SUPPORT
HB 1170 By Representative Lee Hawkins – IN SENATE HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
HB 1170 requires that certain state government buildings, courthouses, and university buildings maintain and make accessible opioid antagonists.
TALKING POINTS
- As a person in long term recovery ( As a recovery ally) I support this life saving bill. In many parts of Georgia first responders cannot respond with in the four minute “window of life” to reverse an overdose.
- HB 1170 places opioid antagonists in strategic tax payer funded buildings to enhance the opportunity to save lives.
- The bill allows for opioid antagonists to be placed in all buildings where the state requires a defibrillator.
It excludes schools.
HB 181 By Representative Rick Townsend – PASSED SENATE HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
HB 181 – The Kratom Bill was complex and has seen many substitutes and amendments.
TALKING POINTS
As person in long term recovery (As a recovery ally) I support the version of HB 181 as passed by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Don’t let the special interests lobby stop this important legislation.The current version of the bill instead aims to impose regulations on kratom, similar to the types enacted in other states.
HB 181 would:
- raise the minimum age from 18 to 21
- ban certain forms of kratom use (vaping)
- expand the labeling requirements
- require manufacturers to register with the state and mandate that kratom be sold behind the counter or in a locked glass case—among other restrictions.
- This bill is pro child, pro family, and pro recovery.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Senator Ben Watson
Senator Kay Kirkpatrick
Senator Ed Setzler
Senator Matt Brass
Senator Gloria Butler
Senator Shelly Echols
Senator Sonya Halpern
Senator Bo Hatchett
Senator Chuck Hufsetler
Senator Kim Jackson
Senator David Lucas
Senator Nan Orrock
Senator Brian Strickland
SB 480 By Senator Mike Hodges – IN HOUSE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE
SB 480 provides for student loan repayment for mental health and substance use professionals serving in certain capacities.
TALKING POINTS
- In many parts of Georgia from metro Atlanta and across rural Georgia there are, literally, no medical professionals serving Georgians impacted by mental health and addiction recovery medical issues
- The number one cause of death in the United States for people between 18 and 45 years old is overdose
- We need to encourage more college students to enter this vital medical career path
House Public Health Committee
Representative Sharon Cooper
Representative Dale Washburn
Representative Mary Margaret Oliver
Representative Teri Anulewicz
Representative Michelle Au
Representative Karen Bennett
Representative Mike Cheokas
Representative Katie Dempsey
Representative Karla Drenner
Representative Spencer Frye
Representative Houston Gaines
Representative Lee Hawkins
Representative Scott Hilton
Representative Penny Houston
Representative Karlton Howard
Representative Shelly Hutchinson
Representative John LaHood
Representative Jodi Lott
Representative Butch Parrish
Representative Clay Pirkle
Representative Tremaine Reese
Representative Devan Shebaugh
Representative Deborah Silcox
Representative Doug Stoner
Representative Darlene Taylor
HB 1073 By Representative Dale Washburn – IN SENATE STATE and LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
HB 1073 simply requires local governments to follow federal law on decisions and procedures on zoning regarding halfway houses, drug rehabilitation centers, or other facilities for treatment of drug dependencyThere are those in Georgia citing outdated Federal Law to justify requiring six months delay for zoning applications related to addiction.
TALKING POINTS
- This legislation will mandate that all government entities comply with current Federal Law and treat addiction zoning applications the same as all other zoning applications which is two months
- HB 1073 does not mandate a local government approve or deny any application
- HB 1073 only requires the timeframe on any decision be in compliance with Federal law
Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee
Senator Frank Ginn
Senator Shawn Still
Senator Gloria Butler
Senator Jason Esteves
Senator Derek Mallow
Senator Randy Robertson
Senator Sam Watson
Senator Rick Williams
HB 1264 By Representative Ron Stephens – IN SENATE REGULATED INDUSTRIES and UTILITIES COMMITTEE
HB 1264 authorizes the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists to establish a professional health program to provide for monitoring and rehabilitation of impaired healthcare professionals and authorizes the Georgia Board of Nursing to establish a professional health program to provide for monitoring and rehabilitation of impaired nurses
TALKING POINTS
- HB 1264 provides the exact same professional opportunities for nurses that doctors and other professionals have access too
- Our nurses deserve the same opportunities as other professionals to return to the workplace following successful completion of professional treatment
- I support HB 1264 because I support Georgia nurses
Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee
Senator Bill Cowsert
Senator Carden Summers
Senator John Kennedy
Senator John Albers
Senator Tonya Anderson
Senator Matt Brass
Senator Gloria Butler
Senator Greg Dolezal
Senator Frank Ginn
Senator Steve Gooch
Senator Ed Harrbison
Senator David Lucas
Senator Michael Rhett
HB 873 By Representative Stan Gunter – PASSED SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
HB 873 will create juvenile treatment court divisions providing alternative adjudication to the traditional judicial system thus allowing for the opportunity for juveniles to receive medical support as opposed to entering the adult criminal justice system.
TALKING POINTS
- As a person in long term recovery (A recovery ally) I support HB 873 because it provides appropriate alternatives for young people whose legal matters are underlined by the medical issue of addiction
- Everyone deserves a second chance and HB 873 is a pro child, pro family, pro faith bill
Senate Rules Committee
Senator Matt Brass
Senator Frank Ginn
Senator Bill Cowsert
Senator John Albers
Senator Jason Anavitarte
Senator Lee Anderson
Senator Brandon Beach
Senator Gloria Butler
Senator Clint Dixon
Senator Greg Dolezal
Senator Steve Gooch
Senator Ed Harbison
Senator Chuck Hufsteler
Senator Harold Jones
Senator John Kennedy
Senator Michael Rhett
Senator Randy Robertson
Senator Larry Walker
Senator Ben Watson