Public Policy Update
Monday, March 9, 2015
Ellyn Jeager, Mental Health America of Georgia
This coming Friday, March 13th, is day 30 of the legislative session, or "cross-over day." This means that bills must clear the chamber in which they originated before they can move to another chamber. Bills failing to "cross-over" can be held until next year's legislative session. An exception to this rule would be a bill which is later attached onto another bill that crossed over in time.
HB 359 - Sponsor: Representative Beskin - Relating to professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, so as to change certain provisions relating to separate standards committees for the professional counseling specialty, the social work specialty, and the marriage and family therapy specialty. STATUS: Referred to Regulated Industries Committee
HB 498 - Sponsor: Representative Hawkins - Relating to definitions relative to professional counselors, social workers, and others, so as to revise the definition of "professional counseling." STATUS: Referred to Regulated Industries
HB 395 - Sponsor: Representative Chandler - Defines the term "psychological testing" and clarifies the role of a psychologist as the only provider able to do psychological testing. STATUS: Bill is in the House Health & Human Services committee.
HB 485 - Sponsor: Representative Kidd - Creates a new level of access badge for lobbyists. This badge would require a criminal background check and fingerprints to be obtained before a badge could be issued. The bill excludes any person who has been hospitalized as an inpatient in any psychiatric hospital or alcohol or drug treatment center within the five years immediately preceding the application for an access badge. STATUS: The bill is in the Government Affairs Committee.
SB 131 - Sponsor: Senator Dugan - Moves crisis stabilization units (CSUs) from being "licensed" to being "certified." This modification would allow more flexibility as changes to CSUs need to be made. STATUS: This bill is in Health & Human Services.
HB 198 - Sponsor: Representative Dempsey - The Department of Education would require that all certified public school personnel receive annual training in suicide awareness and prevention, and each school system would adopt a policy on student suicide prevention. STATUS: Passed the House and has now moved to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.
HB 1 - Sponsor: Representative Peake - Provides for regulated medical use of cannabis and its derivatives for certain medical conditions. This bill is also known as Haleigh's Law. STATUS: Passed the House and is now headed to the Senate.
HB 288 - Sponsor: Representative Dempsey - Would add two additional members to serve on the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. STATUS: Bill is in the House Health & Human Services Committee.
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