>> [ MUSIC ] KWIK STOP FOLKS, THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS OUT OF CONTROL.

THERE REALLY IS NO BORDER POLICY.

WE ARE LETTING PEOPLE OVER THE BOW BORDER THAT ARE NOT BEING VETTED, PEOPLE ARE BRINGING DRUGS AND CRIME TO OUR COUNTRY.

AND I WOULD EVEN SAY THEY DON'T EVEN LIKE OUR COUNTRY.

LET'S [ MUSIC ] >> THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO ASSIMILATE INTO OUR COUNTRY AND BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> DEBATE OVER A SENATE RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE GOVERNOR TO HELP AT THEIR BORDER, AND THE USUAL FINGER-POINTING OVER WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THE IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROBLEM.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON DAY 19 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I MORE ON THE RESOLUTION ON THE BORDER IN A MOMENT.

GEORGETTE CURRENTLY HAS MORE THAN 11,000 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION HAS SPENT MONTHS LOOKING INTO HOW TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM AND GET CHILDREN INTO MORE PERMANENT HOMES.

TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE JOIN US, INCLUDING A SENATOR WHO IS IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING A CHILD.

>>> ALSO, THERE IS A WAITING LIST FOR SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

WE WILL HEAR FROM TWO SENATORS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT FINDING SOLUTIONS TO CUT THROUGH THE BARRIERS TO THAT KEEP PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

>>> REFERENCED IN ROUNDUP OF THE DAY AT THE CAPITOL POINT >> HI, DONNA, LAWMAKERS DEBATED BORDER SECURITY AND COVID VACCINES UNDER THE GOLD DOME TODAY.

IN THE SENATE, A REPUBLICAN RESOLUTION ALLOWING GOVERNOR KEMP TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO HELP THE STATE OF TEXAS SECURE THE BORDER.

ACTION THAT OUR GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP TAKES AS WELL.

HE WAS DOWN AT EAGLE PASS, TEXAS A WEEK AGO YESTERDAY , HELPING ALONGSIDE OF 15 OTHER GOVERNORS AROUND THE NATION TO SUPPORT GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S EFFORTS TO SUPPORT CONTROLLING THE ILLEGALS CROSSING THE BORDERS INTO THE STATION.

>> THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BLAMING THE ISSUE ON IN ACTION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY ON PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> FROM WHAT I SEE, WHAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, D.C., OUR CONGRESS IS BROKEN.

IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK UP THE WORD IMPOTENT, IT SAYS UNABLE TO TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION, AND I BELIEVE THAT DESCRIBES OUR U.S. CONGRESS AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR WHITE HOUSE ALMOST TO A TEE.

THEY ARE UNABLE TO TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION ON MANY, MANY MEASURES.

NEXT BEFORE HE EVEN BEGAN TO SPEAK, DEMOCRATS PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT THAT PLACED THE BLAME FOR ISSUES AT THE BORDER ON >> I DO NOT BELIEVE WE NEED TO ADD ANY MORE LANGUAGE TO THIS BILL, I THINK WE SIMPLY NEED TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO WITHOUT ANY ACTION OF US, AND WITHOUT ANY ACTION OF THE CONGRESS.

>> DEMOCRATS STILL MADE HER CASE FOR THE CHANGE.

>> WHEN REPUBLICANS EVER DECIDE, AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, THAT THEY ARE READY FOR A SOLUTION ON THE BORDER , WHICH NECESSARILY INVOLVES CONGRESSIONAL ACTION, I WOULD ARGUE THAT CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS AND THE WHITE HOUSE ARE READY TO DEAL.

AND UNTIL THAT TIME, THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION IS NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON.

>> SENATOR, I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT WE ARE GOING TO STAND AND RECESS FOR THE SECOND, WE'VE GOT AN ISSUE.

>> BY AN EMERGENCY ON THE CENTER FLOOR CUT THIS SHORT.

SENATOR SUFFERING FROM A MEDICAL ISSUE, TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

WHEN THE SESSION WAS EMPTY SO THAT THE DEMOCRATS CRITICISM, SPECIFICALLY THE FLOOD OF FENTANYL BEING BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY.

>> 80% OF THOSE BEING CAUGHT WITH FENTANYL AT THE BORDER ARE U.S. CITIZENS.

