♪ ♪ >>> MY MAJOR FOCUS HERE HAS BEEN IN EDUCATION.

PAY ATTENTION TO EDUCATION BECAUSE THAT HAS MORE AFFECT ON OUR FUTURE THAN ANY OTHER TOPIC THAT WE DEAL WITH IN THIS BODY.

>> STATE SENATOR LINDSEY TIPPINS, ONE OF THE STATE'S BIGGEST CHAMPIONS OF EDUCATION ASKED HIS COLLEGE TO TAKE CARE OF EDUCATION IN GEORGIA AS HE ANNOUNCES HE WON'T SEEK ANOTHER TERM.

I'M DONNA LOWRY, WE'LL HAVE MORE ON SENATOR TIPPINS IN JUST A MOMENT.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP IS PUSHING A BILL TO ALLOW PARENTS TO OPT OUT OF MASK REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

WE'LL HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT A BILL WITH 40 SIGNATURES FROM LAWMAKERS WHO WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COSTS ARE THE SAME FOR DIAGNOSTIC BREAST EXAMINATIONS AND MAMMOGRAMS.

IT'S A BIPARTISAN BILL AND WE HAVE TWO SENATORS FROM EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE JOINING US.

>>> WE HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME FIRST FOR THE LATEST FROM CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS.

>> INTERESTING DAY AT THE CAPITOL FROM HUNTING AND TRAPPING OPOSSUMS TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SENATOR'S RETIREMENT.

>> I RISE THIS MORNING TO TELL YOU THAT I WILL NOT QUALIFY TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION THIS FALL.

I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE, AND I VALUE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH EACH OF YOU.

>> SENATOR LINDSEY TIPPINS WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 2010 REPRESENTING MARIETTA IN COBB COUNTY.

HE ALSO SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

>> I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THE FRIENDSHIP -- AND WHEN I SAY EACH OF YOU, I MEAN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

SO MANY TIMES TODAY WE'RE DIVIDED BIPARTISAN ISSUES.

SO MANY TIMES TODAY WE FOCUS ON THINGS THAT AREN'T REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT I CHERISH THE TIMES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.

I'VE HAD THAT WITH BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, BUT I APPRECIATE THE HONEST AND OPEN CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.

I APPRECIATE THE FUN TIMES WE'VE SHARED.

I APPRECIATE THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT WE'VE BUILT, AND I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER FOR THE SEAT OF GEORGIA.

>> RIGHT AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT, SENATOR TIPPINS WAS BACK TO BUSINESS, COBB COUNTY MAPS BUSINESS, TWO BILLS, HB 1028 AND HB 1154 THAT HAVE BEEN VIGOROUSLY FOUGHT OVER IN THE HOUSE E MADE THEIR WAY TO THE SENATE.

THEY WILL DRAW NEW DISTRICT LINES FOR THE COBB COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND COBB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> WITHDRAW AND COMMIT THESE BILLS -- ROUTED ORIGINALLY.

I'D ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE CONSENT TO DO THAT.

>> AFTER TIPPINS ASKED FOR THE TWO BILLS TO BE PUT INTO THE SLOW-GO GENERAL COMMITTEE, SENATOR JENNIFER JER DIN PUSHED BACK.

>> THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO SLOW GO LOCAL BECAUSE THEY ARE LOCAL BILLS.

LOCAL BILLS.

THESE ARE COBB COUNTY BILLS THAT THE LOCAL DELEGATION IS SUPPOSED TO ACTUALLY BE DEALING WITH AS OPPOSED TO PULLING THEM OFF.

WHY DO WE PULL THEM OFF?

BECAUSE WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AGAIN, GWINNETT, AUGUSTA, COBB.

I ABSOLUTELY OBJECT, AND SPECIFICALLY WITH COBB COUNTY THIS IS HEADED STRAIGHT TO LITIGATION.

THEY LITERALLY HAVE DRAWN A SITTING COUNTY COMMISSIONER OUT OF HER DISTRICT, A WOMAN OF COLOR.

IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE Y'ALL.

>> REPUBLICANS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING THE BILL FOR WARD.

