25 LC 52 9002
House Resolution 685
By: Representatives Sainz of the 180
th
, Taylor of the 173
rd
, Jones of the 47
th
, Oliver of the
84
th
, and Ballard of the 147
th
A RESOLUTION
Creating the House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development; and for
1
other purposes.2
WHEREAS, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, the United3
States is experiencing a mental health crisis, and more than half of the U.S. population lives4
in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area; and5
WHEREAS, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance use,6
behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 19 percent from 20237
to 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations; and8
WHEREAS, the need for qualified clinical mental health professionals is at a critical level,9
particularly in rural Georgia; and10
WHEREAS, although undergraduate degrees in behavioral science, social work, sociology,11
or psychology can prepare students for graduate school, many students would prefer degrees12
that prepare them for immediate careers upon graduation; and13
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WHEREAS, providing qualified baccalaureate mental health professionals a path to licensure
14
or certification would help alleviate the shortage of mental health professionals in the15
workforce in Georgia; and16
WHEREAS, an increase in the number of qualified mental health professionals in Georgia17
will ensure greater accessibility to mental health services; and18
WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to conduct a study to survey current undergraduate19
degrees and projected mental health careers available to college graduates, evaluate20
employment needs and opportunities, and recommend mental health workforce development21
initiatives.22
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:23
(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee24
on Mental Health Workforce Development.25
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the26
House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of27
Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson28
of the committee.29
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,30
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or31
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.32
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee33
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or34
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and35
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.36
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(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive
37
the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia38
Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any39
member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized.40
Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds41
appropriated to the House of Representatives.42
(6) Report.43
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that44
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the45
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to46
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.47
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for48
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)49
of this paragraph.50
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of51
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.52
A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with53
the Clerk of the House of Representatives.54
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the55
House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu56
thereof.57
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.58
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