NOT THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING REFUGE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

>> WHILE THE AMENDMENT FAILED TO PASS, THE RESOLUTION DID 31- 15.

MEANWHILE, IN THE HOUSE, MEMBERS APPROVED A BILL THAT SUPPORTERS SAY WOULD HELP PREVENT VACCINE DISCRIMINATION IN ORGAN RECIPIENTS.

IT WOULD BAR DOCTORS FROM DENYING SOMEONE AN ORGAN DONATION BASED SOLELY ON COVID- 19 VACCINATION STATUS.

>>'S IT SHOULD THAT PATIENT BE SOLELY PREVENTED FROM GETTING THE TRANSPLANT , SOLELY THROWN OFF THE LIST BASED UPON VACCINE STATUS?

FOR THIS VACCINE?

I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO LINE 81 OF THE BILL.

AND YOU SEE EXISTING LAW, EXISTING LAW IS YOU CANNOT BE PREVENTED FROM GETTING AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT SOLELY BASED UPON DISABILITY.

AS DEFINED BY THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT.

THAT IS EXISTING LAW.

>> HOUSE BILL 576 RECEIVED HEAVY DEBATE.

OPPONENTS SAID IT UNDERMINES TRUST IN VACCINES AND POINTED OUT THE DOCTORS OFTEN DECIDE WHO RECEIVES AN ORGAN BASED ON THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS.

>> THIS WILL UNDERMINE PUBLIC TRUST IN THE COVID VACCINE, FULL STOP.

WHETHER EXPLICITLY OR NOT, IT GIVES OXYGEN TO THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE SKEPTICAL OF THE DEMONSTRATED SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF A VITAL HEALTH TOOL.

AND HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, IT IS STILL VASTLY UNDERUTILIZED.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE AN UNLIMITED STOCKPILE OF ORGANS WAITING FOR ANYBODY TO BE TRANSPLANTED INTO POINT THAT IS NOT HOW ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION WORKS.

INSTEAD, THERE ARE OVER 100,000 FOR AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT.

>> IT PASSED A 98-71.

THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED HOUSE BILL 1033, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR ATTACKING A UTILITIES WORKER.

THE MINIMUM PRESENT TIME WOULD INCREASE TO THREE YEARS.

ANOTHER BILL CLEARED THE HOUSE THAT WOULD REQUIRE AUDITS FOR TOP OF PALLET RACES IN GEORGIA, PLUS ANOTHER STATEMENTS CHOSEN BY LEADERS.

THAT BILL PASSED 164-3.

LAWMAKERS WILL REACH THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE SESSION TOMORROW ON DAY 20.

GOVERNOR KEMP IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT BORDER SECURITY.

THAT IS ALL FROM A CAPITOL REPORT, DONNA COME BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS TO SARAH FOR THAT REPORT.

GEORGIANS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FACE TOUGH LONG-TERM CHALLENGES WITH EVERYTHING FROM EMPLOYMENT TO HOUSING.

WE ARE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME ON MOVES TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE AND WORK INDEPENDENTLY.

JOINING ME IS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SALLY HARRELL OF SENATE SINCE 2018, BUT ALSO IN THE HOUSE FROM 1999 TO 2005.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO, LET'S START WITH HOW YOU WERE A PART OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR MEDICAID SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND IT HAS EXPANDED, TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> IT RIGHT, SO WHEN I WAS NEWLY ELECTED TO THE SENATE, I STARTED RECEIVING PHONE CALLS FROM CONCERNED PARENTS, A NUMBER OF THESE PARENTS WERE ELDERLY PARENTS.

THEY HAD CARED FOR THEIR OWN CHILD IN THEIR OWN HOME, HER OWN ADULT CHILD WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, IN THEIR OWN HOME FOR YEARS, BUT THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE AGING, AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD SERVICES IN PLACE FOR THEIR CHILD IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THEM, SO THEY PUT --THEY GOT PUT ON A WAITING LIST FOR FREDDY'S MEDICAID WAIVERS THAT PROVIDE FUNDS TO HAVE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS CAN BE JOB SUPPORT, BEHAVIORAL AIDS, WHATEVER THE CHILD NEEDS, THE ADULT CHILD NEEDS.

AND THEY WERE LANGUISHING ON ALL THIS TIME, FEARFUL THAT THEY COULD DIE AND THEIR CHILD WOULD NOT BE TAKING CARE OF.

