>>> DAY TWO IS OVER.

MOVING ON TO BETTER AND BIGGER THINGS.

MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE SENATE STANDS ADJOURNED UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10.

>>> A SHORT LEGISLATIVE DAY FOLLOWING THE STORMY WEATHER THROUGHOUT GEORGIA.

ATLANTA'S TORNADO WARNING THIS MORNING INCLUDED THE GOLD DOME.

GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON DAY TWO OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WHILE IT IS STILL EARLY FOR LAWMAKERS TO TAKE ACTION ON BILLS, PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS FOR NEW LAWS.

AND WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT A FEW OF THEM TONIGHT.

FIRST IMAGINE YOU'RE QUIETLY GOING ABOUT YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HOME AND A S.W.A.T.

TEAM SHOWS UP AT YOUR DOOR.

UNFORTUNATELY SOME GEORGIA IT, THEY HAVE LIVED IT.

TWO OF THOSE LAWMAKERS ARE JOINING US ON THE SHOW TO TELL US ABOUT THE TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES OF SWATTING AND HOW IT AFFECTED THEIR FAMILIES.

AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT THEY HOPE TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM THROUGH LEGISLATION.

>>> ALSO YOU MAY LIVE IN A COMMUNITY IN GEORGIA FACING A CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

THROUGHOUT THE STATE, RESIDENTS ARE DEALING WITH A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND LONG MEDICAL RESPONSE TIMES BY AMBULANCE SERVICES.

TWO SENATORS JOIN US IN THE STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.

FOR NOW LET'S GET RIGHT DOWN TO THE CAPITAL WITH OUR NEW CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT SARAH KALLIS.

>> WELL DONNA, DAY TWO OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION DID NOT BRING QUITE THE BUSY ENERGY AS DAY ONE.

BUT THERE IS STILL SOME WORK TO BE DONE.

THE DAY STARTED OFF WITH STORMY WEATHER AT THE CAPITOL.

CAUSING THEM TO PUSH THEIR FLOOR SESSION.

THE SENATE MET AT THEIR USUAL TIME, GAVELED IN.

>> THE SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.

DAY TWO IS OVER.

MOVING ON TO BETTER AND BIGGER THINGS.

>> AND THEN QUICKLY GAVELED OUT.

ALSO TODAY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, JOHN BURNS, RELEASED A VIDEO TOUTING SOME OF HIS AND THE HOUSES ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM LAST YEAR.

PROMOTING WHAT HE HOPES WILL CONTINUE DURING THE SESSION.

>> HEY, GEORGIA.

SPEAKER JOHN BURNS HERE.

AS WE KICK OFF 2024, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON 2023 IN WHAT A GREAT YEAR IT WAS FOR THE GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TOGETHER WE ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL FOR OUR STATE AND ITS CITIZENS, FROM IMPROVING EDUCATION, STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY, AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND RETURNING MORE MONEY TO HARD WORKING GEORGIA FAMILIES.

WHILE OUR STATE WAS NAMED THE BEST STATE IN THE NATION TO DO BUSINESS FOR THE 10th STRAIGHT YEAR.

WE ARE GOING TO BUILD UPON OUR SUCCESSES IN 2024.

EACH AND EVERY MEMBER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER MEANINGFUL RESULTS FOR THIS GREAT STATE, AND WE ALL ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME.

THIS HOUSE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD AND CHAMPION POLICIES TO KEEP GEORGIA THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

NOW LET'S GET TO WORK.

>> IN THE HOUSE, MEMBERS QUICKLY FINISHED BUSINESS AS WELL.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR WILL SAY AYE.

OH YEAH.

>> Reporter: BUT BEFORE ADJOURNMENT, DEMOCRATS CALLED ATTENTION TO JARRING STATISTICS ABOUT PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS.

GEORGIA IS AMONG THE WORST STATES FOR MATERNAL MORTALITY.

>> AMONG WHITE WOMEN, THE RATE IS 23.3 PER 100,000.