ALSO IN THE SENATE, SB 461 PASSED UNOPPOSED 54-0.

THE MEASURE WOULD ADD HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO THE LIST OF OFFENSES BAILABLE ONLY BEFORE A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.

>> HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A SERIOUS OFFENSE THAT MUST BE TREATED AS SERIOUSLY AS OTHER CRIMES THAT VIOLATE MORAL TERP TUDE.

LOWER JUDGES LIKE MAGISTRATE JUDGES ARE OFTEN UNELECTED AND MAY NOT EVEN BE ATTORNEYS OOCHS.

SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES ARE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE ELECTED TO OFFICE ENSURING THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE ELECTORS OF THAT CIRCUIT.

JUDGES IN SUPERIOR COURT ARE MORE LIKELY TO LOOK AT THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF THEIR ENTIRETY BEFORE SETTING BAIL.

>> NOW, YOU MAY RECALL THIS FROM YESTERDAY WHEN GOVERNOR KEMP URGED LEGISLATORS TO BAN MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS SAYING IT IS TIME FOR PARENTS TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WEARING MASKS.

TODA REPRESENTATIVE JASMINE CLARK RESPONDED.

>> OUR CHILDREN RELY ON ADULTS TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS TO PROTECT THEM.

THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AND AT THE MERCY OF ADULTS TO MAKE GOOD SOUND POLICY.

THAT'S WHY I'M CONCERNED THAT WE WOULD ALLOW POLITICS TO ENDANGER CHILDREN.

WE CANNOT TAKE AN INDIVIDUAL IS STICK APPROACH TO PUBLIC HEALTH BY ALLOWING SOME TO ENDANGER OTHERS.

IT'S LIKE ALLOWING A PERSON TO POOP IN THE POOL AND ASSUME THAT EVERYONE ELSE SWIMMING IN IT WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

>> HOUSE BILL 1147 PASSED, AND IT'S AN INTERESTING MEASURE, TO SAY THE LEAST.

IT WOULD PERMIT HUNTERS, HUNTING AND TRACKING OF RACCOONS AND OPOSSUMS YEAR-ROUND.

IT WAS PRESENTED BY REPRESENTATIVE TREY RHODES BUT GOT GREAT FEEDBACK FROM REPRESENTATIVE AL WILLIAMS AND ALSO SPEAKER RALSTON.

>> IS THIS A PRO RACCOON BILL OR AN ANTI RACCOON BILL?

>> THAT IS FOR EACH MEMBER TO DECIDE THEMSELVES.

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT ANSWER, BY THE WAY.

>> SOME OF YOU HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BAKED OPOSSUM, AND SOME OF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS EVEN IMAGINED A BAKED COON WITH SWEET POTATOES AROUND IT.

SOME OF YOU HAVE DEVELOPED A BOURGEOIS ATTITUDE AFTER GETTING OUT OF YOUR FORMER CIRCUMSTANCES.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN IT WAS NOT A SPORTING ANIMAL, BUT A SUBSISTENCE ANIMAL.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY GRANDMOTHER WAS ONE OF THE FINEST COOKERS OF THE RACCOON IN AMERICA.

>> WELL, DONNA, THAT'S THE MEAT OF MY CAPITAL REPORT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, BRENDA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME NOW LOOKING AT GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP'S ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY, THAT HE WANTS GEORGIA PARENTS TO HAVE THE OPTION OF OPTING OUT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT MASK MANDATES.

IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL TALK TO A LEGISLATOR OPPOSED TO THE IDEA.

CLINT DICKSON IS SPONSORING THE UNMASK GEORGIA STUDENT ACTION.

I SPOKE WITH HIM EARLIER TODAY ABOUT THE BILL.

>> WHAT IT IS, IF A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DECIDES TO INCORPORATE A MASK MANDATE, THEY MUST -- IF THIS BILL PASSES, THEY MUST INCORPORATE AN OPT-OUT OPTION FOR PARENTS.

>> WHY?

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A SPONSOR OF THIS BILL?

I KNOW YOU'RE A FLOOR LEADER FOR THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT PERSONALLY IS THIS ABOUT?

