Insurance (20)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 4/25/2024

HB 0183 SupportImmigration Reform Enhancements to Create Regulatory Efficiencies Jasperse, Rick 11th
2/5/2013 House - House Second Readers I&L --
Alcohol/Tobacco Auditing/Budget General County Government Immigration Insurance
Personnel/Employment Procurement Public Works Retirement Revenue & Finance
Todd Edwards
This legislation addresses one of ACCG's top priorities this session. To reduce paperwork and bureaucratic morass in complying with Georgia's illegal immigration reform laws, HB 183 consolidates three local government immigration reporting mandates to one report, due once a year, to one agency; no longer mandates that businesses seeking business licenses, occupation tax certificiates  or other documents required to operate a business submit E-Verify information to local governments annually, but just once; eliminates "contracts" as a public benefit; allows those submitting documents to local governments to prove immigration status to do so by mail; and allows legal U.S. citizens to only have to prove their citizenship by affidavit once, rather than annually, to receive public benefits from the same agency. 
 
For ACCG's Sectional Summary of HB 183, please click here.   
 
For ACCG's one-stop Web shop on all things immigration for Georgia's county governments, please click here.      
HB 0198 NeutralLicensing of Health Care Navigators to Comply with Affordable Care Act Smith, Richard 134th
7/1/2013 House - Effective Date Ins I&L -
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Insurance Insurance
This legislation requires that persons assisting consumers with finding insurance under the Affordable Care Act are licensed as Health Care Navigators and that adhere to conflict of interest guidelines.
HB 0378 NeutralGEMA - Regulation of Certain Search Functions Hitchens, Bill 161st
2/21/2013 House - House Second Readers PS&HS --
Debra Nesbit Emergency Management/Preparedness Fire Services General County Government Insurance
Insurance Law Enforcement Personnel/Employment Public Safety and Courts
This legislation adds emergency management professionals to the list of public safety officials who are entitled to benefits under the state's indemnification fund.  It also eliminates the licensing of private rescue organizations, marine squadron rescue and search and rescue dog teams by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency Director.
 

 

 
HB 0490 SupportRequire County Library Employees to Work at Least 30 Hours per Week to be Eligible for Health Insurance Barr, Timothy 103rd
7/1/2014 Effective Date HEd H ED -
Debra Nesbit General County Government Health and Human Services Insurance Insurance
Leg Update Draft
Under current law, the Board of Community Health is authorized to contract with county libraries to include certain library staff under health insurance plans created for public school teachers. The county deducts required amounts from the salary of these employees and remits it to the Board of Community Health. This legislation specifies that "librarians" means certified personnel who work at least thirty hours per week. "Other personnel" specifies that it applies to non-certified employees who work at least thirty hours per week. The fiscal note issued with the substitute version of this bill estimates at least a $1.6 million dollar savings to the counties in benefit costs for state paid positions funded by counties.
HB 0504 SupportFailure to Wear a Seat Belt as Contributory Negligence Pak, B.J. 108th
3/3/2014 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Judy --
Civil Procedure General County Government Insurance Insurance Todd Edwards
This bill allows "failure to wear a seat belt" to be admissible as evidence in civil actions for the purpose of mitigating damages in some cases. Georgia counties are often defendants in cases involving motor vehicle accidents where plaintiffs argue that an accident was caused by a defect in a county road. This bill allows counties, as defendants, to introduce evidence that if a front-seat passenger, age 18 years or older, had been wearing a seatbelt (as required by law), he or she may have suffered less extensive injuries. If a jury finds that the failure to wear a seat belt contributed to the occupant's injuries, the jury may reduce the occupant's recovery to the extent that the injuries were caused by failure to wear the seat belt.    
HB 0532 SupportFailure to Wear Seat Belt as Contributory Negligence Jacobs, Mike 80th
3/7/2013 House - House Second Readers Judy --
Civil Procedure General County Government Insurance Insurance Todd Edwards
This bill allows "failure to wear a seat belt" to be admissible as evidence in civil actions for the purpose of mitigating damages.  Georgia counties are often defendants in cases involving motor vehicle accidents where the plaintiffs argue that an accident was caused in an alleged defect in a county road.  This bill simply allows counties, as defendants, to introduce evidence that if a front seat passenger, aged 14 years or older, had been wearing a seat belt as required by law, he or she may have suffered less extensive injuries.  If a jury finds that the failure to wear a seat belt contributed to the occupant's injuries, the jury would be required to reduce the occupant's recover to the extent that the injuries were caused by failure to wear the seat belt.
HB 0707 NegotiatingProhibition of County Government Representatives Advocating for the Expansion of Medicaid Spencer, Jason 180th
3/13/2014 Senate Read Second Time Judy I&L -
Health and Human Services Insurance Shaun Adams
The final version of language from HB 707 was amended onto HB 943 and included the following provisions:
This legislation prohibits county officials or employees from expending money or using human resources or assets to advocate or influence the citizens of this state in support of the voluntary expansion of Medicaid beyond the eligibility criteria in effect under the ACA. Similarly, counties would be prohibited from starting their own health care exchange or participating in a health care exchange provided by a nonprofit organization. There are provisions to protect local governments from acting as a part of their official duty, when on personal time, and when providing bona fide educational instruction about the ACA. Nothing in the bill precludes the state from participating in any Medicaid program. Lastly, it prohibits the state, agencies and political subdivisions from establishing, operating, or implementing a navigator program or it's equivalent. 

