2010 Legislative Highlights
This past legislative session, the Children’s Government Affairs team worked to protect and advance child health by advocating for the following legislation:
Governor Makes Two Texting while Driving Bills Law
Thinking about texting and driving while driving in Georgia? Think again. On June 4, Governor Perdue signed SB 360 and HB 23, effectively outlawing any text-based wireless communication for all drivers traveling on Georgia’s roads. HB 23 outlaws all cell phone use, including talking, for drivers under the age of 18 with a provisional driver’s license. SB 360 outlaws text-based wireless communication for those over 18. While there are enforcement issues with SB 360, Governor Perdue feels strongly about making Georgia’s roads safer and wanted to make the bill a law, with the request that the General Assembly continue to refine it in the 2011 legislative session. These bills become effective July 1, 2010.
State fiscal 2010 and 2011 budget
The General Assembly passed both budgets – one to take the state to June 30, 2010, the other to be effective starting July 1, 2010. Both included funds that will support Children’s and the Marcus Autism Center. Children’s has also received $1 million in funding to support our trauma centers that was from HB 161 – the “Super Speeder” law that was signed at Scottish Rite on May 5, 2009.
The FY 2011 budget included the Hospital Provider Payment Agreement. The agreement, which expires June 30, 2013, will require hospitals to pay a portion of their net patient revenue to the state Medicaid program to help fill the $608 million shortfall projected for FY 2011. Because Children’s is the largest Medicaid provider in the state, we stand to be winners under this legislation. With federal matching dollars, the new fee will generate approximately $800 million for the state’s Medicaid program.
Seat Belts in Pick-Up Trucks
On April 27, 2010, Georgia became the last state in the nation to approve a universal safety belt law. SB 458, sponsored by Senator Don Thomas (R-Dalton), which removes the safety belt exemption for adult occupants in a pick-up truck, was passed by the House by a vote of 132-29. Senator Thomas, who is retiring from the Senate after 15 years, has been trying to pass this legislation for the last six years.
Children’s testified in favor of the legislation in the Senate and House committee hearings, and took a lead role in lobbying House members the day of the vote. Children’s supported this measure because an unrestrained adult in a pick-up truck can be moved around the truck’s cab if involved in a crash, seriously injuring a child passenger. SB 458 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Statewide Trauma Network Funding
A funding source for a statewide trauma network has finally been approved by the General Assembly. SR 277 by Senator Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) is a constitutional amendment that will be placed on the ballot for the November 2010 General Election. It will allow Georgia voters to decide if they want an additional $10 fee added to the annual car registration that will be dedicated to fund a sorely needed statewide trauma network.
The legislation is estimated to generate $80 million in its first year, increasing with the number of registered vehicles in the state. Children’s is highly supportive of this resolution because we are the operators of the only two pediatric trauma centers in the state and would receive significant funding to offset our costs for maintaining our trauma centers.
COBRA Subsidy Extension
HB 1268 by Representative Tom Knox (R-Cumming) passed the General Assembly on April 29, 2010. The bill extends the amount of time that workers involuntarily terminated by a small business have to receive the 65% federal subsidy to offset the cost of their COBRA insurance premiums while they search for new employment. Children’s was the lead advocate for this legislation as allowing workers and their dependents to keep COBRA coverage will lessen the burden on Medicaid as the state continues to recover from the recession.
Autism Insurance Parity
This session, Children’s co-led an effort with Autism Speaks to require individual health plans to provide coverage for behavioral autism treatments. Despite this being a highly political and unpopular issue in a challenging budgetary environment, Children’s was able to make significant progress with the House Insurance Committee and a hearing was held on HB 426 which was sponsored by Representative Katie Dempsey (R-Rome). However, the bill was ultimately tabled during that hearing.
A similar bill, SB 161 by Senators Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) and Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville), was written to establish an Autism Insurance Task Force. This bill, with Children’s support, passed the Senate and the House Insurance Committee, but was stalled in the House Rules Committee. Since there is a general election in November, and observers are predicting many changes in the General Assembly, the chances for autism insurance parity could become different next year. Children’s is very committed and will continue to pursue this effort.