>> FOR YOU PERSONALLY, EDUCATION IS MY PRIORITY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT'S QUITE FRANKLY BECOME THE BIGGEST ISSUE I'VE GOT LOCALLY IN GWINNETT COUNTY WITH ISSUES WE HAVE ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD.

THE MASK MANDATE IS ONE OF THE HOT-BUTTON TOPICS FOR PARENTS.

I'VE HEARD FROM THOUSANDS OF PARENTS HAVING A WIDE-RANGE OF ISSUES WITH THEIR STUDENTS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL, WHETHER THEY'RE AS MAT TICK, LEARNING DISABILITIES OR JUST COMMUNICATING, THEY'VE HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH THOSE MASK MANDATES.

WE FEEL LIKE OR I FEEL LIKE PERSONALLY THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR STUDENTS AND BE IN CHARGE OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY KNOW BEST.

>> INSTEAD OF GOING FOR A, HEY, LET'S NOT JUST ALLOW ANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DO IT, YOU'RE GOING TORE OPT OUT.

WHY IS THAT THE OPTION?

>> BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO -- WE DO BELIEVE IN HOME RULE.

IT WOULD BE A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE.

I KNOW THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL OF DISTRICTS THAT DO HAVE MASK MANDATES STILL IN PLACE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE THE OPTIONAL MANDATES, IF YOU CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK, YOU CAN.

BUT THIS WOULD JUST PUT PARENTS IN CHARGE, IN CHARGE OF THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR CHILDREN.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE TEACHERS WHO ARE SAYING, HEY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?

>> I TELL YOU, AS FAR AS FOR THE TEACHERS, I'VE ACTUALLY HAD SEVERAL MESSAGES COME ANYWHERE TEACHERS WERE -- I WOULDN'T SAY UPSET WITH ME, BUT WERE WANTING IT EXPANDED TO MAKE MASKS OPTIONAL FOR THEM AS WELL.

IT'S ONLY BEEN A DAY SINCE WE DROPPED THE BILL.

THAT'S BEEN SOME OF THE RESPONSES I'VE GOTTEN FROM TEACHERS IN THE PAST DAY.

THIS BILL, IF IT'S SIGNED INTO LAW, WOULD NOT BE A BILL THAT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

IT'S INTENDED JUST FOR THE PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE IN, AND IT DOES HAVE A SUNSET OF JUNE 30th OF 2023.

>> I HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS, AND THEY SAID, DECISIONS ABOUT SCHOOL MASK REQUIREMENTS ARE BEST MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH EXTENSIVE AND CONTINUED INPUT FROM EDUCATORS, PARENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SB 514 DOES NOT PREVENT DISTRICTS FROM CONTINUING MASK REQUIREMENTS BUT DOES ALLOW PARENTS TO OPT OUT WHICH MAY FURTHER THE ONGOING TENSIONS IN SOME SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S FROM PAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CRAIG HAR PER.

YOUR RESPONSE.

>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THE MASK MANDATES HAVE ACTUALLY CREATED A LOT OF TENSION IN THE SCHOOLS.

I HEAR FROM THOUSANDS OF PARENTS, LIKE I SAID MULTIPLE TIMES.

THE EDUCATION ISSUES IN GWINNETT COUNTY, THERE'S A LAUNDRY LIST OF ISSUES WE'VE GOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE.

THE MASK MANDATE IS ON THE FOREFRONT.

I'VE HEARD FROM THOUSANDS -- TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARENTS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THE MASK MANDATES.

THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN UNMASKED.

I THINK IT WOULD ACTUALLY ALLEVIATE ISSUES IN THE SCHOOLS.

>> BEING ABLE TO OPT OUT, YOU'RE SAYING, WOULD KEEP PEOPLE FROM FIGHTING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, ARGUING ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

>> I THINK SO.

YES, MA'AM, I THINK SO.

>> YOUR RESPONSE FROM PARENTS SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY?

>> FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM PARENTS, THEY'RE ELATED.

I'VE HAD A FEW THAT ARE OPPOSED TO IT.

