>>> THIS TIME I MOVE THAT THIS HOUSE ASSIST AN APPOINTED CONFERENCE ON HOUSE BILL 9/11.

>> THE BACK AND FORTH OVER STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES CONTINUES AS THE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR SENDS THE BILL TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY 36 OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE BUDGET ISSUES COMING UP.

>>> A SENATE BILL WOULD CHANGE THE STATE'S LAW THAT RESTRICTS NEW TEEN DRIVERS HAVING PEERS IN THE VEHICLE WITH THEM THE FIRST SIX MONTHS ON THE ROAD.

LAWMAKERS JOIN ME IN THE STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

>>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THINGS HAPPENING IN GEORGIA, INCLUDING THE RISE IN SUICIDES AND CRIME RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

>>> COMING UP, MY EXPANSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JUDY FITZGERALD, WHO OFFERS GLIMPSES OF HOPE IN THE MIDST OF THE STATE'S STRUGGLES DELIVERING HELP TO THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY.

>>> BUT FIRST, WITH JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE END OF THE SESSION, OUR BRIDGET WATERS IS KEEPING US BUSY WITH ALL THAT'S GOING ON AT THE GOLD DOME.

BRENDA?

>> THANKS, DONNA.

HOUSE BILL 911, BETTER KNOWN AS FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET IS DOING A LOT IN THE HOUSE OF SENATE CHAMBERS.

THEY PASSED THEIR VERSION OF HB-911.

THEY KEPT MOST OF THE HOUSE'S LANGUAGE BUT GAVE RAISES TO CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THIRD GRADE READING LEVELS AND FOSTER CARE.

THE BILL WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE AND CAME UP FOR A VOTE THIS MORNING.

THIS IS HOW THINGS WENT.

>> THIS TIME I MOVE THAT THIS HOUSE ASSIST AN APPOINTED BILL 911.

>> THE HOUSE MOVES TO APPOINT A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE BILL WITH THE SENATE.

>> THIS HOUSE HAS INSISTED THE CHAIR APPOINTS CHAIRMAN ENGLUND OF THE 116th, LEADER BURNS OF THE 159th, AND SPEAKER PRO TEM JONES OF THE 47th COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE ON HOUSE BILL 911.

>> ANOTHER PRIORITY THAT HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT FROM GOVERNOR KEMP AND THE FIRST LADY IS THEIR FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> HB 461 SIMPLY ADDS THE OFFENSE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ONTO THE LIST OF OFFENSES ONLY AVAILABLE BEFORE A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.

THIS BRINGS HUMAN TRAFFICKING INTO ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES AND VALIDATES THE HEINOUS NATURE OF THOSE ACTS.

>> HOUSE BILL 461 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

>>> OFTEN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS GET OUT OF CONTROL OR PARENTS CLAIM THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THOSE MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD.

SENATE BILL 588 ADDRESSES THAT.

>> THE SENATE BILL 588 REQUIRES THAT LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION PUBLISH THE NOTICE OF THEIR REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS ON THEIR PRINCIPAL PUBLIC WEBSITE IN A PROMINENT PLACE SO THAT PARENTS WILL HAVE ADEQUATE NOTICE OF WHEN THOSE MEETINGS ARE TAKING PLACE.

THE BILL ALSO REQUIRES THAT LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION ADOPT RULES OF CONDUCT FOR THEIR PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THAT LOCAL BOARDS PUBLIC THOSE RULES OF CONDUCT ALSO IN A PROMINENT MANNER ON THEIR WEBSITE.

>> THE BILL STATES PARENTS CAN DISAGREE AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS BUT NOT DISRUPT THEM.

SB-588 PASSED 15-21.

>>> TWO MORE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE JOINED THAT LONG LIST OF THOSE NOT SEEKING REELECTION.

REPRESENTATIVE HEATH CLARK TOLD THE HOUSE HE IS LEAVING TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, AND ESPECIALLY HIS MOTHER.

>> MY MOM, I WANT TO THANK HER.

IN THAT FIRST CAMPAIGN WE HAD, THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE I KNEW WOULD BE KNOCKING ON DOORS, MY WIFE AND MY MOM.

SHE WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.

>> HE WAS JUST IN OFFICE FOR THREE YEARS.

HE THANKED MANY COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE SMIREY, BETTER KNOWN AS THE DEAN.

>> DEAN SMIREY, IT WAS AN HONOUR TO SERVE WITH YOU.

I LEARNED SO MUCH WITH YOU.

I LEARNED HOW TO BE A BETTER DEMOCRAT, HOW TO WORK WITH BOTH SIDES.

I LOVED TELLING YOU HOW I WOULD SAY SOMETHING, AND YOU WOULD SAY, DON'T SAY THAT, AND I WOULDN'T.

>>> THEY MAY BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO LEGALIZING MEDICAL CANNABIS.

IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY.

>> THIS IS THE EXACT SAME BILL WE PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE IN THE FORM OF SENATE BILL 609, SO BASICALLY THIS EXPANDS THE INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND IT ALSO REQUIRES THE COMMISSION TO GET YOUR JOB DONE BY MAY 31st.

