>>> WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS THAT -- DO NOT DARE TO ASSEMBLE AND EXERCISE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSCIOUSLY AROUSES PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND THEN BEAT THEM ONCE THEY START A RIOT, AND WE ARE ASKING THESE PROTESTERS TO BE PUNISHED FOR BETWEEN YEARS.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS VERBALLY PROTEST LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE RIOTING A FELONY.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE DAY 26.

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

MORE ON THE BUSY DAY AT THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMING UP.

IF YOU ARE AMONG THOSE THAT FEEL LECH FATIGUE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF RUN OFFS IN GEORGIA LAST YEAR, A LEGISLATOR JOINS US WHO WANTS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RUNOFF.

THERE'S LEGISLATION TO ALLOW PARENTS OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 TO AVOID THE LONG LINES AT ELECTION PRECINCTS AND IF YOU ENJOY MARKETERS MARKETS THERE'S A BILL TO CREATE A FARMER'S MARKET AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE THEM IN GEORGIA AND A LEGISLATOR IS HERE TO JOIN US IN THE STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT AGRICULTURE LGS, BUT FIRST, LET'S GET RIGHT DOWN TO THE GOLD DOME FOR THE NEWS OF THE DAY FROM OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT RICHELLE RICHY.

RICHELLE?

>> HI, DONNA.

WELL, TODAY THE HOUSE FOCUSED ON PENALTIES FOR THOSE THAT RIOT AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO A POLICE CAR AND IN THE SENATE THE BILL IS HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK THAT WOULD REQUIRE PREGNANT WOMEN TO BE TESTED FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES.

HOUSE BILL 505 THAT WOULD INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR RIOTING FROM A MISDEMEANOR TO A FELONY PUNISHABLE FOR UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.

>> OUR GOVERNOR HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT GEORGIA WILL PROVIDE NO SAFE HAVEN TO RIOTERS.

THIS LEGISLATION PUTS THAT VISION IN THE STATE LAW AND SENDS A SIGNAL TO TROUBLE MAKERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT THEY WON'T GET A SLAP ON THE WRIST IF THEY COME HERE AND ENGAGE IN RIOTING, WE WILL PROSECUTE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT.

>> THEY WORRY THAT BASED ON THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF RIOTING WHICH IS DEFINED AS ANY TWO OR MORE PERSONS WHO SHALL DO AN UNLAWFUL ACT OF VIOLENCE OR ANY OTHER ACT IN A VIOLENT AND TUMULTUOUS MANNER COMMIT THE OFFENSE OF RIOT AND IT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THOSE INVOLVED IN VIOLENT ACTS NOT RELATED TO A PROTEST.

>> DO NOT DARE TO ASSEMBLE AND EXERCISE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT WE HAVE SEEN MANY TIMES WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSCIOUSLY AROUSES PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND THEN BEAT THEM ONCE THEY SPARK A RIOT AND WE'RE ASKING THESE PROTESTERS TO BE PUNISHABLE UP TO 20 YEARS.

>> HOUSE BILL 505 COULD ALSO NEGATIVELY IMPACT OTHERS OUTSIDE THE POOR AND MINORITIES.

MULTIPLE KIDS CAN BE VULNERABLE.

A CHILD WATCHING THE FIGHT WHICH MANY OF US HAVE PROBABLY DONE IN THE PAST, COULD BE DETAINED FOR UP TO A YEAR.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT WE OFTEN TIMES CHOOSE IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND A LAPSE IN JUDGMENT IS BIPARTISAN, BUT IT WON'T STOP AT JUST KIDS.

THIS BILL COULD ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON SOMEONE AT A FOOTBALL GAME, POTENTIALLY AT A TAIL GATE TO WHAT THE DEFINITION SAYS IS A RIOT.

THIS IS A BAD POLICY WITH CLEAR, LEGAL IMPLICATIONS THAT THREATENS TO HARM THE LIVES OF GEORGIANS BASED ON AMBITIOUS POLITICS OF TRYING TO LOOK TOUGH ON CRIME.

THE BILL PASSED 98-73.

A COWS TO INHOUSE BILL 505, HOUSE BILL 500 WILL MAKE ARSON OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE PUNISHABLE FROM FIVE TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON OR A FINE OF UP TO $100,000 QUESTIONS.

>> I'M CURIOUS, ISN'T ARSON ALREADY A CRIME IN GEORGIA?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> WHAT IS THIS BILL DOING THAT WAS NOTAL READ ED DONE IN GEORGIA?