A MAJORITY THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME ARE DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF THIS OPT-OUT OPTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ALONGSIDE THE GOVERNOR IN FIGHTING FOR THE WELL-BEING AND THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS WITH THIS BILL.

>> SENATOR CLINT DICKSON.

JOINING ME IS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DERRICK JACKSON.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

FIRST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU SIT IN THE GEORGIA HOUSE.

YOU'RE ONE OF OF ABOUT A DOZEN LAWMAKERS WHO SIT IN THE GALLERY OF THE HOUSE.

WE HAVE A FEW PICTURES.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER, BUT I SHOULD MENTION NOT IN THE SENATE.

EVEN WITH THAT, YOU SIT UPSTAIRS IN THE GALLERY AND WEAR A MASK.

DURING LAST YEAR'S SESSION THERE WAS MORE SPREAD OUT, THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY, PEOPLE SOCIALLY DISTANCED ON THE FLOOR, THERE WERE PEOPLE IN ONE OF THE LARGEST HEARING ROOMS.

NOW IT'S JUST MOSTLY ON THE FLOOR.

YOU CHOOSE TO BE UP THERE IN THE GALLERY.

TELL US WHY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I REALIZED, DONNA, THAT WE'RE STILL IN THIS PANDEMIC.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR WHERE THE AVERAGE DEATH IN GEORGIA WAS 32, JUST YESTERDAY ON VALENTINE'S IT'S NOW 93 A DAY.

WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ELDERLY PARENTS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES, I'M I'VE SEEN OUR COLLEAGUES THAT DO NOT, WE VALUE LIFE, WE VALUE OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.

THE 13 OF US THAT CHOSE TO SIT UP IN THE GALLERY IS BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR ELDERLY PARENTS.

WE DON'T WANT TO RISK THEIR LIVES, MORE OR LESS OURS, AND SO FOR OUR COLLEAGUES ALL ON THE CHAMBER FLOOR -- YOU'RE RIGHT.

LAST YEAR WE WERE SPREAD OUT OVER THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS BECAUSE WE WERE DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT VARIANTS, BUT THE PANDEMIC STILL EXISTS.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE UNMASK GEORGIA STUDENTS ACT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT BILL?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCED THIS SENATE BILL 514, THE UNMASK STUDENTS ACT, MUCH OF US STRONGLY OPPOSED.

BEING A PARENT, BEING A FATHER, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALIZED, THAT LOCAL CONTROL IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S AMAZING THAT THE MAJORITY PARTY THAT OFTEN TALKS ABOUT GOVERNMENT CONTROL AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THIS IS AN OVERREACH.

TH ELECT TORT ALWAYS SAY DEMOCRATS ARE OVERREACHING.

THE SCHOOL BOARDS KNOW BEST.

IT WOULD BE HARD FOR US IN ATLANTA TO TRY TO DICTATE FOR ALL 159 COUNTIES WHILE WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

SO WHY SHOULD WE INSTITUTE A SENATE BILL 514 TO UNMASK.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEXT?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHILD GETS THE PINK EYE?

DO SOMEONE IN VALDOSTA OR ALBANY NEED TO SEND A LETTER TO ATLANTA TO SAY, HEY, WE HAVE A CHILD WITH THE PINK EYE, SHOULD WE LET THEM STAY IN?

SHOULD THE PARENTS OPT OUT AND KEEP THEIR CHILD IN?

NO.

WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

SENATE BILL 514 I THINK IS A BAD BILL, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS POLITICAL PRESSURE, DURING THIS POLITICAL SEASON IS NOTHING MORE THAN ALLOWING FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE USED AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL.

>> SO THERE WAS THE QUESTION, WHILE THE GOVERNOR DENIES IT, SOME HAVE SPECULATED THIS BILL IS A RESPONSE TO HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER STACEY ABRAMS NOT WEARING A MASK WHILE TAKING A PICTURE IN A SCHOOL WITH MASKED CHILDREN.

SHE HAS APOLOGIZED FOR THAT AND SAID IN THE RUSH AFTER SPEAKING, SHE WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE PICTURE AND SHE WENT AHEAD AND DID THAT.

