| 4 | | - | SECTION 1.1 |
|---|
| 5 | | - | Creating the House Study Committee on Improving Access to Internal Medicine in2 |
|---|
| 6 | | - | Underserved Areas; and for other purposes.3 |
|---|
| 7 | | - | WHEREAS, 75 percent of Georgia counties are considered rural; and4 |
|---|
| 8 | | - | WHEREAS, rural Georgian communities often lack access to quality health care; and5 |
|---|
| 9 | | - | WHEREAS, as of 2022, one in ten Georgians live in a county with no more than a single6 |
|---|
| 10 | | - | physician; and7 |
|---|
| 11 | | - | WHEREAS, recent studies have reported that approximately 40 counties, making up roughly8 |
|---|
| 12 | | - | one-quarter of Georgia's total county count, have no internal medicine physician; and9 |
|---|
| 13 | | - | WHEREAS, Georgia ranked fortieth among all states in the ratio of active patient care10 |
|---|
| 14 | | - | physicians to the population, with one physician for every 480 people; and11 |
|---|
| 15 | | - | WHEREAS, as of last year, 142 of Georgia's 159 counties are healthcare professional12 |
|---|
| 16 | | - | shortage areas, meaning there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider; and13 |
|---|
| 17 | | - | - 1 - LC 44 3208S |
|---|
| 18 | | - | WHEREAS, rural communities within the state are challenged with recruiting and retaining14 |
|---|
| 19 | | - | healthcare providers and staff; and15 |
|---|
| 20 | | - | WHEREAS, transportation is not always accessible in rural areas of the state; and16 |
|---|
| 21 | | - | WHEREAS, three out of four counties in Georgia are considered health transportation17 |
|---|
| 22 | | - | shortage areas; and18 |
|---|
| 23 | | - | WHEREAS, health transportation shortage areas experience increased levels of19 |
|---|
| 24 | | - | transportation barriers to healthcare, such as public transportation availability and high20 |
|---|
| 25 | | - | household poverty rates; and21 |
|---|
| 26 | | - | WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to thoroughly evaluate the most prudent and22 |
|---|
| 27 | | - | cost-effective ways to increase access to internal medicine in rural Georgian communities,23 |
|---|
| 28 | | - | with particular focus on those rural communities experiencing health transportation24 |
|---|
| 29 | | - | shortages.25 |
|---|
| 30 | | - | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:26 |
|---|
| 31 | | - | (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee27 |
|---|
| 32 | | - | on Improving Access to Internal Medicine in Underserved Areas.28 |
|---|
| 33 | | - | (2) Members and officers.29 |
|---|
| 34 | | - | (A) The committee shall be composed of eight members.30 |
|---|
| 35 | | - | (B) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five members of the31 |
|---|
| 36 | | - | House of Representatives.32 |
|---|
| 37 | | - | (C) The Speaker shall also appoint an additional three nonlegislative members of the33 |
|---|
| 38 | | - | committee who are licensed healthcare providers in this state and who are familiar with34 |
|---|
| 39 | | - | the needs of rural Georgia.35 |
|---|
| 40 | | - | - 2 - LC 44 3208S |
|---|
| 41 | | - | (D) The Speaker shall also designate a legislative member of the committee as36 |
|---|
| 42 | | - | chairperson of the committee.37 |
|---|
| 43 | | - | (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,38 |
|---|
| 44 | | - | issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or39 |
|---|
| 45 | | - | legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.40 |
|---|
| 46 | | - | (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee41 |
|---|
| 47 | | - | may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or42 |
|---|
| 48 | | - | convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and43 |
|---|
| 49 | | - | accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.44 |
|---|
| 50 | | - | (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.45 |
|---|
| 51 | | - | (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided46 |
|---|
| 52 | | - | for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.47 |
|---|
| 53 | | - | (B) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state48 |
|---|
| 54 | | - | employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that49 |
|---|
| 55 | | - | specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia50 |
|---|
| 56 | | - | Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state51 |
|---|
| 57 | | - | employees.52 |
|---|
| 58 | | - | (C) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member53 |
|---|
| 59 | | - | of the committee for more than three days unless additional days are authorized. Funds54 |
|---|
| 60 | | - | necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds55 |
|---|
| 61 | | - | appropriated to the House of Representatives.56 |
|---|
| 62 | | - | (6) Report.57 |
|---|
| 63 | | - | (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that58 |
|---|
| 64 | | - | include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the59 |
|---|
| 65 | | - | same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to60 |
|---|
| 66 | | - | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.61 |
|---|
| 67 | | - | - 3 - LC 44 3208S |
|---|
| 68 | | - | (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for62 |
|---|
| 69 | | - | proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)63 |
|---|
| 70 | | - | of this paragraph.64 |
|---|
| 71 | | - | (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of65 |
|---|
