PARAPHRASE WHAT ONE OF OUR BRETHREN SAID TO ME ONE TIME.

I THINK IT DOES INCAPSULATE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

BASICALLY IT WAS WE ARE IN FAVOR OF LOCAL CONTROL AS LONG AS WE CONTROL THE LOCALS.

>> DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO BLAST REPUBLICANS OVER THE REDISTRICTING OF CONNIE MACK.

GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON THIS LEGISLATIVE DAY 14.

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

MORE ON THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE OVER MAPS COMING UP.

WE'LL HEAR MORE ON ISSUES INVOLVING HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN?

GEORGIA.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE ISSUE IN PREGNANT WOMEN CHOOSING TO HAVE AND REGISTERING MORE MID WIVES IN THE STATE.

THE BIPARTISAN MENTAL HEALTH BILL INCLUDE AS PROVISION FOR MEDICAID COVERAGE.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

WE'LL FIND OUT.

ONE SENATOR WANTS TO ALLOW DRIVERS TO USE THEIR CELL PHONES WHILE AT A FULL STOP AT STOPLIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS.

ANOTHER LEGISLATOR IS PUSHING FOR WAYS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION FOR MINORITIES AND MEN AND WOMEN IN STATE CONTRACTS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH OUR GUESTS AFTER GETTING THE LATEST ON THE DAY AT THE CAPITOL WITH CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA WALTERS, HI BRENDA.

>> HEY DONNA, BUSY DAY IN THE SENATE.

NINE BILLS WERE PASSED FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DUNCAN'S LESS CRIME ACT TO A CHARTER SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAM THAT WEULD ALLOW ADULTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA TO EAST COBB CITY HOOD.

BUT ONE BILL IN PARTICULAR CONTINUES TO COME UP FOR DEBATE.

LAST WEEK THE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL 873 PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE SENATE.

IN THE GWINNETT DELEGATION MADE ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO INSERT THEIR ORIGINAL MAPS INTO THE BILL.

>> WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS TO GET THE ORIGINAL BOARD COMMISSIONER PROPOSALS.

WE WORKED ON THAT FOR MONTHS.

WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAD THE TOWN HALLS ON BOTH BIPARTISAN TOWN HALLS.

SO EVERYONE WAS AWARE OF THE MAP THAT WE PROPOSED AND VOTED OUT.

AND IN A MATTER OF THREE DAYS, THE MAP WAS CHANGED.

WE DIDN'T --WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE CHANGES.

WE HAD NOT TALKED ABOUT THE CHANGES NOR DID WE ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN THOSE CHANGES.

>> THAT ATTEMPT FAILED.

YOU MAY RECALL THIS IS THE BILL THAT WOULD REVISE THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FOR THE GWINNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

THE SENATE VOTED AND THE BILL PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES.

IN A SIMILAR FIGHT, THE AUGUSTA RICHMOND COUNTY DELEGATION BATTLING OVER THE SAME ISSUE WITH SENATE BILL 457.

DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEIR CONCERNS WERE BEING HEARD BY THE LOCAL AD HOC COMMITTEE DECIDING REDISTRICTING.

>> THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM 124 AND MYSELF MET WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE OF REDISTRICTING REAPPORTIONMENT.

AND ASKED THAT SHE PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE MAP THAT REALLY DID THREE THINGS.

IT MUST BE FULLY COMPLIANT WITH ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.

IT SHOULD MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF PRECINCT SPLITS.

AND IT SHOULD KEEP COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST AND NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER AND WHOLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND THEY DID THAT.

AND THE SENATOR FOR THE 22nd TOOK THAT PROPOSAL, HE TOOK IT TO THE AUGUSTA RICHMOND COUNTY, AD HOC COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING.

AND THEY DECLINED TO CONSIDER IT.

IN JANUARY, THE 6th, THE DELEGATION MET WITH THE COMMISSION AND THOSE OF US WHO HAD CONCERNS, COMMUNICATED THAT WE COULD NOT SUPPORT THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND WE ASKED THEM TO WORK WITH US.

REPEATEDLY.

THEY NEVER CHOSE TO ENGAGE.

>> SENATOR HERALD JONES WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA AND WAS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, SAYS THAT THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE MORE ABOUT WHO DEVISED THE NEW MAP.

