HB 197 requires any hospital or other licensed health care facility which is not party to an emergency health care services contract with a sheriff or governing authority or its agent on July 1, 2011, shall be reimbursed no more than the applicable Georgia Medicaid rate for emergency health care and follow-up health care services provided to a detainee.

HB 214 removes the public health duties of the Department of Community Health and re-creates the Department of Public Health.

Under current law, a peace officer is required to transport mental health patients who need emergency or involuntary treatment. HB 231 would allow a peace officer to request that medical transport provider be used, which could result in savings and redirect some offenders from the local jails.

This bill allows members of a mobile crisis response team contracted with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to assist in the transport and admission of individuals who are mentally ill. Currently, only law enforcement officers provide this service.

Current law provides that either party in a juvenile court hearing conducted by an associate juvenile can request a rehearing within five days of the associate judge's order. HB 272 removes the option for a rehearing.  Counties will hire associate judges to relieve caseloads on juvenile court judges. This will allow for a more efficient processing of these cases and will save county resources.

This bill adds burn centers who treat at least 300 burn patients annually to the list of designated trauma centers.

This bill extends the sales tax exemption for certain nonprofit volunteer heath clinics.

This bill extends the sales tax exemption for nonprofit health centers, clinics and food banks.

Revises numerous statutes regarding the care of the developmentally disabled by the state to reflect the implementation of community based services.

This bill changes the way that an appeal of a quarantine or vaccine order issued during a public health state of emergency is made and heard.

This bill allows the establishment of short term residential crisis stabilization to provide psychiatric stabilization and detoxification services. These services would be licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities instead of the Department of Community Health.

This bill includes assisted living communities as a type of business from which counties can collect a regulatory fee.

This language was added to SB 178 and passed both chambers.

This bill changes the procedure when a criminal defendant enters a plea that they are mentally incompetent to stand trial.

 

This bill shifts the cost of medical examinations to collect evidence from a victim of a sexual offense to be paid for from the Georgia Crime Victim's Emergency Fund, rather than county law enforcement.

This bill prohibits cities and counties from regulating the sale of tobacco or tobacco related objects (i.e., papers, wrappers, blunt wraps, pipes, water pipes) to minors. It also preempts counties from regulating the possession of such products by minors.  Please contact Todd Edwards at tedwards@accg.org if you have concerns.  

This bill creates a special crime of assault upon a health care worker while the worker is treating or transporting a person in the line of duty.  It applies to EMTs, paramedics, first responders and ambulance attendants.

HB 668 would require applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to take and pass a drug test in order to qualify for benefits.  The person applying for benefits would be responsible for the cost of the drug test.  

The state would provide the applicants with a list of approved substance abuse treatment programs.  The cost of a substance abuse treatment program would not be paid for by the state. If an applicant fails a drug test three times, they are ineligible to receive TANF benefits for three years.  Such an applicant would be required to complete an approved substance abuse treatment program.

The results of the drug tests would not be required to be released under the Open Records Law.

This bill would exempt fundraisers sponsored by schools, churches and similar nonprofit groups from having to get a food service establishment permit from the state and the county board of health so long as the restaurants providing food at the fundraiser are permitted.

This bill requires the Department of Human Services to create a random drug testing program for recipients who receive state public assistance and state administered federal public assistance.  The recipient is responsible for the cost of the drug screening.

HB 699 would require recipients of state public assistance and state administered federal public assistance provided by the Department of Human Services to submit to random drug testing.  The recipient would be required to pay for the cost of the drug test.  However, if he or she tests negative for controlled substances, the department would increase the amount of the benefit by the cost of the test.  

Recipients who fail a drug test would be given a list of licensed substance abuse treatment providers that are approved by the department.  The state would not be responsible for providing or paying for any substance abuse treatment.

HB 714 would require health clubs to have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) on site by December 31, 2012. Health clubs would be required to notify the local emergency medical services system of the existence and location of the AED before it is placed in use.