I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A WAITING LIST WAY BACK 15 YEARS BEFORE, WHEN I WAS IN THE HOUSE.

I LEFT FOR 14 YEARS, I CAME BACK ON THE WAITING LIST WAS THREE TIMES AS LONG.

AND I FOUND THAT UNACCEPTABLE.

SO, AT THAT POINT, I STARTED WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.

WE GOT MORE OF THESE MEDICAID WAIVERS FUNDED AND WHERE PEOPLE OFF THE WAITING LIST, BUT WE SUDDENLY FOUND THAT WE HAD A WAITING LIST OF A WAITING LIST, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY GOT THE MEDICAID WAIVER, THEY COULDN'T GET THE SERVICES.

AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THERE WAS A WORKFORCE ISSUE AND A WAGE ISSUE.

SO, AT THAT POINT, I CONNECTED WITH A REPUBLICAN SENATOR, WHO ALSO WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND WE PASSED A STUDY COMMITTEE RESOLUTION, AND WE COCHAIRED THAT STUDY COMMITTEE TOGETHER AS A DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN ACROSS THE STATE, AND REALLY STUDY AND WHAT THE ISSUE WAS.

>> YEAH, SO, BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, YOU ARE COCHAIR, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM, BECAUSE IT WAS A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE WITH REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN ALBERT, AND I SPOKE TO HIM TODAY ABOUT THE COMMITTEE AND ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE WILL DISCUSS A BIT LATER.

>> WELL, WE DID A STUDY COMMITTEE A FEW YEARS AGO TO LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

NOW, YOU WILL NEVER HEAR ME USE THE WORD DISABILITY AND I WILL TELL YOU WHY.

IF WE DON'T SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE LENS OF SOMEBODY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, IT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE NEED TO DO MORE.

WE NEED WRAPAROUND SERVICES, WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES, WHEN WE GET THE CARE THAT IS NEEDED, BUT ALSO THE INTEGRATION INTO THE WORKFORCE.

HAVING THAT ENVIRONMENT IS JUST MAGICAL FOR EVERYBODY.

THE PEOPLE ALREADY THERE, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WANT TO BE A PART OF SOCIETY AND WANT TO HELP, WE HOPE USING THIS INNOVATIVE COMMITTEE WILL HELP US GET THERE.

>> YEAH, WHY GO FOR A COMMISSION INSTEAD OF SOME OF THE ROUTES?

>> BECAUSE THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE FOLKS WHO CAN COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE CONNECT THE DOTS AND MAKE THIS A REALITY.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE A BIG HEART, THIS IS AN AREA THAT ALSO FEELS THAT HEART FOR YOU.

IS THERE A SPECIAL REASON FOR THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A DEAR, DEAR FRIENDS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

I WORKED A FEW YEARS AGO TO PASS A LAW HERE IN THE STATE.

IT IS VERY SPECIAL TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE OUT AGAIN WHO NEED JUST A LITTLE HELP, BUT CAN REALLY BRING JOY TO SO MANY OF US.

>> IT'S BIPARTISAN, SO YOU ARE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THIS BILL?

>> I DO FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS BILL, AND I HOPE TO HAVE IT ON GOVERNOR KEMP'S DESK VERY SHORTLY.

>> LET'S SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR EMS BILL.

>> IT IS FOR EMS REFORM, WE ARE THAT HAS AN ARCHAIC PROGRAM OF REGIONS WHERE WE DON'T LET OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR COUNTIES AND CITIES, DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES ON THE IMPLANTS PROVIDER.

THAT MAKES NO SENSE, BECAUSE THEY GET TO CHOOSE THEIR POLICE, THEIR FIRE, THEIR 911, THEIR ROADS, PUBLIC HEALTH, THEIR WATER, ALL THE OTHER THINGS, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE PREVENT THEM FROM DOING, AND THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

I HAVE FAITH IN OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES, AND ALSO MAKE SURE THERE IS INCREASED TRANSPARENCY IN REPORTING, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PHENOMENAL CARE, AND WORK TOGETHER, WHETHER IT BE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.

>> I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW SENATORS WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH EMS, IS THAT PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS BILL?

>> I ACTUALLY DROPPED THE BILL LAST YEAR TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION.