>> WHETHER THE MAP IS A PERFECT MAP OR NOT A PERFECT MAP, IT WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IT'S A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TO START RESPECTING AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND WHEN THEY DO THE PROCESS AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO RESPECT IT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING THE DO.

THIS WAS A TOTAL DISRESPECT OF IT.

A TOTAL TROPE QUITE FRANKLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PERSONS DIDN'T DO WORK OR TAKE THEIR TYPE TO DO THINGS.

THIS IS THE KIND OF TROPES WE'VED HAD WHEN IT COMES TO AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S A FACT.

>> IS IT NOT TRUE SENATOR THAT THE STUDY COMMITTEE MADE ZERO CHANGES TO THE INITIAL MAP THAT WAS PROPOSED.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THAT WAS A DETERMINATION THEY DID AFTER FIVE MAPS.

IF YOU REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THEY ACTUALLY DID THREE OTHER PLANS.

THEY HAD THE ORIGINAL PLAN AND LIFTED THREE OTHERS.

THAT'S A DECISION THEY MADE.

IT'S NOT A DECISION FOR ANYONE TO UNILATERALLY DETERMINE THEY MADE THE WRONG DECISION.

>> IS IT NOT TRUE THAT THE COMMITTEE NEVER REALISTICALLY CONSIDERED ANY ALTERNATIVE?

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

>> ULTIMATELY THE BILL WAS PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES.

AND ALSO LIKE GWINNETT, THE NEW SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT MAPS WERE A POINT OF CONTENTION WHEN SENATE BILL 458 WAS PRESENTED.

>> I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE STUDY COMMITTEE INDEED HAD MULTIPLE HEARINGS.

THEY ACCEPTED ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF INPUT AND THEN CHOSE TO IGNORE IT.

THEY DID NOT ADJUST THE MAP AT ALL.

THEY TOOK AN INITIAL DRAFT AND BECAUSE IT PROVIDED A CERTAIN OPPORTUNITY, THEY PUSHED IT FORWARD.

AND THEY IGNORED THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT ARE WE DOING?

I MEAN SERIOUSLY.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE ARE TEARING THIS BODY APART ACROSS THE HALL, THEY'RE TEARING THAT BODY APART.

IN THE NAME OF WHAT?

BEING ABLE TO TAKE LOCAL DECISIONS OUT OF THE HANDS OF DULY ELECTED OFFICIALS ?

>> AND THAT BILL PASSED 31-22.

>> HOUSE BILL 430 WAS A HIT IN THE HOUSE PASSING UNANIMOUSLY.

162 TO 0.

IT WAS INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN POWELL WHO IS THE CHAIR OF REGULATED INDUSTRIES.

THE BILL WOULD ALLOW THE STATE NURSING BOARD TO LICENSE APRNs.

OR ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES.

>> RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY THE LICENSING BOARD, THE NURSES LICENSING BOARD AUTHORIZES LPNs AND REGISTERED NURSES.

THIS TAKES IT A STEP FORWARD TO ALLOW THOSE THAT HAVE CREDENTIALS THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE APRNs.

AND THOSE OTHER NURSES THAT FALL WITHIN THAT GUIDELINE TO BE SPECIFICALLY LICENSED AS AN APRN.

GEORGIA HAS ABOUT 19,000APRNs AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

THESE APRNs ARE CRITICAL JUST AS THE PAs ARE IN THIS DAY AND TIME.

>> HB 430 WOULD ALSO ALLOW APRNs AND PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS TO ISSUE HANDICAP PLACARDS.

AND IT WAS NEW AMERICAN CELEBRATION DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

IT WAS THE NINTH ANNUAL EVENT UNDER THE GOLD DOME WHERE IMMIGRANTS CELEBRATE THEIR CITIZENSHIP.

WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR NEW CITIZENS, AND DONNA, CAN YOU SAY CREAM CHEESE?

IT'S NATIONAL CREAM CHEESE BROWNIE DAY.

SORRY TO SAY, I DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT, BACK TO YOU.

>> THAT MEANS YOU DIDN'T BRING ME ONE TOO.

OKAY.