| 72 | | - | abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.66 |
|---|
| 73 | | - | A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with67 |
|---|
| 74 | | - | the Clerk of the House of Representatives.68 |
|---|
| 75 | | - | (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the69 |
|---|
| 76 | | - | House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu70 |
|---|
| 77 | | - | thereof.71 |
|---|
| 78 | | - | (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.72 |
|---|
| 79 | | - | SECTION 2.73 |
|---|
| 80 | | - | Creating the House Study Committee on the Affordability and Accessibility of Georgia's74 |
|---|
| 81 | | - | Legitimation Process; and for other purposes.75 |
|---|
| 82 | | - | WHEREAS, in Georgia, a biological father who is not married to the mother of his child at76 |
|---|
| 83 | | - | the time of such child's birth must file a separate legal petition in order to legitimate the child77 |
|---|
| 84 | | - | and obtain legal rights as a parent; and78 |
|---|
| 85 | | - | WHEREAS, the benefit of having two parents responsible for a child is known to have a79 |
|---|
| 86 | | - | positive effect on a child's welfare; and80 |
|---|
| 87 | | - | WHEREAS, in Georgia, biological fathers who wish to obtain parental rights to their81 |
|---|
| 88 | | - | children are discouraged from doing so, often due to a lack of resources or awareness of the82 |
|---|
| 89 | | - | costs associated with legitimation; and83 |
|---|
| 90 | | - | - 4 - LC 44 3208S |
|---|
| 91 | | - | WHEREAS, it is worth considering whether the legitimation process in Georgia may be84 |
|---|
| 92 | | - | improved in a way that yields it more affordable and accessible, particularly for those85 |
|---|
| 93 | | - | biological fathers with limited financial resources.86 |
|---|
| 94 | | - | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:87 |
|---|
| 95 | | - | (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee88 |
|---|
| 96 | | - | on the Affordability and Accessibility of Georgia's Legitimation Process.89 |
|---|
| 97 | | - | (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the90 |
|---|
| 98 | | - | House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate91 |
|---|
| 99 | | - | a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.92 |
|---|
| 100 | | - | (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,93 |
|---|
| 101 | | - | issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or94 |
|---|
| 102 | | - | legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.95 |
|---|
| 103 | | - | (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee96 |
|---|
| 104 | | - | may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or97 |
|---|
| 105 | | - | convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and98 |
|---|
| 106 | | - | accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.99 |
|---|
| 107 | | - | (5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive100 |
|---|
| 108 | | - | the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia101 |
|---|
| 109 | | - | Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any102 |
|---|
| 110 | | - | member of the committee for more than three days unless additional days are authorized. 103 |
|---|
| 111 | | - | Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds104 |
|---|
| 112 | | - | appropriated to the House of Representatives.105 |
|---|
| 113 | | - | (6) Report.106 |
|---|
| 114 | | - | (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that107 |
|---|
| 115 | | - | include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the108 |
|---|
| 116 | | - | - 5 - LC 44 3208S |
|---|
| 117 | | - | same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to109 |
|---|
| 118 | | - | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.110 |
|---|
| 119 | | - | (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for111 |
|---|
| 120 | | - | proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)112 |
|---|
| 121 | | - | of this paragraph.113 |
|---|
| 122 | | - | (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of114 |
|---|
| 123 | | - | abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.115 |
|---|
| 124 | | - | A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with116 |
|---|
| 125 | | - | the Clerk of the House of Representatives.117 |
|---|
| 126 | | - | (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the118 |
|---|
| 127 | | - | House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu119 |
|---|
| 128 | | - | thereof.120 |
|---|
| 129 | | - | (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.121 |
|---|
| 130 | | - | SECTION 3.122 |
|---|
| 131 | | - | Creating the House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia; and for other123 |
|---|
| 132 | | - | purposes.124 |
|---|
| 133 | | - | WHEREAS, the Georgia General Assembly has long considered multiple legislative125 |
|---|
| 134 | | - | measures to permit the voters of Georgia to decide whether or not to allow the state and its126 |
|---|
| 135 | | - | counties to decide whether or not to authorize or opt in to land based destination resort127 |
|---|
| 136 | | - | casinos, pari-mutuel and fixed-odds horse racing, and whether or not to permit digital, retail,128 |
|---|
| 137 | | - | and on-premise sports betting; and129 |
|---|
| 138 | | - | WHEREAS, the General Assembly needs to determine how legalization of gaming in this130 |
|---|
| 139 | | - | state if approved by the people and enabled by the General Assembly would contribute to the131 |
