Emily Leonard – Page 27 – Georgia Senate Press Office

September 7, 2023

Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment Holds First Meeting

ATLANTA (September 7, 2023) | This week, the inaugural meeting of the 2023 Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment took place at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center located in Demorest, Georgia. This five-member Senate Study Committee was established through the passage of Senate Resolution 371, which was sponsored by Senator Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia) during the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session. Sen. Hatchett serves as the chair of this committee along with Senators Kim Jackson (D – Stone Mountain), Nan Orrock (D – Atlanta), Larry Walker III (R – Perry), and Kay Kirkpatrick (R – Marietta) who were also appointed as members of this committee.

“I am extremely honored to be chairing this study committee,” said Sen. Hatchett. “Growing up the son of a doctor in rural Georgia, I am fully aware of the staffing and recruitment challenges that rural communities face. Our mission is to find legislative solutions for rural healthcare communities and patients. One of our areas of focus will be the delivery of anesthesia. This is a critical component of our healthcare system that is underserved in rural Georgia. I appreciate the efforts of all the senators and look forward to the input of the broader healthcare community.”

“I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones for appointing me to serve on the study committee, as well as Chairman Hatchett for his leadership on healthcare issues,” said Sen. Jackson. “Georgia is facing a growing population with a shortage of doctors and healthcare professionals in many communities. Delaying critical surgeries and medical procedures in over 120 rural counties in Georgia does not serve the needs of our patients. I look forward to working with the committee to come up with solid legislative recommendations to meet the medical needs of all Georgians.”

Currently, rural hospitals face a multitude of challenges when delivering services to their patients primarily due to economic factors and a lack of available health care professionals. This Study Committee aims to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by rural hospitals to recruit an adequate work force and retain their surgical personnel.

More information on the 2023 Senate Study Committees can be found here.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.

Sen. Kim Jackson represents the 41st Senate District which includes portions of DeKalb and a small portion of Gwinnett County. She may be reached at her office at 404.656.6882 or by email at kim.jackson@senate.ga.gov.

August 30, 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: Sen. Colton Moore to Hold Press Conference Calling for an Emergency Special Session

ATLANTA (August 30, 2023) | On Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 11 a.m., Senator Colton Moore (R – Trenton) will hold a press conference in room 307 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building regarding his call for a Special Session of the Georgia General Assembly.

WHO: Senator Colton Moore

WHAT: Emergency Call for a Special Session of the Georgia General Assembly

WHEN: Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Paul D. Coverdell Legislative Office Building

Room 307

18 Capitol Sq. SW

Atlanta, GA

30334

** If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Lexi Juliani via email at Lexi.Juliani@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Colton Moore represents the 53rd Senate District which includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, and Walker County as well as portions of Floyd.

August 23, 2023

Senate Study Committee on Truck Driver Shortages Announces First Meeting Date

ATLANTA (August 23, 2023) | The Senate Study Committee on Truck Driver Shortages has announced the date and location of its first study committee meeting. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 30, at 9:00 a.m. at the GreyStone Power Corporation in Hiram, Georgia. Further details regarding the agenda of the meeting will be announced at a later time.

“Throughout this committee process, we have the unique opportunity to collaborate with thriving Georgia businesses that possess invaluable industry-level insights into the challenges faced by the motor carrier industry,” said Chairman Jason Anavitarte (R – Dallas). “The first meeting will serve as an opportunity for committee members to outline the scope of their investigation and lay the groundwork for future deliberations. The agenda for the meeting will cover a range of topics related to truck driver shortages, including workforce development, training programs, industry regulations, and retention strategies. I want to thank GreyStone Power Corporation as they graciously host our first study committee meeting.”

The Senate Study Committee on Truck Driver Shortages was created pursuant to Senate Resolution 155, sponsored by Sen. Anavitarte, which passed with bipartisan support during the 2023 Legislative Session. This study committee will be charged with hearing testimony from industry leaders and educators regarding strategies to meet this need in Georgia.