>> I DIDN'T HAVE ONE TO BRING.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE HEALTH RELATED BILLS UNDER THE GOLD DOME FOR A FEW MINUTES NOW.

JOINING ME, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE PARK CANNON OF ATLANTA.

AND ANDY MILLER, CEO AND EDITOR OF GEORGIA HEALTH NEWS.

REPRESENTATIVE CANNON, YOU'VE GONE TO THE HOUSE FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MID WIVES AND DULAS.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THAT I WANT TO SHOW VIEWERS STATISTICS.

HOME BIRTHS ARE ON THE RISE.

A NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS REPORT SHOWS SINCE 2019 THEY'RE UP 22% NATIONWIDE AND IT'S EVEN HIGHER IN GEORGIA.

29%.

GEORGIA RANKS 15th AMONG STATES WITH THE LARGEST INCREASE OF WOMEN DECIDING TO GIVE BIRTH AT HOME.

AND OF COURSE THE PANDEMIC IS ONE REASON FOR THE INCREASE.

SOME PEOPLE HAVEN'T WANTED TO GO TO HOSPITALS TO HAVE THEIR BABIES.

BUT CAN YOU TELL US WHAT MIGHT BE BEHIND THIS?

ANYTHING ELSE?

>> WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT IT'S CHEAPER FOR YOU TO HAVE A BIRTH AT HOME.

AND ALSO WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF GOING TO HOSPITALS.

WE FOE MATERNAL MORTALITY NUMBERS HAVE SHOWN WHEN YOU'RE IN HOSPITALS, INTERVENTIONS INCREASE.

RIGHT NOW YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE A SUPPORT PERSON WITH YOU.

YOU CAN HAVE ONE PARTNER, BUT YOU CAN'T ALSO HAVE A DULA OR YOUR MOM.

YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE.

THOSE YOUR HUSBAND MIGHT BE WELL INTENTIONED, HE MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOUR EYES ARE TURNING COLORS OR YOUR FEVER IS GOING UP.

SO DULAS AND MID WIVES, WE'RE THE COMMUNITY LINE OF DEFENSE.

WE'RE NOT THAT EXPENSIVE.

AND WE'VE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES SINCE BIRTHS HAVE HAPPENED.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS TIED TO MATERNAL MORTALITY ISSUES TOO.

HERE ARE THOSE NUMBERS, HALF OF GEORGIA'S COUNTIES HAVE NO OBGYNs.

HALF OF LABOR AND DELIVERY FACILITIES HAVE CLOSED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

GEORGIA HAS THE WORST MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IN AMERICA AND ONE THING TO NOTE, AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS.

I WANT TO FURTHER TALK TO YOU ABOUT A BILL YOU HAVE THAT DEALS WITH MID WIVES HB 806.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO WE'VE PUT IT IN THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS SHOULD BE DISCUSSING.

OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A MISCONCEPTION, WHO MID WIVES ARE TRAINED ENOUGH.

IN FACT, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT THEY'RE TRAINED IN EMERGENCY CARE EVEN MORE SO THAN SOME PROVIDERS IN HOSPITALS.

WHO ARE ABLE TO SEND THAT CARE OFF TO A NURSE OR A PRACTITIONER.

THESE MID WIVES AND THESE LABOR DULAS LIKE I AM MYSELF, WE UNDERSTAND IF SOMEONE IS LOW RISK AND THINGS CHANGE, WE'RE READY TO REFER OUT.

AND 97% OF BIRTHS ARE NORMAL.

WE'RE HOPEFUL PEOPLE WILL SEE IT'S LESS COST BEARING ON THE STATE.

THAT FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING THIS AND ELECTROING IT FOR THEMSELVES.

AND THE WAY BIRTH IS GOING IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, BECAUSE OF MATERNAL MORTALITY NUMBERS.

WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND HELP LICENSE MID WIVES.

IN FACT, EVERY OTHER STATE SURROUNDING US DOES.

TENNESSEE AND NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA.

THEY ALLOW FOR DIRECT ENTRY MID WIVES TO COME IN AND TO BE THAT FIRST LINE OF CARE BY PAYING FOR IT THROUGH MEDICAID.

THEY'RE SO DEPRESSING WHEN IT COMES TO MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THE STATE.