|---|
| 140 | | - | economy and workforce development of this state as to revenue expectations and quality of132 |
|---|
| 141 | | - | - 6 - LC 44 3208S |
|---|
| 142 | | - | jobs being available when weighed against what social and societal ills may come to Georgia133 |
|---|
| 143 | | - | if gaming is approved by the citizens of this state; and134 |
|---|
| 144 | | - | WHEREAS, the General Assembly needs to determine if the legalization of gaming would135 |
|---|
| 145 | | - | also increase tax revenues for Georgia and aid in meeting the budgetary demands of136 |
|---|
| 146 | | - | government; and137 |
|---|
| 147 | | - | WHEREAS, many of our citizens travel substantial distances to engage in gaming activities138 |
|---|
| 148 | | - | and enjoy the resort atmosphere in states such as Nevada, Mississippi, Alabama, North139 |
|---|
| 149 | | - | Carolina, and Massachusetts; and140 |
|---|
| 150 | | - | WHEREAS, if gaming was expanded in this state, the money spent in other states might141 |
|---|
| 151 | | - | remain with the industries and tax revenues of this state; and142 |
|---|
| 152 | | - | WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has a large agricultural industry that contributes143 |
|---|
| 153 | | - | significantly to the economy of this state and a portion of that industry is involved with the144 |
|---|
| 154 | | - | breeding, raising, and training of horses; and145 |
|---|
| 155 | | - | WHEREAS, the legalization of horse racing and pari-mutuel betting in this state could aid146 |
|---|
| 156 | | - | in the further development and expansion of Georgia's horse breeding and raising industry147 |
|---|
| 157 | | - | and foster its contribution to the economy of this state; and148 |
|---|
| 158 | | - | WHEREAS, the financial implications for the state of such potential legalization as well as149 |
|---|
| 159 | | - | previously considered measures by the General Assembly to improve Georgia's economy150 |
|---|
| 160 | | - | deserve to be further considered and studied along with the social, fiscal, and economic151 |
|---|
| 161 | | - | impacts and the financial viability of such endeavors.152 |
|---|
| 162 | | - | - 7 - LC 44 3208S |
|---|
| 163 | | - | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:153 |
|---|
| 164 | | - | (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee154 |
|---|
| 165 | | - | on Gaming in the State of Georgia.155 |
|---|
| 166 | | - | (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of seven members. The 156 |
|---|
| 167 | | - | members of the committee shall be the chairpersons of the House Committee on Ways157 |
|---|
| 168 | | - | and Means, the House Committee on Regulated Industries, and the House Committee on158 |
|---|
| 169 | | - | Economic Development and four other members of the House of Representatives159 |
|---|
| 170 | | - | appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be160 |
|---|
| 171 | | - | designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as chairperson of the161 |
|---|
| 172 | | - | committee.162 |
|---|
| 173 | | - | (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,163 |
|---|
| 174 | | - | issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or164 |
|---|
| 175 | | - | legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.165 |
|---|
| 176 | | - | (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee166 |
|---|
| 177 | | - | shall hold at least four public hearings at various locations throughout this state and at167 |
|---|
| 178 | | - | least one meeting to discuss and finalize findings. Such hearings and meeting shall be168 |
|---|
| 179 | | - | conducted at such places and at such times as deemed necessary or convenient to enable169 |
|---|
| 180 | | - | the committee to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and170 |
|---|
| 181 | | - | accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.171 |
|---|
| 182 | | - | (5) Allowances and funding.172 |
|---|
| 183 | | - | (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided173 |
|---|
| 184 | | - | for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.174 |
|---|
| 185 | | - | (B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member175 |
|---|
| 186 | | - | of the committee for more than three days unless additional days are authorized. Funds176 |
|---|
| 187 | | - | necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds177 |
|---|
| 188 | | - | appropriated to the House of Representatives.178 |
|---|
| 189 | | - | - 8 - LC 44 3208S |
|---|
| 190 | | - | (6) Report. The committee shall adopt specific findings or recommendations that179 |
|---|
| 191 | | - | include proposed legislation, and the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to180 |
|---|
| 192 | | - | the date of abolishment specified in this resolution.181 |
|---|
| 193 | | - | (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.182 |
|---|
| 194 | | - | - 9 - |
|---|
| 14 | + | Creating the House Study Committee on Improving Access to Internal Medicine in Rural |
|---|
| 15 | + | 1 |
|---|
| 16 | + | Areas; and for other purposes.2 |
|---|
| 17 | + | WHEREAS, 75 percent of Georgia counties are considered rural; and3 |
|---|
| 18 | + | WHEREAS, rural Georgian communities often lack access to quality health care; and4 |
|---|
| 19 | + | WHEREAS, as of 2022, one in ten Georgians live in a county with no more than a single5 |
|---|
| 20 | + | physician; and6 |
|---|
