>>> SIMPLE BILL, TRANSPARENCY BILL, YOU KNOW, ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THIS BILL, AND IN CLOSING, THIS IS VERY SIMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL OF RIGHTS, GO AHEAD.

I WILL BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY BY SUPPORTING THE PARENTS' RIGHTS IN GEORGIA.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

I YIELD BACK.

>> THE GEORGIA SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXPAND PARENTS' INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOLS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY 19th OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONALD LOWERY.

MORE ON THE PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS LEGISLATION COMING UP, AND ALSO FOR SOME PARENT OF SICK CHILDREN TODAY MAY HAVE FELT LIKE A STEP BACKWARD.

THREE YEARS AGO THE ASSEMBLY APPROVED MEDICAL CANNABIS IN GEORGIA AND WE'LL HELP SORT IT ALL OUT AND WORKPLACE HARASSMENT WITH PROTECTIONS FOR WHISTLE BLOWERS.

LEGISLATION MOVES IN THE HOUSE THAT WILL HELP SOME PEOPLE WITH HIV.

BUT FIRST, WE GO TO OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA WATERS AT THE GOLD DOME FOR A LOOK AT THE DAY'S NEWS.

>> GOOD NEWS FOR GEORGIA COMMUNITIES AND IT IS ALL ABOUT BETTER DRINKING WATER AND WASTE WATER SYSTEM.

>> SURROUNDED BY MEMBERS OF THE WATER AND SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE AND LEGISLATORS, GOVERNOR KEMP TALKED ABOUT A BIG STEP FOR GEORGIA.

TODAY WE'RE TAKING ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO GEORGIA'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE ARE INVESTING $122 MILLION TO ADDRESS THE AGING WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCREASED CAPACITY FOR GROWING COUNTIES.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF HARDWORKING GEORGIANS WHO RELY ON STATE DRINKING AND WASTE WATER SYSTEMS.

>> SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR GEORGIANS?

A FEW THINGS.

IT WOULD IMPROVE DRINKING WATER TREATMENT TO HIGH NEED AREAS AND IMPROVE WASTE WATER TREATMENT RESULTING IN CLEANER LAKES AND RIVERS.

>> IS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE FUNDED BY COVID-19 RELIEF MONEY.

TODAY IN THE HOUSE TWO HOUSE BILLS PRESENTED BY REPRESENTATIVES SHARON COOPER PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY.

HB-1092 IS A BILL THAT WOULD BENEFIT PREGNANT WOMEN WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE INCARCERATED.

>> THE BILL SAYS THAT IF A WOMAN IS FIXING TO BE SENTENCED TO A PRISON TERM, AND SHE IS PREGNANT, THAT THE JUDGE -- THE JUDGE HAS THE DISCRETION TO PAUSE HER SENTENCING, NOT CHANGE IT, NOT MAKE IT SMALLER, JUST PAUSE WHEN SHE HAS TO GO INTO THE PRISON SYSTEM TO START SERVING HER TERM.

IT ALLOWS THAT THE JUDGE CAN SAY THAT THE WOMAN CAN STAY OUT OF PRISON UNTIL SIX WEEKS POST-PART EM.

THIS DOES NOT COME WITHOUT CERTAIN STIPULATIONS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE COOPER SAYS THIS IS NO GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD FOR THE WOMEN.

THEY MUST CHECK IN WITH THE COURTS AND UNDERGO PRENATAL CARE AND IN SOME CASES THE WOMEN MUST BE REQUIRED TO WEAR AN ANKLE BRACELET.

HOUSE BILL 1192 WAS THE SECOND BILL PRESENTED BY REPRESENTATIVE COOPER THIS MORNING, ALSO HEALTH RELATED.

>> IT IS A DIRECTION TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH OR THE DEPARTMENT TO ASK MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAID AND MEDICARE FOR A WAIVER SO THAT WE CAN MOVE GEORGIA CITIZENS THAT ARE HIV-POSITIVE AND 138% BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL ON TO OUR MEDICAID PROGRAM.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD RUNS OF HIV-POSITIVE PEOPLE SHOWING UP IN OUR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND NURSING HOMES.

>> ALSO IN THE HOUSE, HB-826 HAS PASSED AND IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK TO BE SIGNED AND THAT PUT MOUNT ON THE SENATE.