THERE'S HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE SEEMS TO BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE SAW SOMETHING HAPPEN THIS WEEK IN THE SENATE WHEN IT CAME TO A BILL.

TELL US MORE ABOUT IT.

MORE THAN HALF OF THE BIRTHS IN OUR STATE ARE COVERED BY MEDICAID.

THIS IS A LOT OF WOMEN COVERED BY THIS PROGRAM.

WHAT THE STATE SENATE DID IS APPROVE A BILL THAT ESSENTIALLY EXTENDS THAT MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR MOMS WHO JUST GAVE BIRTH FROM SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS THE MORTALITY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH.

IT'S RURAL WOMEN.

IT'S AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WHO ARE MORE IMPACTED AND SUFFER MORE IN TERMS OF THESE DEATHS THAN OTHERS.

SO IT WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

FOR IT ULTIMATELY GETTING THE SAME TYPE OF SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO CAN YOU, DO YOU THINK THE HOUSE WILL ACCEPT IT THE SAME WAY IN TERMS OF ALMOST UNANIMOUS AT LEAST.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

WHEN IT PASSED BEFORE, WE WERE AT SIX WEEKS POST PARTUM CARE.

AND WE PUSHED IT TO SIX MONTHS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME IN AND GAVE US MORE LEEWAY DURING THE PANDEMIC WE ALWAYS SAID IT'S TIME FOR THE STATE TO PASS IT.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WILL FUND IT.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A STORY YOU DID IN GEORGIA HEALTH NEWS THAT TALKS ABOUT A PROVISION IN THE 74 PAGE BIPARTISAN MENTAL HEALTH BILL.

IT WILL REQUIRE ENSURERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AT THE SAME LEVEL AS OTHER PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A FEDERAL BUT IT HASN'T BEEN ENFORCED.

THIS WOULD PUT TEETH INTO THAT ENFORCEMENT HERE IN GEORGIA.

QUITE OFTEN HEALTH PLANS WILL PUT UP MORE BARRIERS IN TERMS OF GETTING MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN TERMS OF COPAYS AND NETWORKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CARE.

THIS WOULD HOPEFULLY CORRECT THAT SITUATION.

>> TREATING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE LIKE PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND IT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THAT ONE LOOKS GOOD.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO YOU, REPRESENTATIVE PARK CANNON, LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BILL YOU HAD.

YOU INTRODUCED IT DURING THE LAST BIENNIAL SESSION AND YOU WANT TO BRING IT BACK.

>> YES, WE'RE EXCITED.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT BACK AND PUT IT IN THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.

IDEALLY IT WILL BE ASSIGNED THERE.

BUT IT'S ABOUT IMPLICIT BIAS IN HEALTH CARE.

WE KNOW OVER THE YEARS PEOPLE HAVE MADE THE CONCESSION THAT THERE'S BIAS SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE THAT YOU DON'T QUITE KNOW THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE.

OR THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE SOMEONE THAT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW OR THEY MIGHT SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE THAN YOU'VE EVER HEARD BEFORE.

AND SO YOU MIGHT JUST NOT TREAT THEM THE SAME WAY THAT YOU MIGHT TREAT SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY.

WE WANT TO ROOT THAT OUT IN GEORGIA.

BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING BIRTH HAVE SUFFERED FROM THAT.

>> YEAH.

AND THAT BILL INITIALLY INCLUDED IMMIGRANTS, RIGHT?

>> OH CERTAINLY.

>> COVERING THEM BY THIS.

>> IT TALKED ABOUT RACE, IT TALKED ABOUT ORIGIN AND LANGUAGE.

AND AS A SPANISH SPEAKER DOWN AT THE STATE CAPITOL, SOMETIMES PEOPLE COME AND THEY SHARE THEIR STORIES IN ENGLISH.

AND AS SOON AS THEY CAN CAN SWITCH TO SPANISH, THEY'RE REALLY TALKING THE ISSUES OUT.

SO THIS BILL WILL HELP US ROOT OUT THE PREJUDICES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE IF THEY'RE IN A PARA NATAL WORK SETTING MEANING THEY'RE AROUND A FAMILY GIVING BIRTH.

AND IDEALLY THIS WOULD BE IN EVERY BIRTH SETTING.