The meeting is available to view on the Senate Schedule here.

Read the full text of SR 155 here.

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Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Chair of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents Senate District 31 which includes Paulding and Polk Counties. He can be reached at 404.656.9221 or at Jason.anavitarte@senate.ga.gov

August 21, 2023

Senators Albers and Payne Announce Joint Senate Committee Meeting to Discuss Artificial Intelligence

ATLANTA (August 21, 2023) | Today, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Senator John Albers (R – Roswell), and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Chuck Payne (R – Dalton), announced plans to host a joint committee meeting concerning the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This meeting will take place on November 1, 2023 and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.in room 450 of the State Capitol.

“I want to commend Chairman Albers and Payne for their proactive work on this important issue,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “Artificial Intelligence is evolving rapidly and it is important for us to analyze current and future AI practices. We must look at the pros, cons and potential unintended consequences of AI and I look forward to the work of this Senate joint committee.”

“AI may be one of the greatest disruptors in history providing significant advancements and monumental risk,” said Sen. Albers. “We must address this head on to protect our citizens, businesses, and state.”

“As Chairman of the Senate Science and Technology Committee, I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with Chairman Albers and the Public Safety Committee, as to best address real concerns related to advances in artificial intelligence and to mitigate any risks facing the citizens of our state,” said Sen. Payne.

This joint committee will bring industry experts to the table with the goal of analyzing current and projected future artificial intelligence practices. The committee aims to pave a path forward as the sector continues to grow throughout a multitude of platforms both in Georgia and across the nation.

More information and an agenda for this meeting will be sent at a later date.

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Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56^th Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov

Sen. Chuck Payne serves as the Chairman for the Senate Committee on Science and Technology. He represents the 54th Senate District, which includes Whitfield and Murray County as well as part of Gordon County. He may be reached at 404.463.5402 or by email at chuck.payne@senate.ga.gov.

August 18, 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate President Pro Tempore to Formally Announce Leader in Me Statewide Pilot Program

ATLANTA (August 18, 2023) | On Wednesday, August 23, Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R – Macon), along with Legislative Leaders and members of the Georgia Board of Education, will formally announce the launch of the Leader in Me statewide pilot program following a student-led tour of one of Macon’s Leader In Me Schools, Vineville Academy of the Arts. The announcement comes after the expansion of the Leader in Me model under the Amended FY2023 Budget.

Leader in Me is an evidence-based Pre-K-12 model, developed in partnership with educators, designed to build resilience and leadership in students, create a high-trust school culture, and help improve academic achievement.

The student-centric curriculum aims to foster leadership skills, character development and personal growth in students and is implemented in schools to empower students with the necessary tools to thrive academically and in their personal lives. It is designed to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and goal-setting skills. Students learn to take responsibility for their actions, set and work towards personal and academic goals, and develop a strong sense of self-confidence and self-efficacy.

The model’s success in Macon-Bibb County began during the 2015-2016 school year when Macon’s Business Education Partnership raised funds to implement the Leader in Me program within two pilot schools. The positive outcomes and transformative impact led to its expansion countywide in 2018 and is the reasoning behind the statewide expansion initiatives announced earlier this month.

WHO: Senator John F. Kennedy (R – Macon), Representative Robert Dickey (R – Musella), Members of the State Board of Education

WHAT: Tour of Leader in Me Pilot School, Vineville Academy of the Arts, and formal announcement of Leader in Me Statewide Pilot Program

WHEN: Tour of Vineville Academy of the Arts

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 1:30PM

Press Conference to be held following the school tour at 2:30PM

WHERE: Vineville Academy of the Arts

2260 Vineville Ave, Macon, GA, 31204

**Members of the media who wish to attend should RSVP to Charlie Barrett by email at Charlie.Barrett@senate.ga.gov

A link to Senator Kennedy’s full statement regarding this initiative can be found here.

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Sen. John F. Kennedy serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate. He represents the 18^th Senate District which includes Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, and portions of Bibb and Houston Counties. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov