Hello!

We passed the Crossover Day deadline on Thursday, March 7 and are now just 11 legislative days away from Sine Die. The Senate was in session four legislative days last week. Over these four days, the Senate debated and voted on over 60 pieces of legislation.

On Monday, our standing committees completed preparation for Crossover Day. Although committee meetings on Senate bills wrapped up, our committees will pick up their work again this week when we start our Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearings and standing committees begin to hear House Bills.

Our busiest day was Crossover on March 7, when we debated and voted on 33 pieces of legislation. We worked long into the evening, addressing a number of topics including broadband access, health care, criminal justice reform and medical services throughout the state.

Below are just a few of the bills we passed last week.

Renaming the Georgia Board of Physician Workforce

I sponsored Senate Bill 207 which would change the name of the Georgia Board of Physician Workforce to the “Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce.” SB 207 would also update the board membership to include eight physicians and seven physicians or health care providers selected by the Governor. SB 207 passed with a vote of 52 to 0.

Jeremy Nelson and Nick Blakely Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act

Senate Bill 60, would require the Georgia Department of Education to develop guidelines to inform high school students, parents, and coaches involved in athletic activities about the dangers and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest. SB 60 would also require students to be removed from participation in a sport if they faint.

Expanding Electives in Religious Education

Senate Bill 83 would expand curriculum provisions to allow high schools to provide elective courses on the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

Including Mobile Phones in the Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program

Senate Bill 100 would extend the Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program for physically impaired individuals to include issuance of mobile devices and applications. Currently, the program is only available for landline phones.

Georgia Measuring Success Act

Senate Bill 119, would require an economic analysis to be conducted by the state auditor prior to the passage of legislation related to taxation.

Allowing Nurses with Multistate Licenses to Practice in Georgia

Senate Bill 168 would allow advanced practice registered nurses who hold multi-state licenses to practice in Georgia, as long as the license was issued by another state under the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Consumer Coverage and Protection for Out-of-Network Medical Care Act

Senate Bill 56, would require hospitals and physicians to make information regarding the providers and standard prices of specific health care services available to the patient. SB 56 would also set standards for information that insurers must provide to customers in regards to their health plan. The bill would also require health insurance providers to notify patients when emergency health care services are not covered by their insurance and allow for insurance and health care providers to determine the method of compensation for emergency services rendered.

Defaulting on Student Loans and Licensing Procedures

Senate Bill 92, would prohibit professional licensing boards from revoking, suspending or denying a person’s license for defaulting on a student loan. These provisions apply if the loan was obtained through the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation or the federal government.