Committee Reports
House Appropriations Human Resources Subcommittee
Chairman Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) and her Human Resources Subcommittee spent a part of President’s Day hearing more specifics regarding the FY 2022 Budget needs, particularly around the areas of the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Human Resources (including Division of Family and Children’s Services), Veterans Services, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities and Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. The full tracking document for HB 81, the proposed spending plan for FY 2022, is here.
The Subcommittee heard presentations from the Departments and agencies, but the real discussions were the testimonies provided by the public. A few highlights of the agencies presentations included:
Senate Finance Committee
Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) led his Committee this afternoon with a hearing on SB 1, a bill authored by Senator Dean Burke (R-Bainbridge) which amends Title 31 to require that entities, that receive state income tax credits and provide self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance not subject to the regulatory authority of the Commissioner of Insurance, must report insurance claims information to the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database. The legislation further requires compliance with the reporting requirement beginning January 1, 2022, as a condition to continued receipt of any such tax credits.
The Committee held a hearing only discussion today on the legislation. Senator Burke explained the legislation on the All-Payer Claims Database initiative which has been adopted in 34 states. The goals are to provide transparency and predictability to improve outcomes and access to healthcare. The claims completed by providers for patients would be translate
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Topics of conversation today under the Gold Dome covered a variety of policies from vaccine availability and distribution, to the FY 2021 Amended Budget, and casinos and horse racing. Georgia schools are pressing for vaccines for the teachers and staff while the Department of Public Health has ratcheted down vaccine distribution to at least one county for their taking educators “out of order.” Late yesterday, Senator Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) placed in the hopper his legislation establishing the Horse Race Commission, SB 30.
Meanwhile, the House tackled its first major bill with the passage of a Committee Substitute on HB 80 with a vote of 149-20, our state’s spending plan for the remainder of this fiscal year.
Small Business Development – Rep. Mike Cheokas
Special Rules – Rep. Dave Belton
State Planning & Community Affairs – Rep. Karen Mathiak
State Properties – Rep. Gerald Greene
Transportation – Rep. Rick Jasperse
Chairmen of the subcommittees of Appropriations are as follows:
Economic Development – Rep. Penny Houston
Education – Rep. Todd Jones
Health – Rep. Butch Parrish
Human Resources – Rep. Katie Dempsey
Public Safety – Rep. Bill Hitchens
Transportation & Infrastructure – Rep. Clay Pirkle
IN DEPTH: Health & Human Services Agency Presentations
Department of Human Services
Commissioner Robyn Crittenden kicked off the morning with an overview of the work of the Department of Human Services. Among the work under her Department’s oversight is providing protections and services to Georgia’s elderly. In the current proposal considered, there is the proposed combination of two program areas into one it would fold Elderly Supports and Elderly Living
Testing widely ignored by members although a Republican leader tested positive. Author: Doug Richards Updated: 6:14 PM EST January 12, 2021
ATLANTA Georgia lawmakers widely disregarded orders to test for COVID-19, said House Speaker David Ralston Tuesday as the second day of the 40-day legislative session convened.
Also Tuesday, one of the top Senate Republicans announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. And more questions are beginning to arise about why the General Assembly is holding in-person sessions.
The state set up a COVID testing site at the Georgia State Capitol on Monday. Republican leadership had described the twice-a-week testing as required for lawmakers.