relating to control of HIV, so as to provide for certain information in publicly funded health facilities offering HIV testing.
  • SB 184, Integrated Population Health Data Project, (Sen. Chuck Hufstetler-R) Relating to the Office of Planning and Budget, so as to establish the Integrated Population Health Data Project; to create a governing board and provide for its membership and terms; to provide for oversight of the project; to provide for board responsibilities.
  • SB 245, ‘Cory Joseph Wilson Act’, (Sen. Butch Miller-R)
    Relating to competencies and core curriculum in elementary and secondary education, so as to give a short title to a Code section relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of automated external defibrillators in schools.