25 LC 57 0257S
The House Committee on Public and Community Health offers the following substitute
to HB 291:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to1
provide for the certification of community health workers; to provide for definitions; to2
provide for the establishment of the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification3
Committee; to provide for membership, powers, and duties of the committee; to provide for4
committee abolishment and transfer of powers and duties to the Department of Public Health;5
to provide for administrative support; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for6
standards; to provide for the approval of training programs; to provide for application7
procedures; to provide for requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for an8
effective date conditioned on appropriations; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other9
purposes.10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11
SECTION 1.12
Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, is amended by revising13
Chapter 31, which is reserved, as follows:14
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"CHAPTER 3115
31-31-1.16
As used in this chapter, the term:17
(1) 'Certified community health worker' means an individual to whom the committee has18
issued a certificate to serve as a certified community health worker based on standards19
and requirements approved by the department.20
(2) 'Commissioner' means the commissioner of public health.21
(3) 'Committee' means the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee22
established by Code Section 31-31-2.23
(4) 'Community health worker' means a frontline public health worker who is a trusted24
member of a community or has a demonstrated knowledge of a community and25
individuals served and:26
(A) Provides culturally appropriate health education, information, and outreach in27
community based settings such as homes, schools, clinics, shelters, local businesses,28
and community centers;29
(B) Bridges or culturally mediates between individuals, communities, and health and30
human services, including actively building individual and community capacity;31
(C) Assures that community members access the services they need;32
(D) Provides direct services, such as informal counseling, social support, care33
coordination, and health screenings;34
(E) Advocates for individual and community needs with an emphasis on healthcare35
needs; and36
(F) Provides any additional services that may emerge in the development of37
community health worker practice.38
(5) 'Core competencies' means the knowledge and skills a certified community health39
worker is expected to demonstrate in order to carry out the mission and goals of the40
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profession. Such term includes, but is not limited to, communication skills; interpersonal41
and relationship-building skills; service coordination and navigation skills;42
capacity-building skills; patient advocacy skills; education and facilitation skills;43
individual and community assessment skills; community outreach and engagement skills;44
evaluation and research skills; and knowledge base.45
(6) 'Department' means the Department of Public Health.46
(7) 'Training program' means an education and training program that meets the47
curriculum and training required for a community health worker to be eligible for48
certification and that has been approved by the department based on standards and49
requirements recommended by the committee. Reserved.50
31-31-2.51
(a) There is established the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee.52
The commissioner shall appoint the 11 voting members of the committee as follows:53
(1) One licensed physician with a specialization in primary care or family medicine;54
(2) One licensed physician with a specialization in maternal and child health;55
(3) One licensed physician with a specialization in geriatrics;56
(4) One licensed social worker;57
(5) Three representatives of community health worker employers, one of whom shall58
represent hospitals, one of whom shall represent a federally qualified health center, and59
one of whom shall represent a community based organization;60
(6) One person with experience and training in public health policy, with special61
consideration given to an active member of the Georgia Community Health Worker62
Advocacy Coalition;63
(7) Two practicing community health workers, provided that such persons are eligible64
for certification as community health workers in this state and shall obtain such65
certification within a time frame specified in bylaws adopted by the committee; and66
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(8) One active member of the Georgia Community Health Worker Advisory Board.67
(b) The commissioner shall appoint two department representatives to serve as nonvoting68
members of the committee.69
(c) Any voting member of the committee shall serve a two-year term, and no such member70
shall serve on the committee for more than two consecutive full terms. A member71
appointed for less than a full term may serve two consecutive full terms, and a former72
member shall be eligible again for appointment after a lapse of one or more years.73
(d) If there is a vacancy on the committee, such position shall be filled in the same manner74
as the original appointment. Members of the committee may be removed from office by75
the commissioner under the same conditions for removal from office of members of76
professional licensing boards provided in Code Section 43-1-17.77
(e) Members shall serve without compensation, but they may be reimbursed by the78
department, subject to fund availability, in the same manner as state officials and79
employees for travel and other expenses actually incurred by them in carrying out their80
duties as members of the committee.81
(f) The committee shall be abolished June 30, 2029, and the powers and duties of the82
committee shall transfer to the department upon such abolishment.83
31-31-3.84
(a) The committee shall meet at least quarterly and may meet at such other times at the call85
of the chairperson or by a majority of the members as necessary to transact its business.86
Such meetings may be conducted in person, by telephone, by virtual means, or any87
combination thereof.88
(b) The committee shall elect a chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary from among89
its membership. Such officers shall serve for terms of two years.90
(c) A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum and shall have91
the authority to act upon any matter properly brought before the committee. The92
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committee shall follow all policies and procedures of Chapter 14 of Title 50, relating to93
open and public meetings.94
(d) The committee shall have the following powers and duties:95
(1) To make recommendations to the department on the standards and requirements for96
approval of training programs and a means for programs providing education and training97
to community health workers prior to July 1, 2026, to become approved training98
programs;99
(2) To make recommendations to the department on the standards and requirements for100
the certification of community health workers and a means for individuals employed or101
engaged as community health workers prior to July 1, 2026, to become certified102
community health workers;103
(3) To make recommendations to the department on the standards and a means to assess104
the mastery of core competencies necessary for an individual to become a certified105
community health worker;106
(4) To provide for an expedited means for a community health worker duly certified in107
another jurisdiction to become a certified community health worker in this state;108
(5) To make recommendations to the department on the establishment of tiered levels of109
practice for certified community health workers and requirements for each established110
level, including a level that qualifies a certified community health worker to act as an111
educator or trainer in an approved training program;112