HE SAID, QUOTE, IT'S HYPOCRISY THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN A VISITOR COMES IN THE SCHOOL.

EVEN THOUGH HE SAYS IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THAT, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> AGAIN, HE QUOTED IT HIMSELF.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A GOVERNOR -- AND THIS IS REALLY MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT USING LEGISLATION TO GO AFTER YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENT, I JUST THINK THAT'S WRONG.

I DON'T DEAL WITH EXTREMES.

WE'VE GOT TO FIND A HAPPY BALANCE.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN DEATHS START TO SURGE AGAIN?

DO WE NOW TELL PARENTS, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO RESCIND SENATE BILL 514?

NO, NO.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INSTITUTE, DEPENDING ON THESE VARIANTS THAT COME IN, TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE.

>> SO SENATOR DICKSON SAYS IT DOES END, IT HAS A SUNSET OF JUNE 30th, 2023.

THE OTHER PART OF IT, IT GIVES PARENTS THE OPTION.

PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY WHAT THEIR KIDS CAN AND CANNOT DO.

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT?

>> AS A FATHER WITH SEVEN CHILDREN, MY WIFE AND I HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN, WE STILL DICTATE TO OUR CHILDREN WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO FOR SAFETY REASONTION.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A SUNSET THAT'S NEXT YEAR, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE NEXT VARIANT BECOMES STRONGER THAN THE OMICRON OR DELTA.

SO IT'S HARD TO JUSTIFY WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY WHAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO.

THERE SHOULD BE A BALANCE.

SO IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN WE HAD -- MY WIFE AND I HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN GOT THE VACCINE IN ORDER TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.

IF A TEENAGER GETS INTO A FIGHT AT SCHOOL, PARENTS HAVE TO DEAL WITH A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR BECAUSE THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR IS GOING TO ADJUDICATE THAT SITUATION.

WHEN DO WE EMPOWER THOSE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOME RULE AND LOCAL CONTROL, BUT SENATE BILL 514 DOES EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE OTHER PARTY PREACHES.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND TALKING ABOUT IT.

I'M SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN THE COMING WEEKS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>>> COMING UP, DOZENS OF SENATORS SIGNED ON TO A BILL TO EVEN THE COST OF CERTAIN TESTS FOR WOMEN.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>>> WELCOME BACK.

WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A BIPARTISAN BILL LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THE COST OF BREAST EXAMS REMAINS THE SAME FOR BOTH DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND MAMMOGRAMS.

JOINING ME ARE TWO MARIETTA LEGISLATORS, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR MICHAEL RHETT OF DISTRICT 33 AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR KAY KIRKPATRICK OF DISTRICT 32, RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON "LAWMAKERS."

REPRESENTATIVE KIRKPATRICK, YOU'RE A DOCTOR, ORTHOPEDIC HAND SURGEON, VERY DELICATE WORK.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR MEDICAL EXPERTISE ON THIS ISSUE IN PARTICULAR.

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE, DEFINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS KNOWN AS A BREAST MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OR MRI AND AN ULTRASOUND EXAM AND A MAMMOGRAM.

>> DONNA, THE DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE I MOVED TO ATLANTA IN 1986.

IT USED TO BE MAMMOGRAMS WERE ABOUT IT, THAT AND AN EXAM BY THE PHYSICIAN.

BUT NOW FOR PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK, IT'S GOTTEN TO BE THAT SORT OF A STANDARD SET OF EXAMS FREQUENTLY INCLUDES AN ULTRASOUND.

IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION THAN AN MRI OF THE BREAST IS FREQUENTLY ORDERED.

THE ADVANTAGE TO HAVING SORT OF A PANEL OF THINGS THAT YOU DO IS THAT EARLY DETECTION CAN REALLY CHANGE THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE, AND IN THE LONG HAUL IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE HAS A LATER STAGE BREAST CANCER.

>> SO THE MAMMOGRAM WILL SHOW ONE THING, BUT AN ULTRASOUND -- MRI WILL SHOW ONE THING AND AN ULTRASOUND WILL SHOW SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SAYING, IT'S NOT THE SAME, THEY PICK UP DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> CORRECT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, EXPLAINING WHAT THIS BILL IS ALL ABOUT, SENATOR RHETT.