SOME OF THOSE ISSUES HAPPENED BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIMING WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO IRONIC, ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE IN IRONY, AND I THINK THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER NOW AND SAY THIS SYSTEM IS ALMOST 70 YEARS OLD.

WHEN EMS WAS EVEN INVENTED, SO WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS, AND PUT THE POWER BACK WITH OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS DOING THE RIGHT THING TO GET PEOPLE REALLY AT THE MOST CRITICAL TIME OF NEED.

>> OKAY, AGAIN, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE EMS BILL IN A MOMENT, BUT I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMITTEE AND THE NEXT STEPS WITH THIS COMMISSION.

>> RIGHT, SO THE STUDY COMMITTEE REALLY DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM AND THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM.

WE TOOK THE STUDY COMMITTEE ALL OVER GEORGIA.

WHEREVER WE WENT, THE ROOFS WERE OVERFILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT WAS NOT WORKING.

AND WE REALIZED AFTER LISTENING TO ALL THAT TESTIMONY THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED IN ONE YEAR.

SO, WHEN WE WROTE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, WE RECOMMENDED THAT THERE BE A MORE LONG-TERM COMMISSION , AN INNOVATION COMMISSION MADE UP OF WORKING COMMITTEES.

MODELED AFTER THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION THAT HAS BEEN SO HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN SOLVING --ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HERE IN GEORGIA.

SO, I AUTHORED SENATE BILL 198, WHICH DOES CREATE THE INNOVATION COMMISSION FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

THAT BILL PASSED THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE A WEEK AGO UNANIMOUSLY, SO WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS THROUGH THIS YEAR AND REALLY PUT THE EXPERTS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT WE NEED, SO WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT GOVERNOR KEMP HAS INCLUDED MONEY, $79 MILLION OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR A RANGE OF SUPPORT.

>> THAT IS RIGHT, THAT IS FOR A RATE INCREASE.

SO, WE HAD THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CONDUCT A MASSIVE RATE STUDY.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE DOCUMENTED WHAT THE CARETAKERS NEEDED TO BE PAID.

RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ONLY PAID AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $11 AN HOUR.

THIS IS DIFFICULT WORK THAT NOT EVERYONE CAN DO.

THEY ARE LEAVING THE FIELD FOR A BETTER PAYING JOBS, BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY WORKING AT WAFFLE HOUSE OR WALMART.

AND SO, OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS, WHICH ARE OFTENTIMES SMALL COMPANIES, WHO START JUST TO SERVE THIS POPULATION, THERE ACTUALLY LIMITING THE SERVICES , THEY ARE DOWNSIZING, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND THE WORKERS.

WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF THE WAITING LIST AND WE ARE SENDING MORE PEOPLE OUT TO THEM, AND THEY JUST CAN'T SERVE THEM.

SO, THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO GRAPPLE WITH, AND THE $79 MILLION IS TO PROVIDE THE STATE MATCH FOR A HIGHER MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE THAT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CENTERS FOR MEDICAID SERVICES.

>> OKAY.

JUST REAL QUICKLY WITH YOU ON THE EMS QUESTION THAT SENATOR ALBERTS TALKED ABOUT, THAT IS SOMETHING YOU APPROVE OF, TOO?

IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE IT IS MORE LOCAL CONTROL?

SOME OF THE CITIES IN MY DISTRICT WANT.

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE CALLING AN IMPLANTS AND NOBODY SHOWING UP.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CALL AN AMBULANCE, YOU EXPECT IT TO GET THERE QUICKLY.

AND I WAS HEARING REPORTS OF TWO HOUR DELAYS, OR EVEN PEOPLE BEING TOLD DRIVE THE PERSON THERE YOURSELF.

>> IT IS A HORROR STORY.

WE ARE GOING TO KEEP UP ON THAT, TOO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> COMING UP, TWO MORE SENATORS JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE STATE SPONSOR CARE AND ADOPTION PROGRAM.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT, SO STAY WITH US.

>> LAWMAKERS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

WITH 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AFTER ALL, AGRICULTURE IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

OVER $74 BILLION OF GEORGE'S OUTPUT OF STRONG ECONOMY.

>> WILL COME BACK TO LAWMAKERS, I AM DONNA LOWRY.

GEORGIA HAS 11,000 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE WITH SOME WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ADOPTION AND MANY WITH COMPLEX ISSUES AND NEEDS.