MORE ON ANOTHER PATH TO CITY HOOD.

>> ON THE SENATE FLOOR SB-449 ALSO CALLED THE PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WAS CAUSE FOR PARTISAN DEBATE.

>> IT GIVES PARENTS THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THE MATERIAL, THE PRIMARY MATERIAL THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE TAUGHT THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF EVERY NINE-WEEK GRADING PERIOD.

IT ALLOWS THE PARENTS TO OPT THEIR CHILD OF ANY VIDEO GRAB OR PHOTOGRAPH, AND IT DOES EXCLUDE ANY TYPE OF SECURITY FOOTAGE.

IT LAYS OUT A TIMETABLE IF THE QUESTION HAS QUESTIONS ON MATERIAL IF THE PRINCIPLE OR SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN'T RESPOND WITHIN THREE DAYS, THEY CAN SET UP A TIMETABLE WITH INFORMATION FOR THE PARENT AND THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO DO THAT.

>> DEMOCRATS SAY THAT THIS IS MORE ABOUT CONTROLLING WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT.

>> IF YOU ARE TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY YOU TEACH THE WHOLE HISTORY, NOT JUST PART OF IT, BUT YOU TEACH THE WHOLE HISTORY ABOUT HOW WE ARRIVED AND HOW WE'VE COME THROUGH THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

SO ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT A PARENT NOW CAN DICTATE AS TO WHAT IS TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> I BELIEVE THAT THE PARENTS HAVE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT IN DECIDING WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT.

>> DEMOCRATS ALSO SAY IT WILL CREATE MORE WORK FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE ALREADY OVERBURDENED AND THAT PROCEDURES FOR PARENTS TO OBJECT TO ANY CLASS WORK OR CURRICULUM ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.

HERE WE EMPOWER A MASSIVE SURVEILLANCE AND DOCUMENT PRODUCTION EFFORT THAT CONTRIBUTES TO AN ATMOSPHERE OF CLASSROOM CENSORSHIP AND OVERBURDENING OF ALREADY BURDENED TEACHERS.

TELLS THEM WE DON'T TRUST THEM.

>> I KNOW IN GWINNETT COUNTY WE HAVE CURRICULUM REVIEW AND IT IS MADE UP OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS, BOTH FROM THE COMMUNITY AND I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON IT.

ABS PARENT, PARENTS, TEACHERS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR INPUT AND REVIEW ANY MATERIAL.

SO THERE IS ALREADY A PROCESS SET.

>> REPUBLICANS SAY THAT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE ULTIMATE SAY IN WHAT THE CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT.

>> A SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH A PARENT CAN HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THOSE CHILDREN BELONG TO THEM AND THEY NEED THAT VOICE.

IF YOU WANT TO VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL OF RIGHTS, GO AHEAD.

I WILL BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY BY SUPPORTING THE PARENTS' RIGHTS IN GEORGEA.

>> THE BILL WAS PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES 23-21.

A NEW BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW TO BE VOTED ON, IT PASSED 33-19 AND WILL BE SENT BACK TO THE HOUSE.

THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT, DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

>> NOW WE WILL TALK NOW ABOUT CHANGES TO GEORGIA'S MEDICAL CANNABIS OIL BILL.

THE FIRST HEARING TOOK PLACE THIS AFTERNOON AND WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT IT LATER, BUT FIRST SOME BACKGROUND.

THE LATEST BILL HB-1400 IS TO TIE UP LOOSE ENDS WITH THE BILL ALLOWING MEDICAL CANNABIS IN GEORGIA THREE YEARS AGO.

EARLIER TODAY I SPOKE WITH REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN POWELL ABOUT IT.

BEFORE GETTING INTO THE BILL HE EXPLAINED WHY HEARTBREAKING REASONS ARE CRUCIAL TO SOME LIVES ESPECIALLY CERTAIN WHO SUFFER CERTAIN SEIZURES.

>> I KNOW OF CASES THAT PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM THESE SEIZURES AND THESE GRAND MAUL SEIZURES, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL IT THAT THEY'RE EITHER GOING OUT OF STATE OVER AND IT GOES BACK TO THE TESTIMONY OF THREE YEARS AGO.

