Georgia Rural Health Association Legislative Report
Georgia General Assembly 2013
February 15, 2013
Bill # Title Sponsor Last Action Status House Committee Senate Committee
HOUSE BILLS
HB 0003 Evidence; professional forestry; Department of Public Health; AIDS; provisions Willard, Wendell 51st 2/11/2013 10:16 Senate Read and Referred Judy JUDY
HB 0007 Penal institutions; use of restraints on pregnant female inmates under certain circumstances; prohibit Waites, Keisha 60th 11/26/2012 15:25 House Prefiled    
HB 0008 Controlled substances; adopt and incorporate by reference certain drug-free zones Waites, Keisha 60th 11/26/2012 15:25 House Prefiled    
HB 0014 Public benefits; no longer require applicant to establish United States citizenship repeatedly Buckner, Debbie 137th 11/28/2012 14:48 House Prefiled    
HB 0023 Carbon monoxide detectors; public and private schools; require Jones, Sheila 53rd 1/29/2013 10:09 House Second Readers PS&HS  
HB 0048 Georgia's Return to Play Act of 2013; enact Mitchell, Billy 88th 1/16/2013 10:29 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0050 Nurses; mandatory reporting; require Cooper, Sharon 43rd 2/14/2013 9:43 Senate Read and Referred H&HS H&HS
HB 0051 Hospital Medicaid Financing Program Act; enact Hatchett, Matt 150th 1/16/2013 10:29 House Second Readers GAff  
HB 0057 Controlled substances; definition of Schedule I; expand Ramsey, Matt 72nd 2/14/2013 9:47 Senate Read Second Time JudyNC H&HS
HB 0067 Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund; penalty assessments for additional violations; authorize Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty" 145th 1/28/2013 13:22 House Second Readers Judy  
HB 0068 Physicians; continuing education requirements licensed to practice orthotics or prosthetics; revise provisions Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty" 145th 2/7/2013 10:24 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute H&HS  
HB 0073 Insurance; coverage for physician prescribed special dietary food; require Lindsey, Edward 54th 1/28/2013 13:22 House Second Readers Ins  
HB 0074 Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Act; enact Lindsey, Edward 54th 1/28/2013 13:22 House Second Readers Ins  
HB 0078 Crimes and offenses; protection of disabled adults and elder persons; change provisions Willard, Wendell 51st 1/28/2013 13:22 House Second Readers Judy  
HB 0084 Taxes; cigar and cigarette; change certain definitions Knight, David 130th 1/29/2013 10:09 House Second Readers W&M  
HB 0097 Minimum wage; substantive and comprehensive reform of provisions regarding the law; provide Brooks, Tyrone 55th 1/29/2013 10:09 House Second Readers I&L  
HB 0105 Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013 Ralston, David 7th 2/11/2013 10:16 Senate Read and Referred App APPROP
HB 0106 General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014 Ralston, David 7th 1/29/2013 10:09 House Second Readers App  
HB 0132 Georgia Board of Pharmacy and Georgia Board of Dentistry; administratively attached to Department of Community Health; provide Hawkins, Lee 27th 2/11/2013 13:39 House Withdrawn, Recommitted RegI  
HB 0142 Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission; change certain provisions Ralston, David 7th 1/31/2013 10:07 House Second Readers Rules  
HB 0143 Campaign contributions; disclosure reports; change certain provisions Ralston, David 7th 1/31/2013 10:07 House Second Readers Rules  
HB 0152 Public benefits; no longer require applicant to establish United States citizenship repeatedly Bentley, Patty 139th 2/1/2013 9:18 House Second Readers JudyNC  
HB 0162 Student health; public schools provide parents of sixth grade students information concerning human papillomavirus; require Jones, Sheila 53rd 2/1/2013 9:18 House Second Readers Ed  
HB 0163 Professions and businesses; each professional licensing board shall waive licensing fee for military veterans; provide Jones, Sheila 53rd 2/1/2013 9:18 House Second Readers RegI  
HB 0178 Georgia Pain Management Clinic Act; enact Weldon, Tom 3rd 2/12/2013 10:54 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute H&HS  
HB 0179 Pharmacies; The Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights; change certain provisions Welch, Andrew 110th 2/4/2013 9:53 House Second Readers Ins  
HB 0187 Controlled substances; date of incorporation of local ordinances by reference; change Dickerson, Pam 113th 2/14/2013 9:44 House Committee Favorably Reported JudyNC  
HB 0188 Professions and businesses; certain military certifications entitle persons to obtain certain professional licenses in this state; provide Coomer, Christian 14th 2/5/2013 10:32 House Second Readers D&VA  
HB 0190 Sales and use tax; kidney dialysis equipment; provide exemption Stephens, Ron 164th 2/5/2013 10:32 House Second Readers W&M  