JOINING ME ARE TWO SENATORS WHO SPENT MONTHS ON THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THOSE PROBLEMS.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR KATE KIRKPATRICK OF MARIETTA, SHE IS AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE, AND DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TIM JACKSON IS A MEMBER OF THAT SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

SO, WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

SENATOR JACKSON, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING A CHILD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, DONNA, AND ACTUALLY PART OF WHY WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING A CHILD IS FROM SITTING ON THE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND GOING THROUGH AN ENTIRE STUDY COMMITTEE WHERE WE LEARN ABOUT REALLY THE HORRIBLE OUTCOMES THAT CHILDREN WHO LANGUISH IN FOSTER CARE CAN HAVE.

SO, MY WIFE AND I, WHEN WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT A CHILD FROM BEING FOSTER CARE, WE SAID THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, WE WANTED TO PROTECT HIM FROM WHAT COULD BE A LIFETIME OF COMPLICATIONS IF YOU WEREN'T IN THE LIVING LOVING HOME.

HE JUST TURNED THREE.

IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

>> SARAH KIRKPATRICK, CAN YOU TELL US BRIEFLY WHY THE COMMISSION WAS EVEN CREATED?

>> WELL, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE ARE AT THIS WINDOW IN TIME WHERE WE HAVE GOT THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JONES DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED THIS COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF HIS PASSION FOR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION ISSUES.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE ISSUE AS WELL.

AND WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON THE COMMITTEE FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE GOT A COMMISSIONER WHO IS FIRED UP ABOUT THIS ISSUE, SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY START TO MOVE THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD AND WE ARE NOT FINISHED YET.

>> I FORGOT TO SAY IT WAS A COMMITTEE, YOU'RE GOING TO WRITE A COMMISSION, SO WE WILL GET INTO THAT IN A MINUTE.

BUT I WANT TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUR COMMITTEE AND HERE IS THE LIST.

SO, ONE OF THEM IS PERMANENCY, AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT.

STATE I.D.

CARDS, CASE MANAGER RETENTION, LEGITIMATION, EXPANDING INFANT- TODDLER COURTS, FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENT RETENTION, AND ADOPTION ASSISTANCE RATES.

SO, THERE IS A LOT THERE.

LET'S START WITH PERMANENCY, WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, WHAT WE LEARNED -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE STANDING CHILDREN-FAMILIES COMMITTEE, BUT WE ALSO HAD A ROBUST STUDY COMMITTEE OVER THE INTERIM, FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION STUDY COMMITTEE, AND IT WAS REALLY DRINKING OUT OF A FIREHOSE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ON TOP OF EVERYBODY'S LIST WHEN WE FINISHED THE COMMITTEE WAS THAT THE TIMELINE TO PERMANENCY FOR KIDS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE STATE, WHETHER IT BE REUNIFICATION OR WHETHER IT BE ADOPTION , THE LONGER IT TAKES TO GET THERE, THE MORE PROBLEMS THE KID IS GOING TO HAVE.

AND SO, THAT IS WHAT THE TIMELINE TO PERMANENCY IS ABOUT, AND BE ACTUALLY ARGUING THE BILL IN COMMITTEE TOMORROW THAT I CALLED THE SHOT CLOCK BILL.

SENATE BILL 401.

SO, THE NEXT THING WAS STATE I.D.

CARDS.

I AM THINKING THAT IS FOR OLDER KIDS?

>> RIGHT, IT IS ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER KIDS.

BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, A KID WANTS TO GET A DRIVERS LICENSE AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANTS I.D.

OR A PATHWAY, THEY DON'T HAVE A PARENT TO SIGN FOR THAT I.D., IT CREATES A PROBLEM.

SO, WE PUT THE ONUS ON THE STATE TO PAY FOR THAT I.D.

AND HELP MAKE CHILDREN HAVE THEM.

AND FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE A STATE I.D., WE ASK THAT THEY HAVE A PICTURE.

AND THIS HELPS IF A CHILD RUNS AWAY OR GOD FORBID, BUT IF THEY WERE ABDUCTED, WE NEED TO HAVE A CURRENT PICTURE OF THAT CHILD.

IT IS SOMETHING WE TAKE ALL THE TIME WITH OUR PHONES FOR KIDS THAT ARE IN OUR OWN POSSESSION, BUT FOR FOSTER KIDS, THAT CAN BE MISSING.