WHY DOES THIS BILL EXPAND ON THAT AND WHY DO WE WANT THIS SO MUCH?

>> BASICALLY IT COMES DOWN TO WOMEN'S HEALTH.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.

BECAUSE INITIALLY WHEN WOMEN GO IN TO GET SCREENED, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND INSURANCE WILL USE AS A SCREENING MEASURE A MAMMOGRAM.

BUT IF YOU RUN INTO AN ISSUE, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU NEED MORE IN-DEPTH VIEW OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

THAT'S WHEN THE MRI OR ON GRAHAM, WHICH IS A PICTURE FROM THE ULTRASOUND WILL COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK.

THE CHALLENGE IS, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU GO FOR THOSE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL MAKE YOU HAVE TO PAY A CO-PAYER YOUR DEDUCTIBLE WIB CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

SO IN A LOT OF CASES PEOPLE WILL WAIT A WHILE BEFORE THEY GET THROUGH THAT DEDUCTIBLE.

IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE AND YOU'RE WAITING AROUND, IT CAN METASTASIZE OR SPREAD.

WE WANT MRIs OR SONOGRAMS AS A PART OF YOUR EARLY SCREENING.

>> THERE'S PREAUTHORIZATION AND THAT TAKES TIME, TOO.

WOULD THAT TAKE THAT AWAY?

>> NO, NO.

PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE WORKED ON EVER SINCE I GOT TO THE SENATE.

WE NOW HAVE SOME GUIDELINES AND SOME TRANSPARENCY AROUND PRIOR AUTHORIZATION WHICH COMES INTO PLAY WITH ANY MEDICAL TEST OR ANY SURGERY THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE.

SO WE'VE NEVER TRIED TO TELL PRIVATE COMPANIES THEY CAN'T DO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

WE JUST WANT TO SHINE SOME LIGHT ON WHAT'S REQUIRED AND WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE.

SO MAMMOGRAMS ARE CERTAINLY VERY COMMONLY DONE AND SHOULD BE VERY COMMONLY DONE.

ULTRASOUNDS ARE PROBABLY MORE COMMONLY DONATHAN THEY USED TO BE.

MRIs ARE USUALLY NOT A SCREENING TEST.

BUT IF SOMETHING POPS UP ON A MAMMOGRAM OR ULTRASOUND THAT'S QUESTIONABLE, THEN THAT'S WHEN THE MRI COMES INTO PLAY.

I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYBODY ON THIS BILL YET.

IT'S EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

IT'S ACTUALLY SENATOR McNEIL'S BILL WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.

THE POINT IS THAT PREVENTION AND CATCHING THINGS EARLY HAS REALLY CHANGED THE COURSE OF BREAST CANCER SINCE I MOVED HERE 30-SOMETHING YEARS AGO.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT EARLY DETECTION BECAUSE THAT LEADS TO LESS AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT SOMETIMES AND LONGER LIFE AND BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO THAT IS WHY I THINK THE INSURANCE COMPANIES MANY TIMES WILL PAY FOR SCREENING TESTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE -- MAYBE UP TO FIVE TIMES GREATER COST IF THINGS AREN'T DIAGNOSED EARLY.

>> MAMMOGRAMS ARE FREE FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN AGE IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE WILL PAY FOR.

WITH THESE OTHER EXAMS, NOT FREE.

>> THAT'S THE BIG PROBLEM HERE.

>> THEY'RE STILL NOT GOING TO BE FREE.

THE BILL, MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT, THEY HAVE TO BE HANDLED THE SAME WAY.

>> SUSAN G. KOMEN WHO HAS THE NON-PROFIT THAT DEALS WITH BREAST CANCER IS GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS.

TALK ABOUT WHY THAT GROUP IS INVOLVED AND HOW.

>> BREAST CANCER IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED IN THE AIR FORCE WHEN I WORKED WITH PILOTS AND NAVIGATORS IS THAT GOOD HEALTH HAS A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION.

NOW THAT WE'RE EMPOWERING WOMEN TO MOVE TO DIFFERENT AREAS, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE GOOD HEALTH WHEN THEY GO ALONG.