>> AS I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN, REPRESENTATIVE CLARK, BECAUSE THESE VEHICLES ARE INCREASINGLY HARD TO REPLACE AND ARE INCREASINGLY MORE EXPENSIVE, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL CRIME FOR THIS BECAUSE THIS IS TAKING A CAR THAT IS OUR POLICEMAN'S PRIMARY TOOL OUT OF SERVICE AND MANY COUNTIES MAY ONLY HAVE TWO OR THREE PATROL CARS AT THEIR DISPOSAL, AND SO YOU ARE NOT ONLY JUST TAKING A CAR OUT OF SERVICE, YOU ARE TAKING A TOOL THAT'S PROTECTING PEOPLE, MANY, MANY PEOPLE OUT OF SERVICE.

>> REPRESENTATIVES CHRIS IRWIN PRESENTED HOUSE BILL 338, THE QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION ACT WHICH AIMS TO REVISE REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNET SAFETY POLICIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PREDATORS AREN'T ABLE TO GET ON THE DEVICES THAT WE ARE HANDING OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS INAPPROPRIATE OR NOT GREAT APPROPRIATE MATERIAL IS NOT ABLE TO BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE DEVICES THAT OUR CHILDREN CARRY HOME WITH THEM.

>> THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE SENATE TOOK UP SB-32 ALSO KNOWN AS ALYSSA'S LAW THIS AFTERNOON.

THE BILL IS NAMED AFTER A STUDENT KILLED DURING THE MARGARET STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING IN 2018.

SIMILAR LAWS HAVE BEEN PASSED IN OTHER STATES.

>> ALYSSA'S LAW REQUIRES PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CLASSROOMS WITH MOBILE PANIC ALARM TECHNOLOGY.

MOBILE OR SILENT PANIC ALARM TECHNOLOGIES EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH FIRST RESPONDERS THAT CAN BE TRIGGERED DISCREETLY SUCH AS A WEARABLE ALARM BUTTON LIKE THIS OR CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE AND INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY THE STATE CAPITAL.

>> $50,000 PROPOSED FOR SCHOOL SAFETY COULD HELP PAY FOR THE NEW SYSTEM.

>> DOES THE MANDATE THAT SCHOOLS HAVE TO IMPLEMENT SOME TYPE OF LOCAL PANIC DEVICE ACROSS THE BOARD?

>> YES.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SCHOOL SECURITY SYSTEM IN PLACE WHICH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE VARIATIONS OF IT.

I KNOW APS IN MY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN POLK COUNTY GEORGIA, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND FOR EXAMPLE, THAT $50,000 COULD BE USED FOR OTHER SECURITY MECHANISMS OR UPGRADES IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> TESTING PREGNANT WOMEN FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AT THEIR FIRST PRENATAL EXAMINATION WOULD BE REQUIRED.

A RECENT RISE IN SYPHILIS CASES TRIGGERED THE NEED FOR THE LAW AND VITAL FOR THE FETUS IN THE WOMB.

>> SEVERE ANEMIA, BLINDNESS, DEAFNESS, ENLARGED SPLEEN AND LIVER AND MANY OTHER THINGS AND SO THEY WILL BE WARDS OF THE STATE, AND WHILE WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS INCREASE WITH ALARM TWO DAYS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE IT CAME OUT IN THE MISSISSIPPI PAPER THAT I PUT ON YOUR DESK TODAY TALKING ABOUT THEIR 900% INCREASE IN CONGENITAL SYPHILIS.

ALL THREE BILLS PASSED WITH OVERWHELMING SUPPORT.

IN LIGHTER NEWS, TONIGHT WAS PEANUT BUTTER DAY AT THE CAPITAL AND THEY WERE ALL THE CRAZE.

AND ALSO PASSING IN THE HOUSE TODAY HOUSE BILL 51 WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR STUDENTS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO ACTIVITIES, AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES THROUGH VEHICLES OTHER THAN BUSSES.

THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT, DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> BUSY DAY, THANKS SO MUCH, RICHELLE.

WE WILL FOCUS NOW ON SOME ELECTION BILLS.

JOINING ME ARE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE, SARAH DRAPER OF ATLANTA AND JOINING US REMOTELY IS THE AJC'S MARK NECE WHO COVERS ELECTIONS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

REPRESENTATIVE DRAPER.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE HOUSE BILL 419 TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THE RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

TELL US MORE.