AND HORRIFICALLY AMONG BLACK WOMEN IT IS 48.6 PER 100,000 BIRTHS.

WE THE COUNTRY IN MATERNAL MORTALITY.

SO WHILE WE'RE LEADING THE COUNTRY IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE FAILING THE MOTHERS IN OUR STATE.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL BILLS DEALING WITH GUN LEGISLATION WERE ALSO FILED.

A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS FILED A BILL TO REMOVE SALES TAX FOR GUN SAFES.

IN SOME DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE FILED A BILL TO BAN PEOPLE CONVICTED OF FAMILY VIOLENCE FROM HAVING FIREARMS.

>> THE HOUSE CONVENES AGAIN TOMORROW AT 11:00 A.M.

FOLLOWED BY THE SENATE AT 2:00 P.M. THAT'S ALL FOR MY CAPITOL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, OUR THANKS TO SARAH KALLIS FOR THAT REPORT.

>>> NOW ONTO SWATTING.

THE WORD SOUNDS INNOCENT ENOUGH.

MAYBE SWATTING A FLY.

BUT INCREASINGLY IT'S THE MORE SINISTER DEFINITION THAT'S PLAYING OUT AT PRIVATE HOMES.

BY DEFINITION, SWATTING IS THE ACTION OF MAKING A FALSE REPORT OF A SERIOUS EMERGENCY, SO THAT A S.W.A.T.

TEAM, WHICH IS A GROUP OF OFFICERS, TRAINED TO DEAL WITH DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO FRIGHTEN, UPSET, OR CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THAT PERSON.

THAT'S WHO MAKES THE CALL.

IN THIS STUDIO OUR LAWMAKERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SWATTING.

IN RECENT WEEKS, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR KIM JACKSON OF STONE MOUNTAIN, AND THAT IS DISTRICT 41.

AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN ALBERS WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

SO WELCOME TO YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT.

THEY HEAR THE WORD.

I WANT YOU TO EACH TELL YOUR STORIES.

SO WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> YEAH, SO WE WERE AT HOME ON THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

SO MY FAMILY HAS A BRAND NEW 2-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BOY WE WELCOMED INTO OUR HOME.

SO IT WAS OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS.

STILL HAD ALL THE TOYS KIND OF STREWN AROUND THE LIVING ROOM.

AND I HEARD THE POLICE KNOCK, THAT KIND OF CLASSIC BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

I LOOKED AT MY WIFE, AND WE LIVE ON A FARM, SO EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY FENCED IN.

NOBODY KNOCKS ON OUR DOOR.

I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND I SAW ALL OF THESE TROOPER CARS IN FRONT, CRUISERS KIND OF PULLED OUT.

I GO OUT.

I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I KNEW WE WERE BEING SWATTED.

I GO OUT WITH MY HANDS UP AND SAY I'M STATE SENATOR KIM JACKSON, WE'RE BEING SWATTED, AND I AM GREETED BY THREE ARMED OFFICERS WHO HAVE GUNS TRAINED ON ME.

AND I DON'T THINK HE QUITE HEARD WHAT I WAS SAYING, BUT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A MAN BECAUSE THAT HAD BEEN THE REPORT.

SO I THINK BECAUSE I WASN'T A MAN, YOU KNOW, HE SAID SAY THAT AGAIN, AND I REPEAT I'M SENATOR KIM JACKSON, I'VE BEEN SWATTED.

EVERYBODY IS OKAY HERE.

AND THANKFULLY THEY WERE VERY QUICK TO RESPOND AND TO BELIEVE ME.

IN FACT TWO OF THE OFFICERS BELIEVED ME SO QUICKLY THAT THEY RAN AND JUMPED BACK OVER MY FENCE BEFORE I COULD OPEN THE GATES.

THE OTHER OFFICERS STAYED WITH ME.

WE WORKED OUT A REPORT.

AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WAY IN WHICH DEKALB COUNTY, BOTH THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE SHERIFF BOTH REACHED OUT TO US IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE SURE WE WERE OKAY AND TO ENSURE US THERE WILL BE INTERVENTIONS IN PLACE TO AVOID THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.

>> SO YOU UNDERSTOOD IT WAS FRIGHTENING?

>> IT WAS TERRIFYING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER HAD GUNS POINTED AT ME BEFORE.

AND THOSE WERE JUST THE THREE I COULD SEE.

GIVEN THE NUMBER OF POLICE CARS THERE THAT THERE WERE MANY MORE OFFICERS THERE WHO UNDOUBTEDLY HAD GUNS TRAINED AND DIRECTED AT OUR HOUSE.

SO YEAH, IT WAS VERY TERRIFYING.

I LEFT MY LITTLE BOY.

HE WAS IN HIS ROOM PLAYING, BUT TURNS OUT HE HEARD THE DOOR TOO.

SO WHEN I LEFT, HE CAME, AND HE WAS STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME.

I'M JUST REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL THAT BECAUSE THE OFFICERS HEARD ME AND THEY RESPONDED QUICKLY.

BEFORE HE COULD PEEK HIS LITTLE HEAD OUT, THERE WEREN'T GUNS STILL OUT.

BUT YEAH, IT WAS VERY TERRIFYING.

MY WIFE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SWATTING WAS.

SO I DO HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FEAR IN THE BACK OF MY MIND THAT IF SHE HE BEEN THE ONE WHO ANSWERED THAT DOOR, IT MIGHT HAVE ENDED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO SAY.

SHE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN TO TELL THE OFFICERS, THIS IS WHO WE ARE AND THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> WOW.

I WANT TO TURN TO YOUR STORY NOW.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU.

>> WELL THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS AS WELL.

>> SAME DAY?

>> SAME DAY.

MY WIFE AND I HAD LEFT THAT DAY TO GO TO FLORIDA, AND MY OLDER SON WAS WATCHING THE HOUSE AND THE DOG.

AND A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE AS SENATOR JACKSON.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS POUNDING ON THE DOOR AND A VERY LARGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIAL SHOWED UP AND THEY PULLED HIM OUT AND ASKED HIM VERY QUICKLY.

WHO IS IN THIS HOUSE WITH YOU?

OF COURSE HE SAID WELL, THE DOG, RIGHT?

AND HE ACTUALLY FIGURED IT OUT BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE DID, HAVING A BACKGROUND WORKING FOR THE GBI.

AND DETERMINED THAT WE WERE BEING SWATTED.

BUT THE POLICE AGAIN, SAME AS SENATOR JACKSON DID, A PHENOMENAL JOB.

LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM.

ALSO TAKING THE TIME TO SEARCH THE HOUSE, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

PHONE WITH ALL OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE RESPONDING OFFICERS.

SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT.

ALTHOUGH ON THE 27th IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

>> REALLY?

>> IT HAPPENED BACK-TO-BACK DAYS.

THIS TIME IT WAS A CALL TO ME AND MY SON AND THEY SENT ONE OFFICER OVER JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

OF COURSE, NOT JUST US, SENATOR DIXON, SENATOR KIRK PATRICK, AND OTHER OFFICIALS HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM.

>> YEAH.

SO WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE STONEMAN GREEN AND THIS IS BECOMING A THING.

SO THE GOOD THING IS YOU KIND OF KNEW ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T.

IT'S VERY FRIGHTENING.

I DO NEED TO ADD, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE TARGETED?

>> SO I SAW THAT SENATOR DIXON, WHO WAS MY SEAT MATE HAD BEEN SWATTED.

I REPOSTED THAT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, SENATOR DIXON IS MY FRIEND AND MY COLLEAGUE, MY SEAT MATE.

THIS IS HORRIBLE.

NOBODY DESERVES TO BE SWATTED.

AND LITERALLY 20 MINUTES LATER, THE KNOCK CAME ON MY DOOR WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS THERE.

SO I'M VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS BECAUSE I ASSOCIATED.

