Recovery is Real Under the Gold Dome

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 

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