>> YES.

>> SO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY, DONNA.

SO MY BILL, HOUSE BILL 419 WOULD ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY AND EXPENSIVE RUNOFFS HERE IN GEORGIA.

GEORGIA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION THAT HAS RUNOFFS BOTH AFTER THE PRIMARY AND AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION, AND RUNOFFS ARE PROBLEMATIC FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

SO RUNOFFS ARE -- WE DON'T NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUGE DROP IN THE ELECTION BETWEEN THE RUNOFF ELECTION AND THEY'RE EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE, TOO.

SO OUR 2021 ELECTION RUNOFF WHERE WE HAD TWO SENATE RACES ON THE BALLOT COST OVER $75 MILLION.

>> WOW.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS.

>> SURE.

>> IT'S NOT FOR -- IT'S ASKING FOR PLURALITY.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> BUT STILL OVER 45%.

SO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT.

>> CORRECT.

>> THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SO MANY RUNOFFS IN GEORGIA IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A 50% REQUIREMENT.

A CANDIDATE HAS TO GET OVER 50% IN ORDER TO AVID A RUNOFF.

GEORGIA IS THE OUTLIER AND MOST STATES ASK FOR A SIMPLE PLURALITY.

SO WHAT MY BILL WOULD DO IS REDUCE THE THRESHOLD FROM 45% TO 50%.

IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE STATEWIDE RACES THAT ARE VERY CLOSE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE THAT HAS 1% OR 2% OF THE VOTE AND THAT'S ENOUGH TO FORCE THE STATE TO READMINISTER IT AGAIN AND IT WOULDN'T BE A PART OF THE RUNOFF.

THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THAT POSSIBILITY AND SO THAT IN ITSELF WILL NOT FORCE US TO RE-RUN AN ELECTION.

>> THAT'S GENERAL ELECTIONS MOSTLY FOR ALL OF THEM?

JUST GENERAL ELECTIONS AND I WANT TO GET TO MARK BECAUSE MARK, THIS IS AN AREA YOU COVER AND I KNOW THAT THE AJC DID A POLL TO ASK PEOPLE HOW THEY FELT ABOUT RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

>> 58% OF GEORGIA VOTERS SURVEYED SAID THEY WOULD SUPPORT ELIMINATING RUNOFFS AFTER GENERAL ELECTIONS AND JUST SETTLE THE ELECTION ON ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER AND NOT HAVE RUNOFFS.

THERE WAS 39% WHO LIKED THINGS THE WAY IT IS AND THE REST WERE UNDECIDED AND THE 58% WANTED TO DO AWAY WITH GENERAL ELECTION RUNOFFS AND THAT HAS LED TO REPRESENTATIVE DRAPER'S BILL, BUT THAT BILL HAS NOT REALLY MOVED FORWARD OR GOTTEN A HEARING YET, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF AN APPETITE THERE IS AMONG THE LEADERSHIP IN THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROPOSALS.

>> WE HAVE MONDAY AS CROSSOVER DAY.

SO YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ON A POSSIBLE -- >> DO I HAVE AN UPDATE.

>> THERE WILL BE A HEARING ON FRIDAY IN THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THEMSELVES.

>> MARK WILL BE THERE, WON'T YOU, MARK?

>> I'LL BE WATCHING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, THOUGH.

REPRESENTATIVE DRAPER, YOU ALSO HAVE ANOTHER BILL THAT'S AN ELECTIONS BILL AND IT ENCOURAGES MORE PARENTS TO GO TO THE POLLS AND YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE STROLLERS AND WE SEE THE LITTLE KIDS.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> THIS BILL WAS INSPIRED BY REAL-LIFE EVENTS AND I'M A MOM OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND I HAVE A 5-YEAR-OLD AND A 3-YEAR-OLD AND I LIKE TO TAKE THEM WITH ME.

SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO THAT AS A MOM AND I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, SO WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO IS IF YOU ARE A PERSON THAT HAS A SMALL CHILD WITH YOU, 5 OR UNDER, YOU CAN GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO WITH VOTERS WHO HAVE A DISABILITY AND THAT'S A LOGICAL EXPANSION OF THAT AND WE HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THIS ONE.

>> MARK, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS BILL?

>> SURE.

WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS WHAT THEY DID IN COMMITTEE TODAY TO LOWER THE AGE FOR OLDER PEOPLE TO GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE FROM 75 TO 70.