HB 0192 Podiatry; podiatric medicine includes the diagnosis and treatment of cosmetic conditions regarding the human foot and leg; provide Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty" 145th 2/5/2013 10:32 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0193 Sales and use tax; tangible personal property to certain nonprofit health centers; provide exemption only for a limited period of time Stephens, Ron 164th 2/5/2013 10:32 House Second Readers W&M  
HB 0198 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; licensing of health insurance navigators; provide Smith, Richard 134th 2/14/2013 9:43 Senate Read and Referred Ins I&L
HB 0205 Psychiatric Advance Directive Act; enact Lindsey, Edward 54th 2/7/2013 10:12 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0208 Nursing homes; annually offer influenza vaccinations to health care workers and other employees; require Watson, Ben 166th 2/12/2013 10:54 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute H&HS  
HB 0209 Pharmacists and pharmacies; revise definition of "security paper"; revise requirements Watson, Ben 166th 2/12/2013 10:54 House Committee Favorably Reported H&HS  
HB 0213 Georgia State Board of Pharmacy; powers, duties, and authority; revise Stephens, Ron 164th 2/7/2013 10:12 House Second Readers RegI  
HB 0217 Education; course of study in health and physical education includes training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; require Jones, Sheila 53rd 2/7/2013 10:12 House Second Readers Ed  
HB 0218 Battery operated smoke detectors; installed in new dwellings after January 1, 2014, shall meet certain specifications; provide Jones, Sheila 53rd 2/7/2013 10:12 House Second Readers PS&HS  
HB 0230 Hospitals; authorities created are acting pursuant to state policy; express and clarify Powell, Jay 171st 2/8/2013 9:43 House Second Readers Judy  
HB 0235 Optometrists; revise definition of optometry; remove certain exemption Ehrhart, Earl 36th 2/13/2013 9:33 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Ins  
HB 0240 Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids; certain speech-language pathology; require reimbursement Carson, John 46th 2/8/2013 9:43 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0263 Post-employment health benefit fund; person eligible to participate on or after July 1, 2013, shall pay premium which reflects cost of coverage; provide Martin, Chuck 49th 2/11/2013 13:21 House Second Readers Ret  
HB 0269 Insurance; mammography report provisions; provide Jones, Sheila 53rd 2/12/2013 8:33 House Second Readers Ins  
HB 0275 Public benefits; no longer require applicant to establish United States citizenship repeatedly Bentley, Patty 139th 2/12/2013 8:33 House Second Readers JudyNC  
HB 0279 State health planning and development; physician owned ambulatory surgical centers; define and provide exemptions Rogers, Terry 10th 2/12/2013 8:33 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0280 Georgia State Board of Pharmacy; powers, duties, and authority; revise Stephens, Ron 164th 2/12/2013 8:33 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0282 Municipal Broadband Investment Act; enact Hamilton, Mark 24th 2/12/2013 8:33 House Second Readers EU&T  
HB 0284 Return to Play Act of 2013; enact Pruett, Jimmy 149th 2/12/2013 8:33 House Second Readers Ed  
HB 0290 Labor; employees use sick leave for care of immediate family members; allow Dempsey, Katie 13th 2/13/2013 9:33 House Committee Favorably Reported HumR  
HB 0302 Controlled substances; substances included under Schedule I and III; add Broadrick, Bruce 4th 2/13/2013 9:38 House Second Readers JudyNC  
HB 0309 Ava's Law; enact Harbin, Ben 122nd 2/13/2013 9:38 House Second Readers Ins  
HB 0315 Nurses; continuing competency requirements as requirement for license renewal; provide Cooper, Sharon 43rd 2/14/2013 10:36 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0317 Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia; administrative medicine licenses; provide Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia; administrative medicine licenses; provide Cooper, Sharon 43rd 2/14/2013 10:36 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0322 Covenants; enforcement of certain covenants and restriction on physicians who leave employment of a hospital authority; prohibit Sims, Chuck 169th 2/14/2013 10:36 House Second Readers Judy  
HB 0331 Day-care centers; install safety alarms in vehicles used to transport children; permit Scott, Sandra 76th 2/14/2013 10:36 House Second Readers Ed  
HB 0332 Georgia Board of Nursing; reconstitute; provisions Williamson, Bruce 115th 2/14/2013 10:36 House Second Readers H&HS  
HB 0337 Elementary and secondary education; public and private schools to stock supply of auto-injectable epinephrine; authorize Fleming, Barry 121st 2/14/2013 10:35 House First Readers Ed  
HB 0350 Group-care facility operators; persons otherwise issued licenses as provided by law; provide exceptions Peake, Allen 141st 2/14/2013 10:35 House First Readers JudyNC  