SO, WE HAVE ENSURED THAT THEY WILL HAVE A PICTURE IF THEY ARE TOO YOUNG FOR AN IDEA, OR AN IDEA IF THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH.

>> SO, THE NEXT AREA IS CASE MANAGER RETENTION, I'M THINKING AND JUST WORK ISSUES WE ARE HEARING FROM EVERYONE.

>> PART OF THE SOLUTION IS MONEY.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION, AND YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE FRONTLINE CASEWORKERS HAVE REALLY HARD JOBS, AND THEY NEED AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE CAN GET THEM.

ONE OF THE JEWELS THAT WE ARE GIVING THEM IS SOMETHING CALLED A CLOSED LOOP REFERRAL TRACKING SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP THEM CONNECT THEIR JOB WITH ALL THE NONPROFITS AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP THEM , AND THEN THE RESULTS ARE TRACKED ALONG THE WAY.

SO, IT IS NOT ALL JUST MONEY, BUT WE DO NEED TO WORK ON THE SALARY ISSUE AND THE TRAINING AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN HELP OUR FRONT-LINE WORKERS.

>> OKAY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET INTO LEGITIMATION RIGHT NOW, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT LAST YEAR, AND THE COMMISSIONER , CANDACE ROSE, SHE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT IT.

AND THAT IS TELLING.

AND SHE HAD GREAT NEWS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION ABOUT HOW FAR IT HAD COME ON THAT ISSUE.

>> AND THAT NEWS CONTINUES TO BE GREAT, I ASKED THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE NUMBERS JUST TODAY, AND LAST NIGHT, WE HAD ONLY TWO CHILDREN WHO STAYED IN HOTELS LAST NIGHT, THAT IS IN COMPARISON OF UPWARDS OF 60 CHILDREN WHEN WE FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.

SO, MANY THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND THE PRESS WILL HELP TO HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUE AND TO OUR COMMITTEE, AND TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO REALLY CAME TOGETHER.

THIS IS NOT OKAY.

AND WHEN WE PULLED ALL OF OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND REALLY CREATED A NETWORK WHERE SERVICE PROVIDERS WERE MORE CONNECTED, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN.

AND THERE ARE MANY NIGHTS WHERE THERE ARE NO CHILDREN IN HOTELS, AND THAT IS ALL A CREDIT TO A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT WENT FORWARD TO SAY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT OUR KIDS IN HOTELS ANYMORE, IT IS GREAT NEWS.

>> THANKS TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED LET'S GET TO THE NEXT THING AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED, EXPANDING INFANT-FATHER COURTS.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> THERE REALLY FAMILY COURTS, BUT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO START UPSTREAM TO KEEP THESE KIDS FROM GETTING INTO REALLY COMPLICATED SITUATIONS WHEN THEY'RE OLDER.

AND WE HAVE THE MODELS TO LOOK AT, WE HAVE GOT A GREAT ADVOCATE AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, DR. CONSTANTINO, WHO WAS ON OUR STUDY COMMITTEE, AND HE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH INFANT- TODDLER COURTS IN MISSOURI WHERE HE CAME FROM.

THERE IS A PILOT GOING ON IN GEORGIA RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING WHAT WE THINK WILL BE GREAT RESULTS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM.

>> AND THAT IS MOVING THE SYSTEM ALONG FASTER?

>> AND STARTING EARLIER IN THE PROCESS.

>> WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG, YEAH, OKAY.

SO, THE NEXT THING IS FOSTER PARENTS AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS RETENTION.

TRYING TO KEEP THEM IN THE >> IT IS A TOUGH JOB.

TO TAKE ON A CHILD.

I KNOW THAT PERSON ONLY AT THIS POINT.

AND IT CAN BE REALLY HARD.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE HAVE A LOT OF HIGH NEEDS.

THEY ARE IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, AND SO, BEING ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE FOSTER PARENTS, TO ENCOURAGE THEM, TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER, WE HAVE SOME SUPPORT GROUPS NOW FOR FOSTER FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT.