SO UNDER THIS BILL IF YOU'RE 70 OR OLDER YOU CAN GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE OR IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD YOU CAN GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE, AND IT DID HAVE PRETTY BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN COMMITTEE AND THE NEXT STOP IS TO SEE WHETHER IT MAKES IT FOR A VOTE IN THE FULL HOUSE.

>> SO YOU'RE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT ONE.

>> DO I FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

IT'S THE VALUES THAT WE WANT TO PROJECT TO GEORGIA THAT WE WANT TO VOTE.

>> MARK, I WANT TO GET BACK TO YOU ON OTHER LECH BILLS.

HOW MANY OTHERS, OR CAN YOU MENTION SOME THAT MIGHT MOVE THROUGH CROSSOVER DAY BEFORE MONDAY OR ON MONDAY?

>> SURE.

WELL, A LARGE BILL COVERING A VARIETY OF TOPICS PASSED THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT, SENATE BILL 221.

THIS BILL IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ENABLING FURTHER CHALLENGES TO VOTER ELIGIBILITY BY ALLOWING CHALLENGES BASED ENTIRELY ON CHANGE OF ADDRESS INFORMATION.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2020 WHERE YOU HAVE MOSTLY CONSERVATIVE RESIDENTS CHALLENGING THE ELIGIBILITY OF OTHER PEOPLE AND IT IS UP TO COUNTY ELECTION BOARDS TO DECIDE WHETHER THOSE PEOPLE ARE, IN FACT, ELIGIBLE OR IF THEY HAVE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT COUNTY, CITY OR STATE AND UNDER THIS BILL, IT WOULD MAKE IT A LOT EASIER TO CHALLENGE VOTERS BECAUSE IT WOULD ENABLE ELECTION BOARDS TO RELY ENTIRELY ON CHANGE OF ADDRESS INFORMATION WHICH CAN BE UNRELIABLE WHEN PEOPLE MOVE FOR COLLEGE OR TAKE A TEMPORARY JOB OR MIGHT BE SNOW BIRDS OR MIGHT BE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY WORKING OVERSEAS, AND SO THAT IS ONE PART OF THAT BILL.

THE BILL DOES A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND IT ALSO AT THE LAST MINUTE, THEY ADDED AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL THAT WOULD BAN ABSENTEE BALLOTS ENTIRELY AND DROP BOXES WERE REQUIRED TO BE INSIDE POLLING PLACES ONLY OPEN DURING ADVANCED VOTING HOURS AND UNDER SUPERVISION.

NOW THIS WOULD DO AWAY WITH DROP BOXES ENTIRELY AND THE BILL ALSO REQUIRES THE HOMELESS TO REGISTER AT THE ADDRESS OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, PROHIBITS NON-U.S. CITIZENS FROM WORKING IN COUNTY ELECTION OFFICES AND REQUIRES AUDITS AFTER PRIMARIES AND ALLOWS COUNTIES TO USE PAPER BALLOTS, BUT ONLY WITH PERMISSION FROM THE STATE ELECTION BOARD.

SO THAT IS A BIG BILL THAT PASSED 5 TO 3 OUT OF SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE YESTERDAY AND COULD RECEIVE A VOTE SOME TIME BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY MONDAY.

ANOTHER BILL THAT IS ON THE SCHEDULE FOR A VOTE TOMORROW IN THE FOLSOM SENATE IS A BILL THAT WOULD REGULATE DONATIONS FROM OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THIS BILL WOULD PROHIBIT COUNTY GOVERNMENTS FROM TAKING MONEY FROM ANYBODY BUT THE GOVERNMENT, AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE BECAUSE PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS ORGANIZATION CALLED THE CENTER FOR THE TECH AND CIVIC LIFE FROM FACEBOOK FOUNDER MARK ZUCKERBERG GAVE A VARIETY ALTHOUGH DEMOCRATIC-LEANING COUNTIES DID RECEIVE MORE MONEY FROM THE REPUBLICAN COUNTIES.

THE SENATOR DID NOT GIVE MONEY ESPECIALLY DURING COVID WHEN THERE WERE POLL CLOSURES AND SANITATION NEED.

UNDER THIS BILL, DONATIONS COULD NOT BE GIVEN TO COUNTIES.

THEY COULD STILL BE GIVEN TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT COULD DISTRIBUTE THEM TO COUNTIES IF THEY DECIDE ON A SYSTEM TO DO SO.