>> KEEP US UP TO DATE ON THAT ONE.

YOU HAD A STORY ON THE AJC.

IT DEALT WITH THE FEDS COMING DOWN HARD ON GEORGIA HOSPITALS.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT.

>> BASICALLY THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROGRAM BY CMS OR MEDICARE TO PENALIZE THE HOSPITALS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF INFECTIONS AND PATIENT INJURIES WITHIN THE HOSPITAL DURING THEIR STAYS.

THIS COULD BE A MRSA INFECTION.

THIS COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF SURGICAL INFECTIONS.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF A HOSPITAL HAS A HIGH NUMBER OF THEM, THEY COULD GET DINGED OR PENALIZED ONE PERCENT OF THEIR MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENTS.

AND THIS IS --THIS GOES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE 700 HOSPITALS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS.

>> I ASKED YOU THIS BEFORE.

THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC.

THIS IS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> YEAH STATISTICS IN THIS REPORT CAME OUT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC REALLY GOT STARTED.

>> SO PEOPLE WHO ARE HURT IN THE HOSPITAL GET INFECTIONS IN THE HOSPITAL, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS LOOKING FOR.

AND MAKING SURE THESE HOSPITALS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.

>> WELL, THEY'RE REALLY ALL OVER THE STATE.

IN METRO ATLANTA, AUGUSTA, COLUMBUS, AND SOME MID SIZED MARKETS AS WELL.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A REAL TREND TO TRY TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND HEALTH CARE OVER ALL.

AND THIS IS ONE WAY THE FEDS ARE DOING IT WITHIN THE HOSPITAL'S WALLS.

>> WE'RE GLAD TO HEAR IT.

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

COMING UP, WE'LL TALK TO THE LAWMAKER WHO WANTS TO AMEND THE STATE'S HANDS FREE LAW TO ALLOW PHONE USE AT A STOPLIGHT OR STOP SIGN.

AND WE'LL LEARN ABOUT A BILL TO INCREASE MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN STATE AND FEDERAL CONTRACTS.

YOU'RE WATCHING LAWMAKERS.

CIGNA IS A PROUD PARTNER OF GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND GEORGIA LAWMAKERS.

CIGNA'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELL BEING, AND PEACE OF MIND OF THOSE WE SERVE.

CIGNA.COM.

TO LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR EMPLOYEES EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL BEING.

WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TWO BILLS OUR GUESTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE BECOME LAWS THIS SESSION.

JOINING ME ARE REPUBLICAN SENATOR, FRANK GINN OF DANIELSVILLE IN MADISON COUNTY.

AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT BRUCE IN ATLANTA.

REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE SINCE 2003.

AND CHAIRMAN GINN SINCE 2010.

SO YOU HAVE LOTS TO TALK ABOUT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE, ON MONDAY YOU HAD A BILL, HB 78, IT WENT TO A HOUSE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

AND YOU SAY YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT BILL FOR TEN YEARS.

THAT'S WHY I TALKED ABOUT HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS.

IT DEALS WITH INCREASING DIVERSITY AND STATE CONTRACTS FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS OWNERS.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

AND WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

IT'S BORN OUT OF SOMETHING THAT TOOK PLACE BACK IN THE LATE 1960s.

WITH THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS EMPOWERMENT.

AND THEN IT WENT ON AND IT BECAME THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL --DEVELOPMENTAL AGENCY THAT STILL EXISTS OUT OF WASHINGTON DC NOW.

AND THEN ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, IN GEORGIA, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ALSO CAME UP WITH A PURCHASING PLAN THAT WAS TO MONITOR STATE SPENDING AND MAKE SURE THAT A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE STATE SPENDING WHEN TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.

>> WHAT IS THAT PERCENTAGE?

>> WELL, HE PROBABLY HAS A BETTER NUMBER.

BUT THE NUMBER HAS NOT BEEN MET IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CREATE NOW A DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD LOOK AT ALL STATE AGENCIES AND DO BASICALLY THE SAME THING THEY HAD TO DO BACK THEN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

IT WAS FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS AVAILABLE.

BUT THEY COULDN'T GET THE FEDERAL MONEY UNLESS THEY HAD A PURCHASING PLAN.