The Commissioner of Insurance has been excluded from the prohibitions in the bill as it applies to the implementation or enforcement under this code section.
      
 
The Senate Insurance Committee adopted a substitute that allows the University System of Georgia's grant funded navigator program to continue operation until such time that the grants run out. The bill does not allow for the grants to be renewed.
    

 
HB 0813 EvaluatingEmployers Not Allowed to Question Potential Employment Applicants About Previous Arrest and Conviction Records Keisha Waites
1/24/2014 House Second Readers I&L --
Clerk of Court Correctional Institutions/Jail County Treasurer Debra Nesbit General County Government
Insurance Law Enforcement Personnel/Employment Public Safety and Courts Sheriff
Tax Commissioner

This legislation would make it illegal to include questions on a job application about whether the applicant was arrested for, charged with or convicted of a crime except for those applying for law enforcement jobs. If there is a law prohibiting those who have been arrested, charged or convicted of a particular crime from holding a particular job, then questions about that crime may be asked. Additionally, if a standard fidelity bond or equivalent bond is required for the job and conviction of particular crimes would prevent them from obtaining such a bond, then the employer may ask whether the applicant has ever been convicted of those crimes.

HB 0828 NeutralProhibition of the Sale or Release of Accident Reports by Law Enforcement or Employees Ronnie Mabra
7/1/2014 Effective Date Ins I&L -
Debra Nesbit General County Government Health and Human Services Insurance Insurance
Law Enforcement Open Records/Meetings Act Public Safety and Courts

This legislation makes it illegal for a law enforcement officer or employee to release or sell information about people involved in a vehicle collision for personal financial gain. Law enforcement agencies would still be required to release motor vehicle accident reports in accordance with the open records law. This bill also requires news media organizations to wait 60 days to access accident reports. The name, street address, telephone number and driver's license numbers of the drivers must be redacted before turning the accident reports over to the news media.

HB 0943 NegotiatingProhibition of Local Governments Advocating for Expansion of Medicaid and the Cancer Treatment Fairness Act Lee Hawkins
4/15/2014 House Date Signed by Governor Ins I&L -
Insurance Insurance Leg Update Draft Shaun Adams
Part I of this legislation consists of language from HB 707 which prohibits county officials or employees from expending money or using human resources or assets to advocate or influence the citizens of this state in support of the voluntary expansion of Medicaid beyond the eligibility criteria in effect under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Similarly, counties would be prohibited from starting their own health care exchange or participating in a health care exchange provided by a nonprofit organization. There are provisions to protect local governments from acting as a part of their official duty, when on personal time, and when providing bona fide educational instruction about the ACA. Nothing in the bill precludes the state from participating in any Medicaid program. Lastly, it prohibits the state, agencies and political subdivisions from establishing, operating, or implementing a navigator program or it's equivalent.      
 
The language prohibiting the Commissioner of Insurance from implementing or enforcing the ACA was deleted from the final version of the bill.      
 
The University System of Georgia's grant funded navigator program will continue operation until such time that the grants run out. The bill does not allow for the grants to be renewed.
 