A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHILDREN, THEY ARE SECURING ILLEGAL MARIJUANA, CANNABIS.

THEY'RE HAVING A PROCESS THAT THEY COOK IT DOWN AND SQUEEZE THE I'LL OIL OUT OF IT WHICH MAY WORK WHICH IS NOT MEDICAL STANDARDS LIKE OUR INTENT WAS.

>> IT'S DESPERATE BECAUSE YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO FEEL BETTER.

>> IF YOU HAVE A CHILD OR A FAMILY MEMBER THAT IS SUFFERING AND THAT YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP THEM BESIDES THESE CHEMICAL DRUGS MADE IN A LABORATORY YOU WILL REACH OUT TO DO IT BECAUSE NO DECENT PARENT WOULD LET A CHILD SUFFER UNNECESSARILY.

>> THEY PASSED A MEDICAL CANNABIS BILL OVER A THOUSAND DAYS AGO AND IT WAS PUT FORTH AND HERE WE ARE, THREE YEARS LATER AND THEY'RE NO CLOSER.

MY INVOLVEMENT WAS THAT IN NOVEMBER DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION, THE REGULATED INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE, WE HAD BASICALLY AN OVERSIGHT MEETING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE SLOWDOWN OF THIS.

THE DIRECTOR CAME FORTH, BUT HE CANNOT ASK AND HE WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY IT WAS BEING HELD UP AND HE CITED THE ORIGINAL BILL OF THREE YEARS AGO BASICALLY PUT A CLOAK OF SECRECY ON EVERYTHING, EVEN TO THE FACT THAT HE COULDN'T ANSWER THE SIMPLEST QUESTION OF WHEN ASKED, DID THE COMMISSION ITSELF USE THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANTS TO LOOK AT THE APPLICATIONS.

FROM THAT POINT FORWARD WE GOT INTO THIS AND STARTED SEEING WHERE THE PROBLEMS WERE.

THERE WERE 69 APPLICATIONS, THERE WERE SIX SLOTS APPROVED BY LAW, AND IN THAT PROCESS IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE AND I LEARNED THIS FROM SOME OF THE APPLICANT, THAT IT WAS THE MOST BIZARRE WAY OF DETERMINING WHO HAD THE BEST PROPOSALS FOR CANNABIS OPERATION TO PRODUCE THIS OIL.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT POINT IS BECAUSE OF THE PROTESTS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BY LAW IN THAT BILL THREE YEARS AGO, THERE WERE 16 OUT OF 69, SIX WERE TENTATIVELY APPROVED, NOT APPROVED BY TENTATIVELY APPROVED AND YOU HAD 16 THAT FILED AN OFFICIAL FROM TEST AND THEY HAD THE APPLICATION EVALUATION BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONERS DID THIS PEACE MEAL INSTEAD OF PROFESSIONALLY AND LOOKING AT THE WHOLE APPLICATION.

>> IF HOUSE BILL 1400 WAS INTRODUCED, IF IT PASSES THAT WOULD BASICALLY CIRCUMVENT THE PURPOSE OF ANY LITIGATION SO THEN IT CAN MOVE FORWARD.

IT ALSO DOES A FEW OTHER THINGS.

ONE IS THAT WE GIVE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT THROUGH BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE REGULATIVE INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE AND MOST IMPORTANT, WE HAVE OPENED IT UP TO THE SUNSHINE, TRANSPARENCY.

SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN THE THREE YEARS OF THIS PROCESS, AND IT NEEDS TO BE THERE.

>> WHY HAS IT BEEN CLOSE?

>> WELL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND MEMBERS, THEY SAY IT WAS IN THE BILL.

I DON'T -- I'M NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S AN OVERREACH, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN POWELL.

WITH ME NOW IS GPB'S POLICY REPORTER AND RILEY, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT SO IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH BUREAUCRACY, LAWSUITS AND IT'S CONVOLUTED, BUT TRY TO EXPLAIN IT FOR US.

>> I'LL DO MY BEST.

AS YOU HEARD FROM CHAIRMAN POWELL, IT IS COMPLICATED AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY AND UP FRONTNESS ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE STEMMING FROM.