| 21 | + | WHEREAS, recent studies have reported that approximately 40 counties, making up roughly7 |
|---|
| 22 | + | one-quarter of Georgia's total county count, have no internal medicine physician; and8 |
|---|
| 23 | + | WHEREAS, Georgia ranked fortieth among all states in the ratio of active patient care9 |
|---|
| 24 | + | physicians to the population, with one physician for every 480 people; and10 |
|---|
| 25 | + | WHEREAS, as of last year, 142 of Georgia's 159 counties are healthcare professional11 |
|---|
| 26 | + | shortage areas, meaning there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider; and12 |
|---|
| 27 | + | H. R. 753 |
|---|
| 28 | + | - 1 - 25 LC 57 0253 |
|---|
| 29 | + | WHEREAS, rural communities within the state are challenged with recruiting and retaining |
|---|
| 30 | + | 13 |
|---|
| 31 | + | healthcare providers and staff; and14 |
|---|
| 32 | + | WHEREAS, transportation is not always accessible in rural areas of the state; and15 |
|---|
| 33 | + | WHEREAS, three out of four counties in Georgia are considered health transportation16 |
|---|
| 34 | + | shortage areas; and17 |
|---|
| 35 | + | WHEREAS, health transportation shortage areas experience increased levels of18 |
|---|
| 36 | + | transportation barriers to healthcare, such as public transportation availability and high19 |
|---|
| 37 | + | household poverty rates; and20 |
|---|
| 38 | + | WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to thoroughly evaluate the most prudent and21 |
|---|
| 39 | + | cost-effective ways to increase access to internal medicine in rural Georgian communities,22 |
|---|
| 40 | + | with particular focus on those rural communities experiencing health transportation23 |
|---|
| 41 | + | shortages.24 |
|---|
| 42 | + | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:25 |
|---|
| 43 | + | (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee26 |
|---|
| 44 | + | on Improving Access to Internal Medicine in Rural Areas.27 |
|---|
| 45 | + | (2) Members and officers.28 |
|---|
| 46 | + | (A) The committee shall be composed of eight members.29 |
|---|
| 47 | + | (B) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five members of the30 |
|---|
| 48 | + | House of Representatives.31 |
|---|
| 49 | + | (C) The Speaker shall also appoint an additional three nonlegislative members of the32 |
|---|
| 50 | + | committee who are licensed healthcare providers in this state and who are familiar with33 |
|---|
| 51 | + | the needs of rural Georgia.34 |
|---|
| 52 | + | H. R. 753 |
|---|
| 53 | + | - 2 - 25 LC 57 0253 |
|---|
| 54 | + | (D) The Speaker shall also designate a legislative member of the committee as |
|---|
| 55 | + | 35 |
|---|
| 56 | + | chairperson of the committee.36 |
|---|
| 57 | + | (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,37 |
|---|
| 58 | + | issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or38 |
|---|
| 59 | + | legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.39 |
|---|
| 60 | + | (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee40 |
|---|
| 61 | + | may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or41 |
|---|
| 62 | + | convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and42 |
|---|
| 63 | + | accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.43 |
|---|
| 64 | + | (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.44 |
|---|
| 65 | + | (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided45 |
|---|
| 66 | + | for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.46 |
|---|
| 67 | + | (B) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state47 |
|---|
| 68 | + | employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that48 |
|---|
| 69 | + | specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia49 |
|---|
| 70 | + | Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state50 |
|---|
| 71 | + | employees.51 |
|---|
| 72 | + | (C) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member52 |
|---|
| 73 | + | of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds53 |
|---|
| 74 | + | necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds54 |
|---|
| 75 | + | appropriated to the House of Representatives.55 |
|---|
| 76 | + | (6) Report.56 |
|---|
| 77 | + | (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that57 |
|---|
| 78 | + | include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the58 |
|---|
| 79 | + | same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to59 |
|---|
| 80 | + | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.60 |
|---|
| 81 | + | H. R. 753 |
|---|
| 82 | + | - 3 - 25 LC 57 0253 |
|---|
| 83 | + | (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for |
|---|
| 84 | + | 61 |
|---|
| 85 | + | proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)62 |
|---|
| 86 | + | of this paragraph.63 |
|---|
| 87 | + | (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of64 |
|---|
| 88 | + | abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.65 |
|---|
| 89 | + | A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with66 |
|---|
| 90 | + | the Clerk of the House of Representatives.67 |
|---|
| 91 | + | (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the68 |
|---|
| 92 | + | House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu69 |
|---|
| 93 | + | thereof.70 |
|---|
| 94 | + | (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.71 |
|---|
| 95 | + | H. R. 753 |
|---|
| 96 | + | - 4 - |
|---|