HB 1014 OpposeGeorgia Health Care Freedom Act; enact Sam Moore
2/20/2014 House Second Readers Judy --
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Indigent Health Care Insurance Insurance

This legislation makes it a felony for any county to: create or participate in a health care exchange; buy insurance from a health care exchange; facilitate or participate in the expansion of Medicaid pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; provide advice, guidance or assistance with a health benefit plan as a navigator; pay a commission or compensation to any navigator.   

HB 1133 NeutralMacon, City of; Payne City, City of; Bibb County; commissioners shall be eligible to participate in health care benefits; provide for certain purposes Nikki Randall
4/10/2014 House Date Signed by Governor IGC SLGO -
General County Government Health and Human Services Insurance Insurance Local Legislation
Personnel/Employment
HR 0107 SupportCreation of Joint Committee on Medicaid Reform Sheldon, Donna 104th
5/7/2013 House Date Signed by Governor App RULES -
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Indigent Health Care Insurance Insurance
This legislation establishes a Joint Study Committee on Medicaid Reform.
HR 1055 SupportBiggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act Alex Atwood
2/17/2014 House Passed/Adopted Ins --
Emergency Management/Preparedness General County Government Insurance Leg Update Draft Nat. Res. & the Environment
Public Safety and Courts Shaun Adams Water Quantity

This legislation encourages the United States Congress to repeal or amend the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 to make flood insurance more affordable.

SB 0062 SupportCreation of Federal and State Funded Health Care Financing Program Overview Committee Hill, Judson 32nd
5/7/2013 Senate - Effective Date HumR H&HS -
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Indigent Health Care Insurance Insurance
This legislation creates the Joint Federal and State Funded Health Care Financing Program Overview Committee.
SB 0125 NeutralLiabiltiy of Land Owners for Trespassers Against Harm Stone, Jesse 23rd
7/1/2014 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Debra Nesbit General County Government Government Immunity Insurance Insurance
This legislation establishes liability of property owners for injuries sustained by those who trespass on their land, particularly children. 
SB 0160 SupportIllegal Immigration Reform to Create Regulatory Efficiencies Ginn, Frank 47th
7/1/2013 Senate - Effective Date JudyNC SLGO -
Alcohol/Tobacco Business and Occupation Tax Code Enforcement General County Government Health and Human Services
Immigration Insurance Insurance Personnel/Employment Public Safety and Courts
Public Works Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards
SB 160 is the major illegal immigration reform legislation passed this session and contains ACCG's top legislative priorities of allowing for secure and verifiable documents to be submitted by mail; allowing legal U.S. residents to renew their public benefits without having to annually submit those documents; and consolidating three county reporting requirements into one annual report due to one agency.  For a more thorough summary of SB 160, please click here.
 
SB 0292 NegotiatingProhibition of County Government Representatives Advocating for the Expansion of Medicaid; Alzheimer's Disease Registry Renee Unterman
3/20/2014 Senate Agrees House Amend or Sub As Amended HumR H&HS -
Health and Human Services Indigent Health Care Insurance Insurance Shaun Adams
This legislation was amended to add HB 707, which prohibits county officials or employees from using money or human resources or assets to advocate or influence citizens to support the voluntary expansion of Medicaid. Similarly, counties would be prohibited from starting their own health care exchange or participating in a health care exchange provided by a nonprofit organization. This legislation also prohibits the Insurance Commissioner from investigating of enforcing any health care related provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.
SB 0334 EvaluatingThe Georgia Health Care Freedom and ACA Noncompliance Act Buddy Carter
2/24/2014 Senate Read Second Time -I&L -
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Insurance Insurance
This legislation is the same as HB 707 - please see overview.
SB 0379 SupportFailure to Wear Seat Belt as Contributory Negligence Judson Hill
2/26/2014 Senate Read Second Time -I&L -
General County Government Insurance Insurance Todd Edwards

This legislation, similar to HB 504, allows the failure to wear a seatbelt to be admissable as evidence in civil actions for the purpose of mitigating damages. Georgia counties are often defendants in cases involving motor vehicle accidents and where plaintiffs argue that an accident was caused by a defect in a county road. This bill simply allows counties, as defendants, to introduce evidence that if a passenger had been wearing a seatbelt, as required by law, he or she may have suffered less extensive injuries. If a jury finds that the failure to wear a seat belt contributed to the occupant's injuries, the jury could reduce the occupant's recovery to the extent that the injuries were caused by the failure to wear the seatbelt.

Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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