BUT IN 2019 IS WHEN LAWMAKERS PASSED THIS BILL THAT HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT TO SET UP PRODUCTION OF LOW OIL AND AN INDUSTRY IN GEORGIA FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, BUT THE PROCESS TO APPROVE LICENSES FOR SIX COMPANIES HAVE TAKEN YEARS AND NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHY.

THERE'S A STRANGE APPLICATION PROCESS.

A BUNCH OF COMPANIES FELL ON THE PROTEST AND THEY FELT ON THE BASIS THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TRANSPARENCY WHY SOME COMPANIES GOT PICKED OVER OTHERS AND THAT'S THE LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS SESSION IS COMING BACK AND TRYING TO FIX THAT BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE STATE IS ON THE HOOK FOR LAWSUITS >> YOU TALKED TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THIS.

WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU?

>> ITS HARD AND HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR FROM FAMILIES THAT RELY ON THIS LEGAL PRODUCT, THIS LEGAL DRUG TO SURVIVE, RIGHT?

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR SINCE 2014 WHEN THEY LEGALIZED POSSESSION IN GEORGIA OF OIL, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE, IN 2019, WHEN THEY PASSED THE BILL FOR A PRODUCTION THERE WAS ABOUT 13,000 PEOPLE WAITING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WAITING FOR CANNABIS OIL.

NOW IN 2022, THERE ARE 20,000 PEOPLE ON THAT LIST.

SO IT'S GROWN EXPONENTIALLY AND THE FAMILY STORY, IT'S HARD TO LISTEN TO IT.

THEY NEED THIS TO GET BY.

SOME OF THE ADVOCATES TALK ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN THAT HAVE HORRIBLE SEIZURES.

I SPOKE WITH ONE FAMILY WHO HAS A CHILD NAMED JAGGER AND HE'S IN A LOT OF THE COVERAGE AROUND THIS BILL AND HE WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR 75 DAYS BECAUSE OF COVID, AS WELL.

IT'S HEALTH ISSUE ON TOP OF HEALTH ISSUE AND THEY'RE WAITING ON LAWMAKERS TO FIX THIS CONVOLUTED PROCESS SO THEY CAN GET THE.

THAT THEY NEED.

THE BILL FOCUSES ON MAKING SURE THERE ARE NO MORE LAWSUITS HAVE KEPT THINGS FROM MOVING FORWARD.

>> THE COMPANIES THAT FILED THE PROTESTS WHICH WAS IN THE ORIGINAL BILL, THEY WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE PROTEST PERIOD, THEY CAN ALSO FILE LAWSUITS AND THAT'S WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE AVOIDING, RIGHT?

BECAUSE IF THEY FILED LAWSUITS THEN THIS IS STRETCHED OUT EVEN LONGER FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT.

>> THERE WAS THE FIRST HEARING TODAY AND PEOPLE DIDN'T SPEAK.

PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

TELL US WHEN THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND WHAT WE HEARD TODAY.

SO TODAY WAS A SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING AND IT WAS REALLY FOR CHAIRMAN ALLEN POWELL WHO WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REGULATED INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE TO PRESENT HIS BILL, 1400 AND HE GAVE KIND OF THE RUNDOWN OF WHAT IS IN IT AND WHY THEY'RE TRYING TO AVOID THE LITIGATION THAT THEY ARE AND THERE WERE SPEAKERS FROM COMPANIES THAT DID NOT RECEIVE THE LICENSES, BUT THIS STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL FULL COMMITTEE AND WE'LL HEAR MORE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL WAITING ON THIS LIFE-CHANGING AND LIFE-SAVING PRODUCT FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

>> HE SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF SIGNERS ON THIS BILL AND BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

IT WOULD BE HARD TO SAY NO TO THIS ONE.

>> THE PROBLEM WAS THE BILL AS IT WAS WRITTEN IN 2019 HAD SO MANY WEIRD PROCESSES IN IT, THAT NOW LAWMAKERS ARE ON THE HOOK FOR HOW THE COMMISSION HANDLED THE SITUATION.

SO THEY ARE DEFINITELY ON THE HOOK TO GO BACK AND FIX THIS, AND IT HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN AND I EXPECT IT TO MOVE FORWARD NOOP THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON AND TALKING ABOUT IT AND EXPLAINING IT ALL TO US.

I'M SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT MORE.