I'M THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE WHO HAS BEEN SWATTED, AND I'M CLEAR IT IS RELATED TO ME BEING ABLE TO SAY OUT LOUD SENATOR DIXON IS A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE.

NOBODY DESERVES TO BE SWATTED.

SO THAT WAS MY REPAYMENT FOR CHOOSING TO BE IN THE GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

>> WOW.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE TARGETED?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL EVER KNOW FOR SURE.

BEING THE CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC SAFETY COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE US ALL WORKING TOGETHER, RIGHT?

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE NOT LIKE WASHINGTON, D.C., RIGHT?

WE ALL GET ALONG TOGETHER.

WE KNOW EACH OTHER PERSONALLY, WE WORK TOGETHER PROFESSIONALLY.

MOST OF THE THINGS WE DO IS REALLY DONE WHERE WE ARE LOCKING ARMS AND ARMS TOGETHER.

I'M GLAD TO SEE EVERYBODY CAME OUT AFTER THIS AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

THAT THE GEORGIA STATE PATROL, THE GBI, OUR LOCAL AND FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS ARE DOING TO GO AFTER THESE PEOPLE.

THIS IS A CRIME.

THIS IS NOT A PRANK.

THIS COULD HAVE PUT PEOPLES LIVES AT DANGER.

AND WE'VE GOT NEWS FOR THEM.

WE'RE GOING TO COME AFTER YOU BOTH CRIMINALLY AND CIVILLY TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T DO THIS AGAIN.

>> SO GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT AT THE GOLD DOME CAN YOU DO?

>> I WILL GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO CLINT DIXON.

HE HAS PUT TOGETHER SOME DRAFT LEGISLATION.

WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH HIM AS WELL AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JONES AND HIS OFFICE, TO LOOK AT HOW WE CREATE INCREASED PENALTIES.

HOW WE MAKE SURE THERE'S RIGHTS TO CIVIL ACTION.

IT HAD IS REALLY DOMESTIC TERRORISM AT ITS WORST.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS FOR EVERY THOUGHTFUL.

BUT WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CRIMES.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE GOING IN FULL EMERGENCY, RIGHT?

AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.

CERTAINTY THE PEOPLE ARE AT THEIR HOUSE WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

SO ALL OF THIS, WHICH SOUNDS MAYBE FUNNY TO SOMEBODY WHO THINKS THIS IS A PRANK IS ACTUALLY THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

IT IS CRIMINAL, IT IS LIFE THREATENING.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, SO WHAT I WAS READING ABOUT IT.

I HEARD IT STARTED AS A PRANK AMONG PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING ONLINE THINGS, LIKE IT WAS FUNNY.

IT HAS BECOME SERIOUS.

IT'S A GOOD THING YOUR CHILD WAS TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THIS, BUT I KNOW SOME OF THE OTHERS, THEY HAD YOUNGER KIDS WHO COULD SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND SO YEAH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

YOU LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT YOU'RE GOING IN?

>> I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE D.A.

IN DEKALB COUNTY WHO HAS ASSURED ME THAT THEY WILL GO AFTER THIS PERSON WHEN THEY FIND THEM AT THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE EXISTING LAWS THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED, RIGHT?

AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALSO THE WAY IN WHICH EVERYBODY IS KIND OF COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING WE ARE GOING TO CALL THIS OUT.

IT'S NOT FUNNY.

YOU KNOW, IN A FEW MINUTES YOU'LL TALK ABOUT AMBULANCE RESPONSES.

THEY SET UP EMS THAT WAS FED UP JUST DOWN THE STREET WAITING BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMEBODY IN MY HOUSE WHO NEEDED EMERGENCY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

SO THAT IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GO TO.

SOMEBODY WHO WAS ACTUALLY HAVING A HEART ATTACK OR HAD AN EMERGENCY.

SO I'M GLAD TO SEE WE ARE REALLY TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND THAT WE'RE SENDING A MESSAGE TO WHOEVER IT IS THAT IS CHOOSING TO TERRORIZE US.

