G-CAPP Policy and
Advocacy News
2007 Georgia General Assembly Update
The Georgia General Assembly has completed the 29th day of the 40 day session. Next Tuesday will be "crossover day" - the deadline for bills to have passed out of at least one chamber in order to be considered for passage by the other chamber. We will provide updates on a weekly basis during the session regarding bills and issues that affect adolescents and public health.
PeachCare Update
As was reported last week, state leaders have announced their intention to fill the PeachCare funding gap while Georgia waits for Congress to act on State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) reauthorization. The House Appropriations Committee approved a midyear spending plan that would provide an extra $81 million in state funds for PeachCare, but the full House has yet to pass the midyear budget.
ACTION STILL NEEDED: The freeze on PeachCare enrollment that went into effect on March 11th remains in place. It is estimated that some 3,000 children a month will be unable to enroll in PeachCare, and any child with a late premium payment will lose PeachCare while the freeze is in place.
Pending legislation also threatens to reduce the eligibility level and benefits available to the children of low-income families in the program. This week, the House Health & Human Services Committee passed HB 340 (Rep. Glenn Richardson, 19th) which will reduce the PeachCare eligibility threshold from 235% to 200% of the federal poverty level for new enrollees.
Other bills, HB 620 (Rep. Ron Stephens, 164th) and HB 625 (Rep. Judy Manning, 32nd) would fund PeachCare by using federal Medicaid funds without cutting eligibility or services. These bills are before the House Insurance Committee.
Contact your legislators, Governor Perdue, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson and ask them to act to fund the PeachCare shortfall without reducing enrollment, cutting benefits or increasing eligibility requirements.
Other Legislation of Interest
SB 68 (Sen. Dan Weber, 40th), the Career Academies Act of 2007, would allow the State Department of Technical and Adult Education to issue start-up grants to ‘career academy’ charter schools, in an effort to improve graduation rates. These specialized charter schools would be partnerships between local technical colleges and local boards of education. The bill has passed in the Senate and has been favorably reported by the House Higher Education Committee.
HB 280 (Rep. Judy Manning, 32nd) would ban the sale of marijuana-flavored candy to minors. The bill states that the candy, which comes in the form of lollipops and gumdrops, may serve as a gateway to future use of marijuana and other drugs. Those caught selling the candy to minors would face a $1,000 fine. The House approved the bill by a 133 to 26 vote, and the measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Track 2007 Legislation
For
the latest updates on legislation, visit the General
Assembly web site and search by the bill number in the
top right hand corner of the page. You may also find information
for contacting bill sponsors and other legislators on the
General Assembly web site, or find your legislators here.
To follow legislative issues that G-CAPP is working on, click here.
G-CAPP Fast Fact
In Georgia, almost one-third (29%) of all pregnancies among teens ages 15 to19 occur among girls who have already been pregnant at least once before.
Source: Georgia DHR, Division of Public Health, Online Analytical Statistical Information System (OASIS).