SO THOSE ARE THE MAIN BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE SENATE SIDE.

>> I KNOW THE LAST ONE IS CALLED THE ZUCKER BUCK BILL BECAUSE OF ZUCKERBERG'S NAME.

THERE'S ONE IN THE BALLOT BOX, IS THAT GOING ANYWHERE?

>> WE'LL SEE.

>> GETTING RID OF THEM, EVEN.

>> WELL, RIGHT.

GETTING RID OF BALLOT DROP BOXES I JUST MENTIONED AND THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT DEALS WITH MORE SECURITY AROUND BALLOT TRACKING AND CHAIN OF CUSTODY PRECAUTIONS AND FILLING OUT MORE AND MORE PAPERWORK AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT POP UP IN SEVERAL BILLS.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT INCLUDED IN SOME LEGISLATION THAT MOVES FORWARD.

THERE ARE DIFFERING OPINIONS ON THAT FROM ELECTION DIRECTORS, BUT A LOT OF THEIR FEEDBACK HAS BEEN INCORPORATED AND RESTRICTIONS GENERALLY SPEAKING ARE LESS ONEROUS INITIALLY FROM A STANDPOINT OF HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO DO THESE THINGS AND HOW MUCH OF A BURDEN IT IS TO ADD EXTRA REQUIREMENTS TO TRACK BALLOTS.

>> OKAY, MARK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US REMOTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, REPRESENTATIVE DRAPER, FOR THIS IS YOUR FIRST APPEARANCE ON "LAWMAKERS" BECAUSE YOU'VE ONLY BEEN HERE JUST A FEW WEEKS.

>> 22 LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> COMING UP, WE'LL TALK ABOUT A BILL DEALING WITH FARMERS MARKETS AND WE WILL LEARN ABOUT CANDOR IN HEALTH CARE.

♪♪ ♪♪ >>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE AND AG GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY FOOD AND FIBER REPRESENTS OVER 74 BILLION?

GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY AND THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITAL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> HERE'S WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH.

>> KRISTEN HAD A LOT OF COURAGE.

HE FOUGHT FOR BLACK ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

>> SHE WAS POISONED.

>> THESE ARE ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS AVAILABLE WITH PASSPORT.

SUPPORT YOUR PBS STATION AND THE PBS APP.

>> THEY AFFECT THE LIVES OF EVERY AMERICAN.

>> WE ARE THERE AT THE FRONT LINES.

>> TO GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN EVERY ISSUE.

>> THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT SEEN THIS IN 80 YEARS.

>> THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> IT IS MAKING SUCH A HUGE IMPACT.

THIS IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.

>>> ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO SUPPORT GPB IS TO BECOME A MONTHLY GPB SUSTAINER.

YOUR MONTHLY REPORT CONTINUES MONTH AFTER MONTH AND SUPPORTS THE ONLY THE GREAT PROGRAMMING THAT YOU LOVE ON GPB AND ALSO OUR EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS COMMITTED TO HAVE A TRUSTED SPACE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING IN THE AIR ALL ACROSS GEORGIA.

ALL OF THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH YOUR MONTHLY SUPPORT AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU, SO PLEASE, DONATE RIGHT NOW AT PLEASE, DONATE RIGHT NOW AT ♪♪ ♪♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT BILLS ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TOPICS DEALING WITH HEALTH CARE AND HEALTHY EATING.

JOINING ME ARE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT DICKY OF NEW CELA AND HE IS CHAIR OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> CHAIRMAN DICKY, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

SOMETHING AGRICULTURAL RELATED.

THE GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION HELD PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY DAY AT THE CAPITAL TODAY, AND IT IS ALWAYS VERY POPULAR ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THOSE GRILLED PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES AND YOU PROVIDE THE JAM.

>> WE DID, GRILLED SANDWICHES AND GREAT, BIG HIT AND OUR GEORGIA PEANUT GROWERS ARE A BIG PART OF THE SUCCESS IN THE CULTURE AND THE STATE.

>> SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THE ONE THING ABOUT IT IS IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY LIKES PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT'S A GREAT PRODUCT AND PROTEIN AND GEORGIA GROWS MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

>> IF PEOPLE WANT YOUR JAM THEY GET IT FROM DICKY FARMS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GEORGIA GROWN PRODUCTS.

