Considering Senate Legislation
Friends,
We are down to the last few days of the legislative session and we will finish next Monday, April 4th.
Supporting Healthcare
The House unanimously passed Senate Bills 340 and 341. SB 340 updates medical education accrediting provisions to ensure that Georgia is able to continue to train top-caliber doctors. SB 341 requires that insurers authorize medications for chronic conditions for a minimum of one year. Currently, in some cases, insurers require frequent reauthorization by a Georgian doctor of long-term prescriptions for chronic conditions. This legislation would streamline and simplify that process for patients.
Encouraging Military Men and Women to Enter Law Enforcement
Senate Bill 358, which unanimously passed the House, repays some of the costs incurred by active duty, retired, or honorable discharged military men and women who attend law enforcement training. Costs are limited to tuition costs that are not covered by other available resources. Georgia is home to one of the largest military populations in the country. These men and women have served our country honorably; many of them leave the military and continue to have an interest in serving their communities while having backgrounds that can transfer easily to law enforcement with additional training. This legislation encourages that career path while ensuring that a lack of resources does not prevent anyone from pursuing it.
Children in District 159
The House passed Senate Bill 226, which creates an open and transparent complaint process for parents who are concerned about harmful content in our schools.
While a complaint process is required now, unfortunately, the lack of any deadlines or required transparency means that some schools and school systems may choose to make the process more difficult than it needs to be, or delay a response hoping that a complainant goes away.
This legislation simply requires that complaints be investigated in 7 days, with a parent meeting occurring within 10 days. Should a parent wish to appeal to the local school board, that appeal must be heard within 30 days.
The ultimate decision in these cases remains with schools - we are simply giving parents confidence in the process.
The House also passed Senate Bill 514, the Unmask Georgia Students Act. While most Georgia school systems have eliminated mask mandates, they remain in place even today in some schools. Seeing these mandates linger long past any significant perceived threat to students or teachers from Covid highlights the importance of this legislation.
Senate Bill 514 provides that no public school board of education or school leadership can make or enforce a mask mandate without providing an opt-out for parents. Parents cannot be required to provide a reason, and their children cannot be subject to adverse consequences for doing so.
On a more somber note, there is unfortunately evil in this world. That’s one of the reasons the House had to pass Senate Bill 543. This legislation affirms that a parent found guilty of homicide in the death of his or her child cannot recover any money or property as a result of that child’s death. Following an emotional speech from the General Assembly’s longest-serving member, Representative Calvin Smyre, the House passed SB 543 by a vote of 156 - 0.
Please do not hesitate to call (404.656.5052), email, or engage on Facebook. If you would like to receive email updates, please visit my website to sign up for my newsletter or email me.