ATLANTA (March 7, 2013) –Senate Resolution 293 was adopted today by a vote of 46 to 0 by the Georgia State Senate. Sponsored by Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega), this bill dedicates two District 51 road infrastructures as the Ralph A. Pierce Memorial Highway and the Judge William Jeffrey Lowe intersection as part of Georgia’s memorial highway system. Continue reading “Resolution to Dedicate Memorial Highways in District 51 Passes Georgia State Senate”
Senate Passes Bill Requiring Mandatory Reporting for Nurses
ATLANTA (March 7, 2013) – The Georgia State Senate passed Senate Bill 13 by a vote of 52-0 today. SB 13, sponsored by Senator Buddy Carter (R-Pooler), will require nurses to report suspected professional violations to the Board of Nursing or the Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses (the Board). Continue reading “Senate Passes Bill Requiring Mandatory Reporting for Nurses”
Georgia Leadership and Service Admission Act Passes Senate
ATLANTA (March 7, 2013) – The Senate passed Senate Bill 241 today by a vote of 52 to 0. Sen. Hunter Hill (R-Smyrna) sponsored the bill, which would create the Georgia Leadership and Service Admissions Act. Under this act, members of the General Assembly, as well as the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, will choose an aspiring applicant to one of Georgia’s ROTC programs as a candidate for admission; a process similar to the federal system of nominating candidates to U.S. service academies. The main purpose of Senate Bill 241 is to encourage qualified Georgians for the service and leadership training that ensues from military training and education. Continue reading “Georgia Leadership and Service Admission Act Passes Senate”
Sen. Jones Leads Passage of Personal Service on a Corporation Bill
ATLANTA (March 7, 2013) – Senator Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) led the State Senate in the passage of Senate Bill 113 with a vote of 49-0. If signed into law, the bill would change the requirements for personal service of a summons on a corporation. Continue reading “Sen. Jones Leads Passage of Personal Service on a Corporation Bill”
Medical Identity Fraud Bill Passes Senate
ATLANTA (March 7, 2013) – Senate Bill 170, which creates the offense of medical identity fraud and defines associated terms, passed the Senate today by a vote of 52 to 1. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (R – Marietta).
“When people cheat the system by using another person’s identity, medical facilities have to raise costs to recover their lost profits,” said Sen. Hill. “Unfortunately, this ultimately leads to higher insurance premiums and medical costs for honest, hardworking Georgians. By passing this legislation, we’re sending a message to would-be identity thieves that this behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
SB 170 states that a person commits medical identity fraud when he or she willfully and fraudulently uses identifying information of any real, fictitious or deceased person of any age to obtain medical care, prescription drugs, health care services, money or other financial gain. This legislation would coordinate medical identity fraud with identity fraud for jurisdiction and prosecution purposes.
Under SB 170, medical identity fraud is coordinated with financial identity fraud for purposes of:
- Authorizing the State Attorney General and prosecuting attorneys to conduct criminal prosecution
- Identifying the information necessary within the county where the victim resides or is found
- Granting local law enforcement agencies the jurisdiction to compile incident reports
- Enacting punishment, including incarceration, fines, and restitution
- Allowing victims to bring actions against perpetrators, including increased damages for intentional violations
SB 170 will now transfer to the House of Representatives for consideration.
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 7, 2013
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Interim Director
Jennifer.Yarber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028