THANK YOU FOR USING THAT LANGUAGE SENATOR.

IT WAS TERRORIZING.

MY FAMILY, WE CHOSE TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE IT WAS TERRIFYING.

AND SO TO SEE FOLKS GATHER AROUND AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

IT'S NOT FAIR TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR TO OUR EMTs TO WASTE THEIR RESOURCES IN THIS WAY.

>> APPARENTLY WHEN THEY ARE CALLING, THEY ARE SAYING SOMEBODY IS A HOSTAGE OR SOMEBODY COULD BE HURT, RIGHT?

>> IT IS THE SAME PERSON THAT DID IT TO ALL OF US.

ALTHOUGH HE CALLS HIMSELF DIFFERENT NAMES.

AND IT IS THE SAME TIME OF A SCENARIO.

YOU KNOW, COMMENTING FURTHER ON WHAT SENATOR JACKSON SAID, ALL THOSE RESOURCES ARE IN ONE PLACE, RIGHT?

WELL IF THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN OR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE A BAD CAR ACCIDENT, A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, A HOUSE ON FIRE.

WE HAVE SOME PLACE BEING ROBBED, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO RESPOND, RIGHT?

WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.

IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO TAKE THESE HAD ROLES AS FIRST RESPONDERS TODAY.

WE DON'T NEED TO SEND THEM ON ANY WILD GOOSE CHASES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING THEM FOR THE TOWNS THEY HAVE AND THE RIGHT NEED.

>> I KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

IS THERE A FEAR THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT, IT IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME COPY CATS, MAYBE?

>> I WILL SAY I HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO THAT HAPPENED IN MY HOUSE THAT WAS CLEARLY DESIGNED TO TERRIFY US.

MY WIFE AND I MADE A DECISION NOT TO GO PUBLIC ABOUT IT.

WE CALLED DEKALB COUNTY.

THE POLICE, WE'VE GOT ALL THE RESOURCES WE NEEDED.

BUT WE NEVER WENT PUBLIC BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO BRING ATTENTION.

WE WERE AFRAID IF WE BROUGHT ATTENTION, MORE STUFF WOULD HAPPEN TO US.

THIS TIME I'M SPEAKING OUT.

I'M TELLING THE STORY THIS HAPPENED.

CLEARLY BEING SILENT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BY JOINING TOGETHER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AND SAYING THIS IS HAPPENING, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE NEW NORMAL FOR WHAT IT IS TO BE IN OFFICE.

I'M HOPING THAT SPEAKING OUT WILL BRING ABOUT CHANGE THIS TIME.

>> THE FEAR IS IT IS SOMETHING TERRIBLE THAT WILL HAPPEN.

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT.

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO DIE.

>> AND IF THIS GOES ANY FURTHER.

>> THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I HAVE EVERYTHING ON MY FRONT YARD ON THE SATURDAY MORNING TO DEATH THREATS.

AND YOU SERVE AN OFFICE LONG ENOUGH AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE CRAZY PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

HOWEVER, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, SO PEOPLE HOLD OTHER FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE.

WHETHER IT WILL BE FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, FAMILY MEMBERS.

YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE, THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULD.

>> I THINK THE OTHER THING IS OTHER JURISDICTIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTIONS, THEY FIND OUT ABOUT IT AND IT IS SOMETHING THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW OR THEY ARE A LITTLE CAUTIOUS, MORE CAUTIOUS WHEN THEY GO IN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, I IMPLORED EACH SENATOR TO MAKE SURE THEY CALL THEIR 911 CENTER AND MADE SURE THE CAD SYSTEM, THEY KNOW IT IS THEIR HOUSE, THEY HAVE A CELL PHONE NUMBER ON FILE AND SO HOPEFULLY IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES IN TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT QUICKLY.

>> OKAY THEN.

I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH COMING ON THE SHOW AND TALKING ABOUT THIS.

IT'S FRIGHTENING.

IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT WILL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND MAYBE WE WILL COME BACK AS THE LEGISLATION GOES FORWARD AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU TO THESE TWO SENATORS, WE HAVE TWO MORE COMING UP.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT ANOTHER AND WHAT SOME ARE CALLING A CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESPONSE TIME FOR AMBULANCES.

YOU'RE WATCHING LAWMAKERS ON GPB.

>>> LAWMAKERS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

WITH OVER 80 YEARS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS, I'M DONNA LOWRY.

EMERGENCIES HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME.

THEY CAN INVOLVE HEALTH ISSUES LIKE A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE, CAR CRASHES, DROWNINGS, SHOOTINGS, DRUG OVERDOSES.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE.

JOINING ME ARE SENATORS CONCERNED WITH AMBULANCE RESPONSE TIMES.

FIRST REPUBLICAN SENATOR RICK WILLIAMS OF MILLAGEVILLE, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE RETIREMENT COMMITTEE.

ALSO HERE IS DEMOCRAT DEREK MALLOW OF SAVANNAH, DISTRICT TWO.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE, BOTH OF YOU.

WELCOME.

WE TALKED, ACTUALLY YOU WERE REFERRED TO THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT AMBULANCES IN THE PREVIOUS SEGMENT.

SO I WANT TO TALK WITH EACH ONE OF YOU ABOUT PERSONAL STORIES YOU HAVE DEALING WITH AMBULANCES.

AND I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS.

>> THANK YOU, IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

STARTED OFF ON A NORMAL AFTERNOON.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ELEPHANT SAT ON MY CHEST.

I WAS WITH MY WIFE AND A COUPLE OF GRANDSONS, AND I DROVE THEM HOME AND DROVE MYSELF TO THE HOSPITAL.

I GO THERE ABOUT 4:00.

AND I WALKED IN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

THEY TOOK ME RIGHT IN, STARTED IVs.

HOOKED ME UP FOR EKG, BLOOD PRESSURE, MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS VERY ELEVATED.

AND ANY WAY THEY STARTED TREATING ME AND DRAWING BLOOD.

THIS WENT ON UNTIL I GOT INTO A ROOM AT ABOUT 10:00 THAT NIGHT.

THE NEXT MORNING, THAT WAS ON FRIDAY, THE NEXT MORNING AT 9:30, THEY CAME IN AND SAID YOU NEED TO GO TO MACON, YOU NEED A HEART CAST.

I SAID OKAY, LET'S DO IT.

THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO CALL AN AMBULANCE.

OKAY, WELL TIME WENT ON.

1:00 THAT AFTERNOON, I STILL HAD NO AMBULANCE.

>> YOU WERE AT HOME AT THAT POINT?

>> I WAS IN MILLAGEVILLE.

>> YES, AT THE HOSPITAL.

>> BUT NO AMBULANCE STILL?

>> NO AMBULANCE.

AND SO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE TO MOVE FROM ATRIUM BALDWIN IN MILLAGEVILLE TO CARRY ME TO MACON GOES THROUGH A TRANSFER CENTER IN MACON.

THEY COULD NOT GET AN ETA FROM 10:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

STILL COULD NOT GET AN ETA ON WHAT TIME THEY COULD HAVE AN AMBULANCE THERE TO TRANSFER ME.

SO I WAS PREPARING TO HAVE MY WIFE DRIVE ME TO MACON.

I KNEW WHAT THE RESULTS WOULD BE IF I DID NOT GO AHEAD AND GET TO ELEVATED CARE.

SO THE DOCTORS TRIED TO TALK ME OUT OF IT.

IT JUST HIT ME THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY MEMBERS OF AIR EVAC.

SO I CALLED THE PARAMEDIC.

>> YOU CALLED THE PARAMEDIC?

>> FROM MY HOSPITAL BED WITH A HEART MONITOR ON, TELLING HIM I NEED A HELICOPTER.

I NEED TO BE FLOWN TO MACON.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE 10:00 THIS MORNING FOR AN AMBULANCE.