I AM ACTUALLY PART OF A LARGER STUDY GROUP THAT IS LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT OTHER WAYS TO REALLY SURE OF AND SUPPORT FOSTER FAMILIES.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, I WANT TO SAY THAT RIGHT NOW, IF ANYBODY IS LISTENING AND WANTS TO BE A FOSTER PARENT, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOSTER PARENTS, BUT THE ONES THAT WE HAVE, WE WANT TO BE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT KEEPING THEM, AND KEEPING THEM EVEN AS THEY CONTINUE TO AGE OUT.

AS THE CHILDREN IN THEIR HOME ATE OUT, THEY SAY, LET'S START ALL OVER AGAIN, WE WILL SUPPORT YOU IN THAT PROCESS.

>> OKAY, SO I AM THINKING THIS LAST ISSUE AS A LITTLE BIT TO DO WITH THAT, AND THAT IS THE RATES FOR FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS, THE MONEY THEY RECEIVE TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

>> YEAH, SO A LOT OF THE RATES FOR THE FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS HAVE NOT BEEN REALLY RAISED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

AND POST ADOPTION SUPPORT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE WE WANT THOSE ADOPTIONS TO WORK.

AND NOT FAIL.

AND SO, THE MONEY IS ONLY A PART OF A BIGGER ISSUE.

BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THAT ISSUE IN THE BUDGET.

>> SO, JUST LOOKING AT THE RATES, AT THIS POINT, NOTHING IN THE BUDGET, BUT YOUR THINKING SOMETHING MIGHT.

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW, SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS ABOUT WHERE IT IS GOING TO GO, BUT I KNOW THAT OUR PREPARATIONS CHAIR IS VERY AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WE WILL DO WHATEVER HE CAN DO TO HELP.

>> YET, SO RIGHT NOW, GETTING THE COMMISSION STARTED IS A PRIORITY.

WE ARE NOT DOING A COMMISSION, WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR STUDY COMMITTEE, THEN WE HAVE A STANDING CHILDREN-FAMILIES COMMITTEE, AND WE ARE TRYING TO SMOOTH THE BARRIERS THAT ARE IN PLACE, SO WE HAVE GOT THE BILL ON THE TIMELINE, WE HAVE GOT THE BILL ON STATE I.D., THE DEPARTMENT HAS A NUMBER OF BILLS.

SO, WE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS WHILE WE HAVE GOT ALL THE PEOPLE IN PLACE, COMMUNICATING WELL WITH EACH OTHER OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

>> SO, DIFFERENT BELLS WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THIS, YOU HAVE JUST GOT TO KEEP MOVING.

YOU CAN'T AND ONE DAY COMPREHEND THIS BILL.

>> AND NO, IT IS A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS.

WANT TO KEEP IT MOVING.

>> IS A MULTIYEAR PROCESS AND IT IS ALSO UP PROCESS WHERE WE ARE LEARNING AND REFINING ALONG THE WAY, SO WE WILL MAKE SOME CHANGES AND IMPLEMENT SOME REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, AND WE WILL LEARN FROM THAT AND MAKE SOME SHIFTS AS WE GO.

THANKFULLY, IT IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IS THE ONLY FEEL-GOOD COMMITTEE I AM REALLY ON, BUT IT FEELS GOOD, ACROSS THE AISLE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT REALLY MATTERS, WHICH IS HELPING TO TAKE CARE OF GEORGIA'S CHILDREN.

EXIT IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> YES, AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS WELL.

AND AGAIN, THE COMMISSIONER HAS JUST BEEN A CHAMPION FOR THESE HONORABLE KIDS, AND SO, WE ARE COMMUNICATING BETWEEN DHS, DCH, DBH DD, AND HAVING DIFFERENT AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER ON THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER IS REALLY POWERFUL, AND WE SHOULD DO IT ON EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT.

I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED, AS FAR AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, TO GET INVOLVED IN FOSTER CARE.

I WANT TO PUT UP THE NUMBER FOR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GEORGIA FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION INFORMATION.

THE NUMBER IS 18772 10 KIDS OR 5437.

SO, WE WILL SEE IF MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE BOTH DOING ON THIS.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL APPRECIATE AS GEORGIANS.

SO, THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS TODAY.

TOMORROW IS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE 20th DAY, WHICH MEANS IT MARKS THE HALFWAY POINT IN THE SESSION.

WE WILL HAVE A REPORT ON WHAT GOVERNOR KEMP HAS TO SAY IN A PRESS CONFERENCE ON BORDER SECURITY, HE HAS THAT SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> [ MUSIC ]