>> LET'S KEEP GOING WITH THE AGRICULTURE AND WE HAVE A BILL, HB-305 AND THE GEORGIA FARMER'S MARKET AUTHORITY ACT AND TELL ME WHY YOU WANTED IT FIRST.

>> I WANT IT BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO UPGRADE OUR FARMER'S MARKETS IN OUR STATE AND WORKING WITH NEW AD COMMISSIONER TYLER HARPER AND HE'S EXCITED ABOUT IT AND WE HAVE JUST PUT OFF UPGRADING FARMER'S MARKETS AND ESPECIALLY THE IMPORTANT ONE HERE IN ATLANTA AND SO THIS BILL WOULD TRY TO PUT A LITTLE MORE BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN THOSE THINGS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT SOME MORE FUNDING AND THOSE FACILITIES ARE AGED AND REALLY NEED SOME NEW ATTENTION.

>> SO AN AUTHORITY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND IT MAY NOT GO ANYWHERE THIS TIME.

>> WE'LL WORK AND TRY TO WORK WITH COMMISSIONER HARPER.

HE'S HAD SOME GREAT IDEAS AND I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS AND CHAIRMAN GOODMAN AND SO WE'LL -- WE'LL PUSH THAT AND HOPEFULLY IN YEARS TO COME WE'LL HAVE FIRST-CLASS FACILITIES AT OUR FARMER'S MARKS AND NOT ONLY OUR FARMERS, BUT MAINLY CONSUMERS, AS WELL.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

>> I LOVE FARMERS MARKETS.

THEY'RE GREAT.

>> HB-470 DEALS WITH SOMETHING THAT HAD ME DOING SOME RESEARCH AND IT'S ABOUT CANDOR AND HEALTH CARE AND IT'S AN ACRONYM.

AS I UNDERSTAND THE AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY SAYS IT'S A PROCESS THAT HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS AND PRACTITIONERS CAN USE TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY, THOROUGH AND JUST WAY WHEN UNEXPECTED EVENTS CAUSE PATIENT HARM.

SO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT IS.

>> WELL, TO ERR IS HUMAN AND WE DO HAVE UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH PATIENTS, AND IN THE PAST WE SORT OF HAD A CULTURE OF BLAME AND SHAME, YOU KNOW, AND USED THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO A GREAT DEAL TO TRY TO CORRECT AND SATISFY PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN HARMED AND THIS DOESN'T DO AWAY WITH THAT, IT JUST TRIES TO CHANGE IT TO A CULTURE OF WORKING TOGETHER AND TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH AND FIND IMPROVED HEALTH CARE.

YOU KNOW, CANDOR, I LIKE TO SAY YOU ARE CANDID IN CANDOR.

YOU ARE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL AND STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND A PROMPT RESOLUTION INSTEAD OF DENYING, DEFENDING WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHICH HAS BEEN THE CULTURE OF THE PAST AND CANDOR IS LIKE MEDIATION WITHOUT GETTING THE COURTS INVOLVED, BUT A WAY TO BRING THE DOCTOR OR THE THEY'VE BEEN HARMED TOGETHER WHERE THEY CAN BE OPEN AND HONEST AND IF THE DOCTOR MADE A MISTAKE TO SAY I MADE A MISTAKE, I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT IT.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU MAKE IT BETTER OR THE HOSPITAL IN THE SAME WAY TO FIND THAT RESOLUTION WITHOUT A THREE-TO-FIVE YEAR POSSIBLE COURT CASE, BUT TO DO IT IN A MORE PROMPT AND WITHOUT SUCH EXPENSE AND TYING UP THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

>> REDUCING ALL OF THE LITIGATION THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED.

YOU HAD AN EXAMPLE YOU TOLD ME ABOUT EARLIER.

SOMEONE WOULD PICK UP THE WRONG THING.

>> YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING WHERE SOMEONE WAS IN SURGERY AND THEY NEEDED SOME TYPE OF IV, A THOUSAND CCs OF SALINE AND A THOUSAND CCs OF SOMETHING, AND THE NURSE GOES TO THE STORAGE AREA AND PULLS OUT A BOTTLE OF THIS AND GETS THE WRONG, YOU KNOW, THOUSAND CC BOTTLE AND IT CAUSES HARM.

YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU WANT IS AN OUTCOME BESIDES HELPING THE PATIENT IF THEY'VE BEEN HARMED AND IT'S TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.

