ATLANTA (March 28, 2019) | Senate Bills 121, 135 and 225, all sponsored by Sen. Larry Walker (R – Perry), recently passed the Georgia House of Representatives.
“I am pleased to see these bills receive favorable consideration in the House and continue their journey through the legislative process,” said Sen. Walker. “Any changes that have been made to these bills are in the best interest of the citizens of Georgia.”
Senate Bill 121 would increase the amount of time that information is available in the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) from two to five years, and would add the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to those who can have access to the PDMP. This bill received final passage and is available to be transmitted to the Senate to be sent to the Governor.
Senate Bill 135 would set provisions regarding when the Director and Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation may be named Director and ALJ Emeritus. SB 135 would also make adjustments to workers’ compensation benefit plans, including medical services provided and the caps on certain benefits. This bill received final passage and is available to be transmitted to the Senate to be sent to the Governor.
Senate Bill 225 would make several updates to state law regarding foster care. SB 225 makes changes to the definition of “reviewing agency,” requires documentation proving a child was in foster care to be given to those who are aging out of the program and adds a new program for foster care in a “qualified residential treatment program.” This legislation essentially aligns Georgia code with the Federal Family First Prevention Services Act, which puts money into pro-active and preventative services to attempt to keep children out of the foster care system. It also changes the funding for group homes by clarifying that future funding will only be available to Qualified Residential Treatment Facilities, which are for children with severe behavioral and developmental challenges. This bill was passed by substitute and is available for the Senate to agree or disagree to the House changes to SB 225. If the Senate agrees to the House substitute to SB 225, the bill would receive final passage and head to the Governor’s desk. If the Senate insists, the bill could be assigned to a conference committee.
You can follow the progress SB 121 here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20192020/SB/121.
SB 135’s progress can be followed here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20192020/SB/135
SB 225 can be followed here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20192020/SB/225
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For Immediate Release:
March 28, 2019
Elisabeth Fletcher, Communications Specialist
elisabeth.fletcher@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028