ATLANTA (June 29, 2022) | Sen. Sally Harrell (D – Atlanta) has been appointed by Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan to serve as Co-Chair of the Senate Study Committee on People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Waiver Plan Access. The Committee is a result of Senate Resolution 770, sponsored by Sen. Harrell during the 2022 Legislative Session. Sen. Harrell will co-chair the Committee with Sen. John Albers (R – Roswell).
Georgians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities are among the state’s most dependent and vulnerable citizens. As Georgia’s population grows, so do the needs of this community. The study committee will assess the impact of the growing demand for related state services including Medicaid waiver access, shortfalls in the direct service provider workforce, and capital investment needs for worker training and housing facilities.
“I’ve been working to increase access to home and community support services for Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities since I served in the Georgia House two decades ago,” said Sen. Harrell. “I’m proud of the work we accomplished this year in the Senate to increase support for this community. But it’s time we take a comprehensive look at current needs to understand how the state can best serve these families. I look forward to working with Sen. Albers and members of the Committee.”
During the 2022 Legislative Session, Sen. Harrell successfully pushed for additional state funds for community support Medicaid waivers, increasing the usual 100 additional waivers per year originally proposed by Governor Kemp to 513. Sen. Harrell also sponsored and passed SB 610 which requires the Georgia Department of Community Health to conduct comprehensive provider reimbursement rate studies for home and community based services covered by Medicaid community support waivers every four years.
Other newly-announced members of The Senate Study Committee on People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities include Sen. Dean Burke (R – Bainbridge), Sen. Marty Harbin (R – Tyrone), and Sen. Donzella James (D – Atlanta). The remaining three members include the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Commissioner of Community Health, and the Executive Director for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities or their designees.
Earlier this month, Sen. Harrell was appointed by Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan to serve on The Senate Food Delivery App Study Committee. This study committee was authorized by Senate Resolution 428, passed during the 2022 Legislative Session. The Committee will assess the needs, conditions, or problems related to food delivery apps in Georgia.
You can read the full text of SR 770 on the Senate website here:
https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/63002
You can read the full text of SB 610 on the Senate website here:
https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/62624
You can read the full text of SR 428 on the Senate website here:
https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/61638
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For Immediate Release:
June 29, 2022
Rachel Moore, Communications Associate
404.656.0028