>> COMING UP, LEGISLATION TO HELP THOSE LIVING WITH HIV AND A PATHWAY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO REPORT HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

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

TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND PEACE OF MIND OF THOSE WE SERVE.

MORE AT CIGNA.COM TO HELP LEARN HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR EMPLOYEES' WELL-BEING.

>> WITH MORE THAN 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE, AFTER ALL, GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY, FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER 75 BILLION IN GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LTHSIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS THE STATE CAPITAL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> GEORGIA HUMANITY, CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE THAT THE WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>> WE ARE THE SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER.

WE NOT ONLY TAKE ON THE TOUGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, WE WIN, FORCING THE REMOVAL OF MORE THAN 250 MILLION TONS OF COAL ASH, DEFEATING REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO BRING OFFSHORE DRILLING AND SECURING CLEAN AIR AND WATER FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR REGION.

YOUR MOST POWERFUL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDER IS RIGHT HERE IN THE SOUTH.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS," WE'LL SPEND TIME ON FOCUSING ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF GEORGIANS WHO ARE DOING THROUGH DIFFICULT ISSUES.

JOINING ME IN THE STUDIO ARE ANDY MILLER.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS.

I'LL FOCUS ON ONE AND THEN THE OTHER SO I'M NOT IGNORING THE OTHER ONE.

LET'S START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE NGUYEN.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO RE-INTRODUCE A BILL THAT YOU STARTED IN 2020 DEALING WITH WORKPLACE HARASSMENT?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON, DONNA.

SO I THINK THAT WE HERE IN GEORGIA HEAR THAT GEORGIA IS THE NUMBER ONE PLACE IN BUSINESSES AND NOT THE NUMBER ONE PLACE FOR WORKERS AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO CHOOSE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE BOTH AND WE KNOW THAT WORKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE AND THEY ARE THE REASON WHY OUR BUSINESSES THRIVE SO MUCH.

SO WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW STATES WHO DOES NOT HAVE LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL TO PROHIBIT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.

THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL ITERATION OF THE BILL THAT WE INTRODUCED IN 2020.

I ACTUALLY TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT ON CROSSOVER DAY, THE DAY THAT THE FIRST GEORGIAN DIED FROM COVID AND THEN WE WENT INTO RECESS.

THE BILL WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL NARROWLY TAILORED TO ADDRESS SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE AND ENSURE THAT IF YOU ARE REPORTING AND IF YOU ARE A VICTIM CANNOT BE RETALIATED AGAINST AND THERE'S A CAUSE OF ACTION MEANING YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE LEGAL FOR RECOURSE.

>> IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO GET IT BACK ON TRACK, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHISTLE BLOWERS.

BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK OF WHISTLE BLOWERS WE THINK ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE WHO HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN, BUT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL ISSUE, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS INTENDED TO DO.

THIS VERSION IS EXPANDED.

THE VERSION THAT WE INTRODUCED WITH REPRESENTATIVE WAS NARROWLY TAILORED TO INCLUDE HARASSMENT.

WHEN IT COMES TO GENDER OR RELIGION WHEN IT COMES TO DISABILITY.

IT PROTECTS AN EMPLOYEE FROM BEING RETALIATED AGAINST FROM THEIR EMPLOYER.

SO IT REMOVES THE FEAR THAT ONE MIGHT HAVE WHEN GOING TO REPORT HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO COURT AND BE ABLE TO SUE, RIGHT?

IF AN EMPLOYER CHOOSES TO RETALIATE BY DEMOTING AND TRANSFERRING BY FIRING AN EMPLOYEE.

>> SO THIS IS FOR ALL -- THIS IS NOT JUST THE STATE EMPLOYEES.

THIS WOULD BE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> YEAH.

THIS WOULD BE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> YOU'VE HEARD STORIES INVOLVING THIS.

TELL US ABOUT THEM.

>> WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY, VERY COMMON IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE STRESSORS THAT PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS MORE UNDER COVID.

WE KNOW THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS PREVALENT IN THAT INDUSTRY AND WORKERS DO NOT HAVE RECOURSE TO REPORT.

THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO AND IF SOMEBODY WERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT NOW THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH FEDERAL COURT COME IS COSTLY AND TAKES A LONG TIME.

WE HAVE YOUNG WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY WHO HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN SO A BILL LIKE THIS WOULD PROTECT THEM.

>> WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS, DO YOU THINK, FOR SOME OF THEM IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT POSITION BECAUSE YOU REALLY DO FEEL HELPLESS, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO LITIGATE THIS IN STATE COURT VERSUS FEDERAL COURT.

IF THEY REPORT TO HR THAT THEY'RE BEING HARASSED IN THE WORKPLACE THEN THE EMPLOYER CANNOT RETALIATE IN ANY WAY, THAT'S THE TRANSFERRING AND THE CHANGING OF SCHEDULES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WOULDN'T BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE EMPLOYEE.

>> YOU MENTIONED GEORGIA BEING DIFFERENT FROM OTHER STATES.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT OTHER STATES?

>> GEORGIA DOES NOT PROHIBIT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE AND IT'S QUITE ASTONISHING THAT IT'S NOT ILLEGAL BY STATE LAW TO SEXUALLY HARASS SOMEBODY IN THE WORKPLACE.

SO THIS WOULD BE A LAYER OF PROTECTION THAT IS MUCH NEEDED AND THAT CIVIL RECOURSE IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HAS TO HAVE TEETH, RIGHT?

SO IF YOU ARE REPORTING AND THERE IS NO WAY TO HAVE TEETH WITHIN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, THAT ABILITY TO FILE ACTION, THAT IS WHAT WOULD PREVENT AN EMPLOYER FROM CONTINUING THAT BEHAVIOR.

>> WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE ARE YOU GETTING FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING TO MOVE THE COMPREHENSIVE BILL AND I HAVE INTRODUCED.

I DO THINK THE BILL THAT WE INTRODUCED IN 2020 THAT TAILORS IT, THAT ONE IS GOING TO HAVE MORE LEGS.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF COMMITTEE AND RULES AND REPRESENTATIVE HOROWITZ INTENDS TO CONTINUE THAT WORK TO MOVE IT OUT.

>> HB-1389?

>> THAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE ONE, YES.

>> THE OTHER ONE -- >> HAS NOT BEEN DROPPED YET.

>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THAT.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO IGNORE YOU WHILE WE SWITCH GEARS WITH ANDY A LITTLE BIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT HB-1192 WHICH DEALS WITH MEDICAID SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH HIV.

LET'S HEAR WATT BILL SPONSOR, REPRESENTATIVE SHARON COOPER TOLD LAWMAKERS ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE THIS MORNING.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT GAY PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE OR PINK OR PURPLE, HIV AND AIDS AFFECTS EVERYONE.

ANOTHER GROUP IT AFFECTS ARE OUR ELDERLY IN ASSISTED LIVING WHO STILL LIKE TO GET A LITTLE LOOPY.

WHEN A PERSON IS IN FULL-BLOWN AIDS IT COSTS THE STATE THREE TIMES WHAT IT WOULD COST TO HAVE AN HIV PERSON TREATED.

THREE TIMES AND WHEN THAT PERSON IS IN FULL-BLOWN AIDS WE ARE OBLIGATED TO PUT THEM ON THE MEDICAID PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY ARE QUALIFIED AS DISABLED.

SO WHAT THIS WILL DO WHEN PEOPLE ARE TREATED AND THEY ARE HIV POSITIVE, THAT WILL KEEP THEIR VIRAL LOAD DOWN AND TO GET IT TO ZERO, IF A PERSON WITH HIV HAS A ZERO VIRAL LOAD WHICH OCCURS ALL OF THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE ON THEIR BUSINESS, THEN THEY CANNOT INFECT ANOTHER PERSON WITH AIDS AND WE BEGIN THE PROCESS OF ERADICATION OF THIS ILLNESS.

>> SO, ANDY, IT SOUNDED LIKE SHE FELT SHE HAD TO DO A HARD SELL ON THIS.

SHE TALKS ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND I JUST WONDER IF THERE'S SO MUCH STIGMA STILL OUT THERE SURROUNDING HIV IF THAT'S ONE REASON WHY SHE HAD TO SAY SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> I THINK THERE'S STILL STIGMA.

IT'S NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE, BUT I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BILL IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE WITH HIV WHO ARE UNINSURED AND LOW INCOME, GETTING THEM MEDICAID COVERAGE.

