25 LC 52 0604
Senate Bill 131
By: Senators Hodges of the 3rd, Watson of the 1st, Still of the 48th, Dixon of the 45th,
Goodman of the 8th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 10 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
1
Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, so as to provide for the establishment of the2
Georgia Health Care Professionals Data System; to provide for definitions; to provide for3
collaboration with state licensing boards; to provide for a publicly accessible website; to4
provide for collection of data from state licensing boards; to provide for specified data; to5
provide for seeking of funding sources; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting6
laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
Chapter 10 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia10
Board of Health Care Workforce, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as11
follows:12
"49-10-8.
13
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:14
(1) 'Licensed health care professional' means the following health care professionals15
licensed or certified by a state licensing board:16
S. B. 131
- 1 - 25 LC 52 0604
(A) Physicians, acupuncturists, physician assistants, respiratory care professionals,17
clinical perfusionists, orthotists, prosthetists, cosmetic laser practitioners, and genetic18
counselors;19
(B) Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians;20
(C) Dentists and dental hygienists;21
(D) Chiropractors;22
(E) Optometrists;23
(F) Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants;24
(G) Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants;25
(H) Audiologists and speech-language pathologists;26
(I) Psychologists;27
(J) Licensed practical nurses, registered professional nurses, and advanced practice28
registered nurses, including certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, certified29
registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric/mental health;30
(K) Emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and cardiac technicians;31
(L) Podiatrists;32
(M) Dietitians; and33
(N) Professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists.34
(2) 'State licensing board' means:35
(A) Georgia Composite Medical Board;36
(B) State Board of Pharmacy;37
(C) Georgia Board of Dentistry;38
(D) Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners;39
(E) State Board of Optometry;40
(F) State Board of Occupational Therapy;41
(G) State Board of Physical Therapy;42
(H) State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology;43
S. B. 131
- 2 - 25 LC 52 0604
(I) State Board of Examiners of Psychologists;44
(J) Georgia Board of Nursing;45
(K) Department of Public Health;46
(L) State Board of Podiatry Examiners;47
(M) Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians; and48
(N) Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and49
Marriage and Family Therapists.50
(b) In collaboration with state licensing boards, the board shall create and maintain the51
Georgia Health Care Professionals Data System for the purposes of collecting and52
disseminating nonidentifying descriptive data on licensed health care professionals in this53
state. The board shall compile existing information on licensed health care professionals54
into a single repository of information easily accessible to the public from the board's55
website. The data system shall provide information to the public regarding the56
demographics and geographical distribution of licensed health care professionals in this57
state. The data system shall contain no individually identifying information regarding any58
licensed health care professional.59
(c) State licensing boards shall provide the data specified in subsection (d) of this Code60
section upon request by the board or up to two times annually as required by the board. 61
The board shall work with state licensing boards regarding the manner, form, and content62
for the reporting of such data. The board shall be authorized to enter into memoranda of63
agreement with individual state licensing boards for purposes of data transmission criteria64
pursuant to this Code section.65
(d) State licensing boards shall provide the following data to the board for its licensed66
health care professionals who are in active practice:67
(1) Age;68
(2) Race;69
(3) Gender;70
S. B. 131
- 3 - 25 LC 52 0604
(4) Ethnicity;71
(5) Location of practice; and72
(6) License type.73
(e) The board shall be authorized to seek federal or other sources of funding necessary to74
support the creation and maintenance of the Georgia Health Care Professionals Data75
System."76
SECTION 2.77
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.78
S. B. 131
- 4 -