HE TOLD ME TELL THE DOCTOR TO CALL AIR EVAC.

WELL, I TURNED TO THE DOCTOR AND SAID CALL AIR EVAC.

HE SAID WE DON'T KNOW HOW.

THIS IS ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE HOSPITAL.

SO I PUT MY PHONE ONTO SPEAKER, THE PARAMEDIC TOLD THE DOCTOR WHAT NUMBER TO DIAL, WHAT TO DO.

AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES A HELICOPTER WAS THERE TO GET ME.

THEY CAME TO THE ROOM, TOOK ME DOWN, PUT ME IN THE HELICOPTER.

14 MINUTES LATER, I WAS IN MACON.

SO TIME WAS GOING ON.

THIS WAS GETTING TO BE LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

BUT THANKFULLY THE CARDIOLOGIST WAS LEAVING ONE HOSPITAL, COMING TO THE ONE I WAS IN.

AND WANTED TO KNOW IF I WANTED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE HEART CAST.

I SAID BY ALL MEANS.

SO 6:00 THEY ROLLED ME IN.

I HAD A 98% BLOCKAGE OF MY WIDOW MAKER.

AND 7:30 I WAS BACK IN THE ROOM.

10:00 SUNDAY MORNING, I WAS DISMISSED FROM THE HOSPITAL.

>> WOW.

>> A CLOSE CALL.

>> AND IF YOU HADN'T HAD THE RESOURCES, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO CALL, YOU MAY NOT BE HERE?

>> I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE HERE.

I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE AS AN EMT, PROVIDING AMBULANCE SERVICE IN THE PAST, WHAT HAPPENS.

THEY WILL DO CPR, 15, 20 MINUTES TO SHOCK YOU FIVE TO SIX TIMES AND THAT'S IT.

HEART CAST AND THAT STINT TO SAVE MY LIFE.

>> I'M SO GAD YOU KNEW WHAT TO DO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S HEAR YOUR STORY NOW.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> I WAS PLAYING KICKBALL SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

I EXPERIENCED A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, AND I COLLAPSED ON THE FIELD.

AND I WAS OUT FOR HOWEVER LONG.

MANY FOLKS CALLED 911.

THEY STRUGGLED GETTING THROUGH TO 911.

THERE WAS APPARENTLY A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME THAT I HAD MY EMERGENCY THAT TOOK A LOT OF RESOURCES.

NO ONE COULD GET THROUGH 911.

FINALLY THE OFF-DUTY OFFICER CALLED EMS DISPATCH AND THEY SAID WELL, WE'VE GOT ONE 911 CALL.

DON'T DISPATCH AN AMBULANCE.

HE SAID WELL, YOU SHOULD STILL ROLL AN AMBULANCE.

AND SO THEY DISPATCHED AN AMBULANCE, BUT THEY ALSO CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STILL BEAT THE AMBULANCE TO THE FIELD WHERE I WAS AT.

WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE, I WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND, THEY PUT THE OXYGEN METER ON MY HAND, MY O2 STATS WERE AT 90, 85/79, BOTTOMING OUT.

THEY SAID GO GET HIM OXYGEN RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WHEN EMS GETS THERE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY GOT ME ON OXYGEN.

THEY ARE SAYING HEY, DO YOU WANT US TO GET HIM IN?

THEY GET ME IN.

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

I'M HAVING SYMPTOMS I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, TALK.

JUST EXPERIENCED THIS MEDICAL BLACKOUT.

THEN I GET TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND I'M ON THE WALL WITH EMTs THAT CAME WITH.

AND I SAT ON THE WALL PROBABLY TWO HOURS THAT DAY.

>> BEFORE ANYBODY SAW YOU?

>> YEP, TWO HOURS.

JUST ME AND THE EMTs.

I COULDN'T THINK OF WHAT TO TELL THEM.

THAT HEY, GET MY PHONE AND CALLS.

I COULDN'T THINK OF WHAT TO SAY.

>> YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

>> I WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF AFTER I SAT THERE AND SAID IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO LAB TESTS TO FIGURE SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY MEDICAL EMERGENCY WAS BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT I SPENT BEFORE I EVEN GOT TO AN MRI, EKG MACHINE, ALL OF THAT IS GONE.

BECAUSE WHEN THOSE EPISODES HAPPEN, YOU HAVE A TIMELINE THAT YOU CAN FIND IF I HAD A STROKE, YOU COULD FIND THESE SYMPTOMS.

IF I HAD A PEN STROKE OR WHATEVER IT WAS, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

>> WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TOO.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.

BUT I NEED YOU TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THE PROBLEM IS.

IS IT THE PROBLEM WITH --WHERE IS THE PROBLEM?

>> THE PROBLEM IS GETTING EMPLOYEES OF PARAMEDICS AND EMTs.

AND ESPECIALLY RURAL GEORGIA.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HANCOCK COUNTY.

THE COUNTY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER HAS LED AND WENT TO ACCG AND THEY GOT A LOAN.

THEY BOUGHT FOUR AMBULANCES.

NOW THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED AN EMT TAX OF $50 ON EVERY PARCEL OF PROPERTY PRACTICALLY IN THE COUNTY.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THEIR EMTs.

AND NOW THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TWO AMBULANCE RUNNING ALL THE TIME AND THEY HAVE TWO ON THE BACK OF.

WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DRIVER.

WHEN YOU'RE TRANSPORTING, AND I TALKED TO A FORMER COUNTY MANAGER TODAY AND HE TOLD ME LOOK, AS A COUNTY, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE AMBULANCE SERVICE TO GET THE PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO PATIENT TRANSFERS FROM HOSPITALS TO HOSPITAL.

I ASKED THEM, WHAT ABOUT MY SITUATION?

I HAD TO BE TRANSFERRED.

>> SOME OF YOURS WAS BUREAUCRACY?

>> BUREAUCRACY.

SO WE HAVE A WORK FORCE PROBLEM AND THEN JUST NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES, RIGHT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, MY COUNTY, WE HAVE NON-PROFIT THAT PROVIDES THE EMS SERVICE AND WHAT WE HAVE GOVERNMENT FOR IF YOU NEED A POLICE OFFICER FOR A POLICE EMERGENCY.

YOU NEED A FIRE TRUCK BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A FIRE.

IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE AND SOMEBODY TO SHOW UP.

IF I HAVE MORE HORSES THAN MY COMMUNITY THAN I HAVE AMBULANCES, THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME.

AND I SHOULD HAVE MORE HORSES AT THE FUNERAL HOME THAN I DO AMBULANCES ROAMING MY COMMUNITY.

>> OKAY, WE'VE GOT LESS THAN A MINUTE.

WE'VE GOT LEGISLATION THAT YOU GUYS ARE POSSIBLY LOOKING AT THAT I MAY NEED TO HAVE YOU COME BACK TO TALK ABOUT.

IS THAT TRUE?

SOMETHING DOWN THE PIKES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU COME BACK TO TALK ABOUT?

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT THEN.

I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH COMING HERE.

I KNOW THESE ARE DIFFICULT STORIES TO TELL, BUT THEY'RE IMPORTANT.

WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEM A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR YOU?

>> YES, IT IS.

THIS COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE OR DEATH TO A LOT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

>> YEAH.

I KNOW IT IS FOR YOU TOO.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE WILD HOG SUPPER ABOUT THAT KIND OF THING.

HOW LONG AGO WAS YOUR INCIDENT?

>> THREE MONTHS AGO.

>> JUST THREE MONTHS AGO.

>> AND YOURS?

>> NOVEMBER 3.

>> WOW.

SO REALLY RECENT.

>> VERY RECENT.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.

WE APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE TALKED ABOUT TWO REALLY GREAT TOPICS.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

AND THAT IS DAY THREE OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IN THE MEANTIME, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.