IT WILL HELP THEM GET MEDICAL SERVICES AND HAVE ACCESS TO A BROADER RANGE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND AS REPRESENTATIVE COOPER SAID, IT WOULD SAVE THE STATE MONEY, ULTIMATELY.

>> THAT'S THE MAIN THING, IF PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING SICK THEN THEY WON'T NEED THESE DRUGS AND WE WON'T HAVE TO SPEND AS MUCH.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE THIS ADAPP PROGRAM WHICH IS THE AIDS, DRUGS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH REQUIRES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR TO HELP FOLKS WITH HIV IN THIS CATEGORY WHO ARE LOW INCOME AND UNINSURED.

AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAVE THAT MONEY.

THERE WILL BE A COST TO PROVIDING MEDICAID TO THESE FOLKS, BUT IT WON'T BE NEARLY AS MUCH AS WHAT WE'LL SAVE ON THE OTHER END.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING IN THIS AREA, AND WHENEVER WE HEAR THE WORD MEDICAID OR MEDICARE, PEOPLE JUST SHY AWAY FROM IT.

>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT REPRESENTATIVE COOPER WAS TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE CLEARLY, GOVERNOR KEMP HAD THAT MEDICAID WAIVER THAT WAS OUT THERE THAT'S BEEN TURNED DOWN, AT LEAST PART OF IT BY THE FEDS, SO SHE'S TALKING TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER THAT KIND OF WORD, MEDICAID WAIVER AND SHE'S MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT, LOOK, THIS MAKES SENSE FOR PEOPLE, AND IT WILL -- IT COULD SAVE A LOT OF LIVES HERE.

>> NOT GETTING FULL MEDICAID COVERAGE IN THE STATE AND WE'RE SEEING BITS AND PIECES AND WER SEEING SOME THINGS HAPPEN WITHIN THE SESSION ALONE THAT IS EXPANDING MEDICAID AND NOT FULL EXPANSION.

>> RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THE BILL THAT WOULD EXTEND MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR WOMEN JUST COMING OUT OF THE CHILD BIRTH WHO ARE ON MEDICAID FROM SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR AND THAT'S ANOTHER POSITIVE STEP TO HELPING PEOPLE HAVE BETTER HEALTH.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE FULL COVERAGE, FULL EXPANSION IN THE STATE.

WE WILL SEE -- I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE ABLE TO DIG INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE BILL, THAT BILL, BUT MEDICAID IS INVOLVED WITH THAT WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL ILLNESS, RIGHT?

>> THERE IS A PROVISION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE MANAGED CARE COMPANIES THAT OVERSEE MEDICAID PROCEDURES AND SERVICES FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GEORGIANS THAT WOULD MAKE THEM SPEND AT LEAST 85% OF THE DOLLARS THAT THEY RECEIVE ON MEDICAL CARE AND RIGHT NOW GEORGIA IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT HAVE MANAGED CARE, BUT DOES NOT HAVE THAT REQUIREMENT.

>> WE'RE SEEING THAT IN LITTLE BITS AND PIECES WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

>> WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS AS A SESSION WHERE WE'RE DEALING WITH HEALTH ISSUES?

>> I WAS AMAZED TODAY.

IT WAS A BIG HEALTH CARE DAY BECAUSE YOU HAD SHARON COOPER'S OTHER THAN THE PREGNANT WOMEN IN PRISON BILL AND THE THREE BILLS COMING OUT OF THE COMMITTEE ONE THAT WOULD HELP PROTECT CHILDREN FROM LEAD POISONING AND ONE WOULD SAY IF YOU PROHIBIT A PARTICULAR INDOOR PLACE THAT IT WOULD ALSO PROHIBIT VAPING, AS WELL.

THEN YOU HAVE A BILL FOR CAREGIVERS THAT WOULD HELP HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH THEIR DISCHARGE PLANNING.

SO IT WAS A BIG HEALTH CARE DAY.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH MORE OF THAT IS TO COME AND MAYBE YOU'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT ALL.

>> I'D LOVE TO.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> YOU VOTED FOR THIS AND THE PASSAGE.

ALL RIGHTY.

WE'LL HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ON GPB NEWS USING THE #GPBLAWMAKERS AND DON'T FORGET TO TUNE INTO POLITICAL REWIND, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.