AND THIS WOULD CREATE A DEPARTMENT WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD LOOK AT PURCHASING AND COME UP WITH WHAT THE GOALS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE NEED.

THAT'S WHY I ONE SURE WHAT THEY DID IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

>> CHAIRMAN GINN, CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW IN THE SENATE >> THE BILL THAT I THINK REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE IS TALKING ABOUT IS HB 170.

THERE WAS A PORTION OF THAT BILL THAT DEALT WITH MINORITY ENTERPRISES AND BIDDING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT --AND I'M ALL FOR, HEY, ANY TIME WE CAN HAVE MORE COMPETITIVE CONTRACTS IN THE STATE TO LOOK AFTER THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.

WE WANT TO DO THAT.

I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE CONTRACTS, WE BASE THOSE ON MERIT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LEGISLATION CALLED FOR A FINITE NUMBER OR PERCENTAGE EXACTLY.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE GOALS THAT WE STRIVE TO DO IN STATE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE MORE BIDDERS AND MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE REPLYING TO A NEED IN THE STATE, WE'RE ALL BETTER SERVED.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY.

BUSINESS OWNERS, FEMALE BUSINESS OWNER S MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE.

TO HIS POINT, THE INTENT WAS TO SET GOALS BASED ON WHAT THE NEED WAS.

AND EVERYBODY THAT GOT A CONTRACT STILL HAD TO BE QUALIFIED OBVIOUSLY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK.

BUT THE INTENT OF THAT BILL BACK THEN WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SET GOALS BASED ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES.

IT ASKS FOR A STUDY TO BE DONE.

TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND SATISFY THOSE NEEDS.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT YOUR BILL.

YOU HAVE THE HANDS-FREE BILL.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT HANDS FREE.

AND FIRST, BEFORE WE GET INTO IT A LITTLE BIT.

LET'S LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH HANDS FREE IN GEORGIA.

ON JULY 1st 2018, GEORGIA'S HANDS FREE LAW TOOK EFFECT.

IT BASICALLY BANS CELL PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING.

IF YOU'RE USING HANDS FREE TECHNOLOGY.

DRIVERS CAN CANNOT WRITE, READ OR SEND TEXT MESSAGES, EMAILS, SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT OR OTHER INTERNET CONTENT WHILE ON THE ROAD.

ONLY VOICE TEXTING IS ALLOWED.

TO ALLOW CELL PHONE USERS TO BE ABLE TO USE IT WHEN THEY'RE STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS AND STOPLIGHTS.

TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, MA'AM, AND YOU WEAR THE BADGE THEY GIVE YOU.

I'M PROUD TO BE THE TRANSPORTATION CHAIR.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN TRANSPORTATION IS WE TRY TO KEEP GEORGIA MOVING, OUR PEOPLE AND OUR FREIGHT, SAFELY.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE WE SAY ANYTHING ELSE, I'M ALL SO 100% BEHIND STOPPING THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING AND DISTRACTED, IMPAIRED, TEXTING, WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING, I WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON THEIR DRIVING.

I WANT PEOPLE IN GEORGIA TO BE SAFE.

WHEN SOMEBODY HAS AN ACCIDENT, THERE'S INJURIES, THERE'S TIME DELAYS, THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT ACCIDENTS CAUSE.

SO PARAMOUNT TO ANYTHING WE TALK ABOUT IS SAFETY.

WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS BILL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL IS THAT A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP, THERE'S NO WAY THAT A VEHICLE AT A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP CAN RUN OVER ANYBODY.

WHEN I START TO LOOK AT THIS BILL, I SAID YOU KNOW, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL LIVE OUR LIVES.

IF IT WAS A PERFECT WORLD, WE WOULDN'T NEED TELEPHONES AND WE CAN JUST THINK OUR THOUGHTS.

AND PEOPLE WOULD RECEIVE THOSE THOUGHTS.

IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY IN REAL LIFE.

FOR ME, WE HAVE PEOPLE ADDICTED TO THEIR PHONES.

I MAY BE ONE OF THEM.

I'M NOT SURE.

WHEN YOU PULL UP TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WHILE YOU'RE AT A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP, HANDLE YOUR PHONE FOR A FEW SECONDS, RECEIVE A TEXT MESSAGE, SEND ONE BACK, IT MAY BE YOUR SPOUSE CALLING YOU ASKING YOU TO PICK UP A GALLON OF MILK ON THE WAY HOME.