WHY ARE THOSE TWO DIFFERENT BOTTLES STORED SO CLOSELY TOGETHER WHERE IN A HURRY THE NURSE MIGHT PICK UP THE WRONG BOTTLE.

MAYBE THEY NEED TO BE ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE ROOM, BUT TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM SO THE ACCIDENT OR WHATEVER CAUSED THE HARM DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR CANDOR BILL.

I LEARNED A LOT WITH THAT.

WHEN YOU SAID WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT CANDOR, I DIDN'T KNOW.

I LEARNED A LOT.

HB-189 WOULD INCREASE THE WEIGHT OF WHAT TRUCKERS HAUL.

>> WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF TRUCK DRIVERS IN OUR STATE, AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ARE PERISHABLE AND CANNOT WAIT AROUND FOR LOADS, SO REALLY JUST KEEP OUR STATE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHERS NEAR STATES SO WE CAN HAUL MORE PRODUCT ON AGRICULTURAL LOADS AND LESS TRIPS JUST MAKE SENSE TO RAISE OUR LIMITS JUST A SMALL AMOUNT TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR TRUCKERS.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER BILL.

YOU ALSO SUPPORT HB-452.

IT'S SPONSORED BY CHAIRMAN CLAY PERKEL AND THAT WOULD PROHIBIT FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, MANY OF US ARE WORRIED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY ABOUT ADVERSARIES AND WE HAVE A SHORT LIST THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS PUT OUT BY THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE REALLY OUR ENEMIES AND WE NOTICED AN INCREASE OF FARMLAND BEING BOUGHT AND A LOT OF THEM NEAR MILITARY BASES.

SO THIS BILL WOULD START LOOKING AT THAT, RESTRICTING THOSE TYPE OF INDIVIDUALS, COMPANIES AND COUNTRIES FROM BUYING UP OUR FARMLAND WHICH IS A REAL NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE FOR US.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THAT BILL.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THAT ONE AND ONE OTHER BILL, HB-458 THAT DEALS WITH THE SALE OF HEMP AND PUTTING GUARDRAILS AROUND THAT.

>> CORRECT.

MANY CBD OUT THERE IN THE MARKETPLACE AND PEOPLE ARE BUYING THOSE, BUT THEY'RE NOT REGULATED AND THEY'RE NOT TESTED.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT STRENGTH THEY ARE AND SO I THINK IT'S A BILL THAT WOULD GIVE OUR CONSUMERS MORE CONFIDENCE WHEN THEY GO TO BUY AND WE REQUIRE TESTING ON ALL OF THOSE CONSUMER PRODUCTS MADE WITH HEMP AND IT'S A GREAT BILL AND WE REALLY NEED IT AND WE'LL PUSH IT IN THE SENATE AS WELL AS OVER IN THE HOUSE AS THE BILL.

>> A LOT OF GOOD AGRICULTURE BILLS OUT THERE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU QUICKLY, THE MENTAL HEALTH BILL CAME THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE?

>> IT DID.

>> IT SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL, AND FOCUSING ON MAINLY MAKING SURE -- IT'S DEALING WITH HOUSING AND THAT'S WHAT'S CURIOUS ABOUT IT.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.

>> IT IS WHAT IT IS.

WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY BEDS DO WE HAVE?

SO IT REALLY HAS A LOT OF STUDIES IN IT SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK AND THEY'RE ALL DUE BY THE FIRST OF DECEMBER SO THAT WE CAN THEN MOVE FORWARD NEXT YEAR BASED ON THE REAL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MANY BEDS WE HAVE.

ARE OUR BEDS BEING TAKEN FROM PEOPLE FROM TENNESSEE AND OTHER STATES BECAUSE THEY PAY MORE TO HAVE A PSYCHIATRIC BED?

WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.

SO WE KNOW HOW MANY MORE BEDS WE NEED, WHERE WE HAVE EMPTY BEDS BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS HARD.

IF YOU'RE A PARENT AND YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADMITTED FOR A WHILE, FOR A FEW DAYS OR A FEW WEEKS OF CARE, IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO FIND A PSYCHIATRIC BED IN THIS SPACE, ADULTS OR CHILD.

SO WE ARE GOING TO DO A STUDY AND SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE WHAT WE NEED TO ASK THE LEGISLATURE GOING FORWARD.

>> WHEN WILL THAT GO TO THE HOUSE?

>> THE BILL NOW IS IN RULES.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHTY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

IT IS TIME TO WRAP IT UP.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" TODAY.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW FOR DAY 27.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