HB 0352 Protecting Georgia Sovereignty Act of 2013; enact Spencer, Jason 180th 2/14/2013 10:35 House First Readers Judy  
HB 0363 Georgia Lactation Consultant Practice Act; enact Cooper, Sharon 43rd 2/14/2013 13:34 House Hopper    
HB 0365 Safety belts; definition of the term "passenger vehicle" which the safety belt law applies; modify Hitchens, Bill 161st 2/14/2013 13:34 House Hopper    
HOUSE RESOLUTIONS
HR 0001 Horse racing; pari-mutuel wagering; provide - CA Geisinger, Harry 48th 11/15/2012 13:55 House Prefiled    
HR 0024 General Assembly; additional penalties or fees for parking in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities; provide - CA Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty" 145th 1/28/2013 13:22 House Second Readers Judy  
HR 0049 Congress; pass legislation restoring the deep cuts to mental health services; request Waites, Keisha 60th 1/29/2013 10:09 House Second Readers H&HS  
HR 0074 Health; development of minority owned plasma centers; encourage Bruce, Roger 61st 1/30/2013 10:36 House Second Readers H&HS  
HR 0099 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Day; January 30, 2013; recognize Dudgeon, Mike 25th 1/29/2013 13:53 House Read and Adopted    
HR 0107 Joint Study Committee on Medicaid Reform; create Sheldon, Donna 104th 2/1/2013 9:18 House Second Readers App  
HR 0122 Lupus Awareness Day; February 13, 2013; recognize Cooper, Sharon 43rd 1/30/2013 15:00 House Read and Adopted    
HR 0135 American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Day; February 1, 2013; recognize Dempsey, Katie 13th 1/30/2013 15:00 House Read and Adopted    
HR 0189 Skin Cancer Awareness Day at the state capitol; February 6, 2013; recognize Geisinger, Harry 48th 2/4/2013 13:12 House Read and Adopted    
HR 0228 Congress of the United States; pass legislation restoring deep cuts to mental health services, research, special education, and supportative housing for children and adults living with mental health; request Waites, Keisha 60th 2/11/2013 13:21 House Second Readers H&HS  
HR 0251 Hemophilia of Georgia Day at the state capitol; February 11, 2013; recognize Dollar, Matt 45th 2/8/2013 14:12 House Read and Adopted    
HR 0253 Emergency Medical Services Recognition Day; February 20, 2013; recognize Powell, Alan 32nd 2/8/2013 14:15 House Read and Adopted    
HR 0280 Governor; expand Medicaid coverage under Affordable Care Act; urge Jones, Sheila 53rd 2/13/2013 9:38 House Second Readers H&HS  
HR 0286 Community Health Centers Day; February 14, 2013; recognize and invite to House Parrish, Butch 158th 2/13/2013 11:43 House Passed/Adopted Rules  
HR 0296 Pharmacy Day at the state capitol; February 14, 2013; recognize Stephens, Ron 164th 2/11/2013 16:08 House Read and Adopted    
HR 0297 State Board of Education and Fulton County Board of Education; installation of carbon monoxide detectors in schools; mandate Beasley-Teague, Sharon 65th 2/14/2013 10:36 House Second Readers Ed  
HR 0300 Rural Health Day at the capitol; February 20, 2013; recognize & invite to House Jackson, Mack 128th 2/12/2013 14:41 House Read and Referred Rules  
SENATE BILLS
SB 0010 Registered Professional Nurses; provide continuing competency requirements as a requirement for license renewal Carter, Buddy 1st 2/14/2013 9:47 Senate Read Second Time   H&HS
SB 0013 Nurses; require mandatory reporting Carter, Buddy 1st 2/14/2013 9:47 Senate Read Second Time   H&HS
SB 0014 Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force; create Unterman, Renee 45th 2/8/2013 9:43 House Second Readers HumR H&HS
SB 0023 "Stacey Nicole English Act"; aid in the location of missing persons; incapacitated due to medical conditions; establish Davenport, Gail 44th 1/28/2013 10:20 Senate Read and Referred   PUB SAF
SB 0024 "Hospital Medicaid Financing Program Act"; enact Bethel, Charlie 54th 2/13/2013 16:27 Senate Date Signed by Governor GAff RI&Util
SB 0034 Public Order and Safety; unlawful for mentally incompetent person to possess a handgun; penalties James, Donzella 35th 1/15/2013 10:25 Senate Read and Referred   JUDYNC
SB 0037 Abortion; change certain provisions relating to criminal abortion Orrock, Nan 36th 1/15/2013 10:25 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0038 Insurance; provide individual accident and sickness insurance policies in Georgia Orrock, Nan 36th 1/15/2013 10:25 Senate Read and Referred   I&L
SB 0046 Insurance; establish the Georgia Health Insurance Marketplace Authority Orrock, Nan 36th 1/15/2013 10:25 Senate Read and Referred   I&L
SB 0047 Insurance; provide each individual accident/sickness policy; coverage for treatment of dependent children with cancer/autism Fort, Vincent 39th 1/15/2013 10:25 Senate Read and Referred   I&L