SUSAN G. KOMEN HAS THE CENTER FOR BLACK WOMEN AND WELLNESS THAT CAN PROVIDE FREE MAMMOGRAMS AND SCREENING TOOLS THAT WOMEN, IF THEY DO HAVE A PROBLEM, ARE ABLE TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED AND REFER IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> SO THEY'RE GOING TO PUT SOME OF THEIR EFFORTS INTO HELPING WITH THIS IF THIS BILL IS ABLE TO PASS IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> I THINK IT'S A NATIONAL EFFORT THAT THEY'RE UNDERTAKING.

THIS TYPE OF BILL HAS ALREADY PASSED IN SEVERAL OTHER STATES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL OF THEM ARE.

I KNOW THAT TEXAS IS ONE OF THEM ALONG WITH ARKANSAS AND LOUISIANA, I BELIEVE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY OTHER STATES HAVE PASSED IT.

IT'S REALLY TRYING TO BE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET THE CARE THEY NEED EARLY RATHER THAN LATE.

>> I KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO THE LEGISLATURE PASSED MAKING SURE WOMEN KNEW MORE ABOUT DENSE BREAST TISSUE, THAT THEY WERE GETTING TESTED, THAT MAMMOGRAMS WEREN'T ENOUGH, THAT YOU MIGHT GET A LETTER SAYING YOU SHOULD GO IN AGAIN.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

>> I DON'T HAVE THE FOLLOWUP ON THAT, BUT THAT IS A BILL THAT WE PASSED THAT SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THEY MIGHT BE AT HIGHER RISK FOR SCREENING TESTS NOT PICKING UP THEIR DISEASE RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.

THE OTHER BILL THAT WE PASSED LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE WAS CALLED LACEY'S LAW.

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT WAS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE AT MUCH HIGHER RISK FOR BREAST CANCER THAN OTHERS AT AN EARLIER AGE.

A LOT OF THESE ARE GENETIC TYPES OF PREDISPOSITIONS TO GET CANCERS OF DIFFERENT TYPES, NOT JUST BREAST CANCER.

SO GREAT STRIDES ARE BEING MADE AND THE IMAGING SORT OF PROFILE HAS CHANGED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT 30 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE MAY JUST BE ABLE TO PLUG SOMEBODY'S GENES IN AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO END UP WITH.

THE LAW ALWAYS LAGS BEHIND THE SCIENCE SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CATCH IT UP.

>> THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK WE THINK OF THIS AS SOMETHING THAT WOMEN DEAL WITH, BUT MEN GET BREAST CANCER, ALSO.

>> I'M A DOCTOR, I'M FOR EVERYBODY'S HEALTH, NOT JUST WOMEN'S HEALTH.

MEN HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THEY STRUGGLE WITH.

CERTAINLY IT'S MUCH LESS COMMON IN MEN, BUT WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO PREVENT ADVANCED DISEASE NO MATTER WHETHER IT'S WOMEN OR MEN.

>> YOU MENTIONED BREAST DENSITY.

AT ONE TIME -- I DON'T KNOW HOW THE TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED, IF MAYBE THEY CAN PICK UP ON IT LATER.

BUT BLACK WOMEN BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY OF THE TISSUE IN THEIR BREAST, IT WAS HARD SOMETIMES THROUGH A REGULAR MAMMOGRAM, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE AN X-RAY, TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD AN ISSUE.

SO FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS WERE REQUIRED.

BECAUSE OF THE COST THEY PUT IT OFF.

THEREFORE, IF THEY DO HAVE AN ISSUE, IT CAN SPREAD.

>> WAITING TOO LATE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF SIGNERS.

SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD ON THIS ONE.

>> WELL, SENATOR RHETT AND I WORK TOGETHER ON VETERANS ISSUES AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

HE SITS NEXT TO ME IN THE SENATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS -- PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE SENATE THAT WE AGREE ON THAT CROSS PARTY LINES.

>> WE'LL HAVE YOU COME BACK TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW BECAUSE THAT WILL BE LEGISLATIVE DAY 18.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.