WHATEVER THE CASE IS.

AND THEN BEFORE YOU MOVE, PUT YOUR PHONE BACK DOWN OR BETTER YET, HAVE YOUR PHONE MOUNTED UP CLOSE TO THE DASH.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS FAR TOO OFTEN, YOU'VE BEEN IN LINE BEFORE WHERE THERE'S A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU, SOMEBODY'S DOWN HERE HOLDING THEIR PHONE AT THEIR KNEE.

WHEN THEY DO, THEY HAVE NO SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.

THEY CAN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AROUND THEM.

SOMEBODY HONKS THE HORNET.

YOU GET ROAD RAGE.

THEY HIT THE GAS, AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW THEY'VE RUN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM.

OR WORSE YET, THEY RUN OVER A PEDESTRIAN OR BICYCLIST.

>> YOU'RE THINKING WITH THIS BILL, THAT WON'T HAPPEN, BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE TO HIDE IT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

YOU CAN GO TO ABOUT ANY TRAFFIC LIGHT YOU WANT TO SEE IN METRO ATLANTA, AND THERE'S SOMEBODY SITTING THERE HOLDING THEIR PHONE BUT THEY'RE HIDING IT FROM THE POLICE.

I SUPPORT MY LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO ENFORCE THE LAWS.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S AGAINST THE LAW FOR YOU TO DO THIS.

AND I DON'T ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO BREAK THE LAW.

BUT BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY WRITE SO MANY TICKETS IN A DAY, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FOCUS ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAN KILL YOU.

THAT'S ANYBODY GOING FROM ONE TO 100 MILES AN HOUR.

>> SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PUSHBACK EARLIER --I THINK IT WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

OR IN THE SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN LAST WEEK.

SENATOR RANDY ROBERTSON, HE'S A FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

HE CALLED IT A DANGEROUS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSE IT.

INCLUDING THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU WE DON'T LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS MAKE IT SAFER.

BUT I WANT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A POTENTIAL TO KILL YOU.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MOVING AND DISTRACTED.

WHETHER THEY'RE IMPAIRED, DUI, HOLDING THEIR PHONE, TALKING, WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE DOING, IF YOU'RE AT A COMPLETE AND FULL STOP, YOU'RE NOT A DANGER TO ANYBODY.

>> YOU HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THE BILL.

YOU HAVE SOME DEMOCRATIC SIGNERS.

>> YES, MA'AM, THEY SAID THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE JUST A FEW MINUTES I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MAN, I WANT TO SIGN THAT BILL.

BECAUSE THEY HEAR FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE A LIFE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITATION FOR TEXTING AND DRIVING OR BEING DISTRACTED, HOLDING YOUR PHONE, A LOT OF TIMES, THAT'S A FULL DAYS PAY FOR WORKERS OUT HERE IN GEORGIA.

AND FOR ME, I DON'T WANT THOSE PEOPLE TO BE UNSAFE.

IT AT A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL THAT I'VE INTRODUCED AT A TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE.

>> YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT PASSING?

>> I DO.

I BELIEVE THE VOTES ARE THERE IN COMMITTEE.

I HAVE TO GET THE CHAIRMAN TO ALLOW IT TO GO TO A VOTE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR SUPPLIER DIVERSITY BILL, HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT IT?

>> WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT PASSED FOR A WHILE.

AND THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE ACTUALLY HAD A HEARING.

SO I FEEL PRETTY POSITIVE THAT BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THE MEETING THE OTHER DAY THAT IT'S GOING TO GET SOME TRACTION.

>> YEAH, IT'S TO COME OUT OF SUBCOMMITTEE FIRST.

COME OUT OF SUBCOMMITTEE AND GO TO FULL COMMITTEE.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND YOU KNOW, TO GET THE STUDY DONE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND SATISFY THOSE NEEDS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP UP WITH BOTH OF THESE BILLS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

USING THE #GPV LAWMAKERS.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN TOMORROW AT 9:00 A.M. ON YOUR GPV STATION FOR POLITICAL REWIND.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN ON MONDAY FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 15.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.