Evans E-Bulletin Week Six

Legislation this Week

Below is a list of highlights of legislation that passed in the House this last week. I voted yes on each of these bills.

Healthcare

HB85 Requires health benefit policy coverage for biomarker testing if supported by medical and scientific evidence. This will allow for more early detection, which will save lives and money.

HB143 Requires the Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a pharmacy benefit for Medicaid recipients. This is a huge step forward for those living with diabetes. Continuous glucose monitors have been available for those who can afford them; now more will have access to this amazing technology.

HB215 Would create licensure requirements for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and would define APRNs as persons registered with the Georgia Board of Nursing as a certified nurse midwife, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric/metal health or a recognized APRN before June 2006; this bill would also make practicing as an APRN without licensure a misdemeanor and allow APRNs and physician assistants to prescribe handicap stickers to patients.

HB129 Expands the eligibility criteria for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to pregnant women. Current law only allows families with children to qualify if they otherwise meet the income limitations. Under this bill, pregnant women who meet the income limitations can qualify while pregnant (rather than having to wait until their children are born). I am glad we are allowing these benefits to pregnant women, but TANF benefits are long overdue for income eligibility changes, which does not change with this legislation. A family must earn less than $9,400/year to be eligible for TANF. Only 40% of Georgians living below the poverty line qualify for TANF benefits. This means that 60% of Georgians who live below the poverty line “make too much money” to qualify for TANF. We should do better.

Education

HB87 Otherwise known as the “Completion Special Schools Act”; provides for the continued operation of state chartered special schools, which were previously set to sunset. These completion special schools allow students who are behind on high school credits, at-risk of dropping out of high school or have already dropped out to enroll in these non-traditional schools to earn their diplomas with greater flexibility through online instruction or night classes. Importantly, live classroom teachers are present while students are engaged in online instruction (working at their own pace). These schools have proven to be great tools for students to earn diplomas who may have otherwise dropped out.

HB81 Revises the eligibility criteria for certain capital outlay grants for low-wealth school systems. This legislation will allow more school systems to qualify for additional aid.

Judiciary

HB139 Would restrict the disclosure of the home address, date of birth and home phone number of a non-sworn employee of a law enforcement agency if he or she testifies for the prosecution in a criminal case and would instead allow the disclosure of the employee’s current work location/phone number.

Licensing

HB76 Would revise the licensing requirements for an associate marriage and family therapist to allow the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education to set coursework requirements, minimum training hours and the type of clinical experience applicants must have; this bill would also update the clinical experience requirements for associate marriage and family therapists that are already licensed and/or hold a qualifying master’s or doctorate degree.

Governmental Affairs

HB193 Increases the dollar values of certain public works construction contracts exempt from bidding requirements from $100,000 or less to $250,000 or less. Given the rise in prices for construction projects, this is common sense legislation that will help local governments move projects forward faster.