(6) To establish a process for the receipt, review, approval, and denial of applications for113
certification;114
(7) To establish a process for the receipt and review of complaints related to the practice115
of certified community health workers;116
(8) To establish disciplinary procedures and actions, including revocation or denial of117
a certificate issued, or a combination of the foregoing; and118
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(9) To perform such other functions and duties in order to protect public health, safety,119
and welfare as may be required to carry out this chapter.120
(e) The department shall provide reasonably necessary administrative support for121
committee activities.122
(f) The department shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to123
implement the provisions of this article, including recommendations from the committee.124
31-31-4.125
(a) All training programs in this state shall satisfy the requirements established by the126
department. No entity shall hold itself out as providing training and education for certified127
community health workers in this state unless its training program has been approved by128
the committee.129
(b) The department shall post on its website the requirements and the application form for130
a training program to become approved and for the renewal of such approvals. Such131
requirements shall include 45 hours of core competency training, of which 16 hours shall132
include training on specific health topics.133
(c) An applicant for an approved training program shall submit an application to the134
committee demonstrating satisfaction of the requirements for a training program and pay135
a fee set by the department; provided, however, that, if an applicant provided education and136
training to community health workers prior to July 1, 2026, such applicant shall submit an137
application to the committee demonstrating satisfaction of requirements for such program,138
pay a fee set by the department, and provide a list of students who successfully completed139
such program at any time from January 1, 2016, to July 1, 2026.140
(d) An application is not complete until the committee has received all the required141
materials. The committee shall notify the applicant within 15 calendar days after receipt142
of an application whether such application is complete or incomplete and identify any143
materials that are needed to complete such application. When the applicant fails to provide144
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the required documentation within 120 calendar days of notification, the committee may145
administratively close such application or deny the application. An applicant whose146
application is administratively closed or denied may reapply and submit a new application147
and a new application fee.148
(e) The approvals of training programs under this Code section shall be valid for up to two149
years and shall expire biennially unless renewed. Suspension and revocation of approvals150
shall be subject to the administrative procedures contained in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the151
'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.'152
31-31-5.153
(a) The title 'certified community health worker' shall only be used by individuals who154
have met the requirements and qualifications for certification as a community health155
worker as established by the committee and have been duly certified by the committee. An156
individual certified as a community health worker shall identify himself or herself as a157
certified community health worker during any patient interactions and shall not utilize any158
other titles that such individual is not certified or licensed to use.159
(b) The department shall post on its website the requirements and the application form for160
a community health worker to become certified and for the renewals of such certificates.161
(c) An applicant for a certified community health worker shall submit an application to the162
committee demonstrating satisfaction of the requirements for a certified community health163
worker and pay a fee set by the department. A certified community health worker shall:164
(1) Be 18 years of age or older;165
(2) Possess a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent;166
(3) Not be ineligible for certification on grounds established by the committee;167
(4) Provide professional references, one of which shall be a current or former supervisor,168
with direct knowledge of the applicant's work and ability in the core competencies for169
community health workers;170
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(5) Have received satisfactory results from a fingerprint record check report conducted171
by the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as172
determined by the committee. Application for the issuance of a certificate under this173
chapter shall constitute express consent and authorization for the department to perform174
a criminal background check. Each applicant who submits an application to the175
committee for a certificate agrees to provide the department with any and all information176
necessary to run a criminal background check, including, but not limited to, classifiable177
sets of fingerprints. Such applicant shall be responsible for all fees associated with the178
performance of such background check;179
(6) Submit proof of successful completion of an approved training program and 2,000180
hours of employment as a community health worker within ten years of the date of181
application; and182
(7) Any other requirements established by rules and regulations promulgated by the183
department.184
(d) An applicant may satisfy the requirement provided in paragraph (6) of subsection (c)185
of this Code section if such applicant submits an application prior to July 1, 2027, and186
proof of:187
(1) Successful completion of an education and training program for community health188
workers completed between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2026, and 2,000 hours of189
employment as a community health worker within ten years of the date of application as190
established by the committee; or191
(2) At least 4,000 hours of employment as a community health worker within ten years192
of the date of application and an attestation from an employer that such applicant193
performed duties that included core competencies and is competent to perform activities194
as a certified community health worker as established by the committee.195
(e) An application for a certified community health worker is not complete until the196
committee has received all the required materials. The committee shall notify the applicant197
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within 15 calendar days after receipt of an application whether such application is complete198
or incomplete and identify any materials that are needed to complete such application.199
When the applicant fails to provide the required documentation within 120 calendar days200
of notification, the committee may administratively close such application or deny the201
application. An applicant whose application is administratively closed or denied may202
reapply and submit a new application and a new application fee.203
(f) Certificates issued pursuant to this Code section shall be valid for up to two years and204
shall expire biennially unless renewed. Suspension and revocation of certificates shall be205
subject to the administrative procedures contained in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia206
Administrative Procedure Act.'"207
SECTION 2.208
(a) This Act shall become effective only if funds are specifically appropriated for the209
purposes of this Act in an appropriations Act enacted by the General Assembly.210
(b) If funds are so appropriated, then this Act shall become effective on the later of:211
(1) The date on which such appropriations Act becomes effective; or212
(2) The beginning date of the fiscal year for which such appropriations are made.213
SECTION 3.214
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.215
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