SB 0062 Federal and State Funded Health Care Financing Program Overview Committee; establish Hill, Judson 32nd 1/28/2013 10:20 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0063 State Government; federal health care reform legislation; legislative findings Hill, Judson 32nd 1/28/2013 10:20 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0065 Mental Health; authorize licensed professional counselor to perform certain acts; secure certification Unterman, Renee 45th 2/13/2013 9:38 House Second Readers H&HS H&HS
SB 0085 Physicians; authorize the administration of vaccines by pharmacists or nurses; vaccine protocol agreements Bethel, Charlie 54th 1/31/2013 10:15 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0089 Fire Protection/Safety; require every public/private school and early care and education program to have carbon monoxide detectors/warning equipment Fort, Vincent 39th 2/1/2013 9:14 Senate Read and Referred   ED&Y
SB 0094 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses; delegation of authority to order radiographic imaging tests; revise prov. Millar, Fran 40th 2/4/2013 13:07 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0098 'Federal Abortion Mandate Opt-out Act" Hill, Judson 32nd 2/4/2013 13:07 Senate Read and Referred   I&L
SB 0128 Professional Counselors; revise definitions relating to marriage and family therapy Millar, Fran 40th 2/11/2013 10:15 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0132 Pharmacists/Pharmacies; revise the definition of "security paper" Carter, Buddy 1st 2/11/2013 10:15 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0134 Controlled Substances; revise the definition of "prescriber" Carter, Buddy 1st 2/11/2013 10:15 Senate Read and Referred   JUDYNC
SB 0141 'Patient Injury Act'; create an alternative medical malpractice litigation Beach, Brandon 21st 2/11/2013 10:15 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0158 Temporary Medical Consent Guardianship; Physician Order for Life-sustaining Treatment; change certain signatures Orrock, Nan 36th 2/13/2013 10:13 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0163 Community Health Dept.; required to study and identify options for Medicaid reform Ligon, Jr., William 3rd 2/14/2013 9:42 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SB 0170 Forgery and Fraudulent Practices; identity fraud; add medical identity fraud Hill, Judson 32nd 2/14/2013 11:44 Senate Hopper    
SB 0171 Health Planning; single ambulatory surgical centers/joint venture; acquired are exempt from certain requirements under Chapter 6 of Title 31 Balfour, Don 9th 2/14/2013 11:59 Senate Hopper    
SB 0173 'Accuracy and Transparency in Physician/Provider Profiling Act'; provide for physician profiling program McKoon, Joshua 29th 2/14/2013 14:10 Senate Hopper    
SENATE RESOLUTIONS
SR 0012 Governor; urge to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act Henson, Steve 41st 1/15/2013 10:25 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SR 0020 Autism Spectrum Disorders; request screening James, Donzella 35th 1/16/2013 10:28 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SR 0037 Women with Heart Disease; recognize the struggle faced everyday Unterman, Renee 45th 1/28/2013 11:15 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0062 "Dental Hygienists Appreciation Day"; recognize February 1 Jackson, Lester 2nd 1/29/2013 11:13 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0099 "Health Care Freedom of Choice Constitutional Amendment" -CA Hill, Judson 32nd 1/30/2013 10:10 Senate Read and Referred   H&HS
SR 0121 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Day; recognize January 30 Gooch, Steve 51st 1/31/2013 10:42 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0126 Lupus Awareness Day; recognize February 13 Unterman, Renee 45th 1/31/2013 10:42 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0133 Thrombosis Awareness Month; recognize September Unterman, Renee 45th 2/1/2013 9:50 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0136 Skin Cancer Awareness Day; recognize February 6 Unterman, Renee 45th 2/4/2013 14:19 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0173 American Red Cross Month; recognize March Shafer, David 48th 2/6/2013 11:23 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0186 Rural Health Day; recognize February 20 Golden, Tim 8th 2/7/2013 10:51 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0213 "Community Health Centers Day"; recognize February 14 Golden, Tim 8th 2/12/2013 11:14 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0217 General Assembly; authorize to provide by law for pari-mutuel wagering in horse racing Thompson, Curt 5th 2/12/2013 10:21 Senate Read and Referred   RI&Util
SR 0219 Emergency Medical Services Day; recognize February 20 Hill, Judson 32nd 2/12/2013 11:14 Senate Read and Adopted    
SR 0228 Health Insurance; requesting the repeal of the $100 billion federal sales tax imposed by Affordable Care Act Shafer, David 48th 2/13/2013 10:13 Senate Read and Referred   RULES
SR 0243 Carter, Former First Lady Rosalyn; recognize Ramsey, Sr., Ronald 43rd 2/14/2013 11:46 Senate Hopper    
Legislative Agenda and Hot Bills