>>> THE PANDEMIC HAS BECOME A WAKE-UP CALL IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

THAT'S WHY THEY CAME IN WITH A MISSION THAT PLACED GEORGIA NEAR THE BOTTOM OF ALL STATES WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

LATE THIS EVENING THE SENATE HEALTH SERVICES COMMITTEE PASSED HB-1013.

TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE AGENCY THAT OVERSEES THE STATE'S PROGRAMS, THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL DISABILITIES.

I SPOKE EARLIER TODAY TO DEBBIE FITZGERALD AMID THE CRISIS.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> IT IS TIME FOR PEOPLE TO BE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

I THINK, REALLY, WHAT I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW, ILTS BOTH A TIME OF CHALLENGE AND A TIME FOR OPPORTUNITY.

WHEN I SAY CHALLENGE, I THINK IT'S BEEN WIDELY REPORTED, BOTH IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND NATIONALLY, ABOUT THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE WERE FACING, ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY, THAT THERE WERE REPORTS ABOUT INCREASING CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE'S MENTAL WELL-BEING.

SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE, THAT UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND IN THE FACE OF WORK FORCE SHORTAGES WHERE HEALTH CARE HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY HARD HIT.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE, BECAUSE FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IN MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOR A LONG TIME, IT FEELS LIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'RE BEGINNING TO BREAK DOWN STIGMA BARRIERS AND THAT PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO RECOGNIZE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO PEOPLE'S OVERALL WELL-BEING.

HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA WITH LEGISLATIVE FOCUS AND BUDGET FOCUS, IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

>> YOU'RE DEALING WITH EVERYTHING FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN IN ALL OF THAT.

WHAT AREAS DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE MOST NEED, OR IS IT ALL ACROSS THE BOARD?

>> IT IS ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO YOU'VE MENTIONED -- WE SERVICE THE STATE'S PUBLIC SAFETY NET, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY.

PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS, PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS AND PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ALL ACROSS OUR STATE.

SO WE'RE PRIORITIZING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF NEED AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED.

SO THAT'S OUR TOP FOCUS.

SO IT'S REALLY SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.

EVERY DAY WE'VE GOT A WORK FORCE DEDICATED TO THAT POPULATION AND PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHO ARE REALLY FOCUSED.

AND, REALLY, I DO HAVE TO SAY THE NEEDS ARE EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW.

MOST PARTICULARLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING, AND I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT IN THE PUBLIC, IS PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN CRISIS.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE THE FOCUS IS RIGHT NOW, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS CAN HAVE AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK FORCE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT?

>> YEAH, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS, I THINK, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE AND BREADTH OF THE CHALLENGE.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY REAL FOR US IN DBHDD.

WHAT THAT MEANS, MOST POINTEDLY ACROSS OUR FIVE STATE HOSPITALS WHERE WE EMPLOY, IT'S OUR STATE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE RUNNING THOSE STATE HOSPITALS.

WE EXPERIENCED UNPRECEDENTED WORK FORCE CHALLENGES.

IN FACT, I REPORTED IN MY BUDGET HEARING THAT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD LOST OVER 1,116 STATE EMPLOYEES IN OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

I WANT TO PAUSE THERE.

THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

I KNOW SISTER AGENCIES HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED REALLY DECIMATING WORK FORCE SHORTAGES, BUT I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT IT.

FIRST I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE WHILE WE LOST THAT LARGE NUMBER, THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE STAYED.

THEY'VE STAYED BECAUSE THEY'RE DEDICATED TO THE MISSION AND THEY SAW A PATHWAY AND HERE WAS A REALLY EXCITING THING THAT HAPPENED.

AS FOLKS NOW KNOW, GOVERNOR KEMP LED THE EFFORT TO HAVE A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

THIS IS A GAME CHANGER FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE WORKING AT THE FRONT LINES, THE LOWEST PAID STAFF, A $5,000 INCREASE IN MEASURABLE AND MARKED INCREASE FOR THEM, AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND REALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON RETENTION OF OUR CURRENT WORK FORCE.

>> AND PART OF THAT PIPELINE IS LOOKING FOR FORGIVABLE LOANS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COMING INTO THE KIND OF POSITIONS THAT YOU NEED.

>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

THIS IS REALLY HARD WORK.

WHETHER IT'S IN OUR STATE HOSPITAL OR IN A COMMUNITY PROVIDER ORGANIZATION, DEALING WITH AND SERVING PEOPLE WHO ARE CHALLENGED WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, IT'S REALLY HARD WORK BUT IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY REWARDING WORK FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO HELP PEOPLE, CLINICALLY, SOCIAL WORKERS, NURSES, PSYCHIATRISTS.

WE NEED ALL THOSE FOLKS AS PART OF OUR TEAM.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS, AS YOU SAY, TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO STUDY AND REALLY ALSO IDENTIFYING, WHAT IS THE THING THAT MAKE THESE JOBS REWARDING AND DOABLE AND HOW CAN WE CREATE WORK INVESTMENTS WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TOUCHING LIVES, THEY'RE IMPACTING LIVES AND THEY'RE DRIVING PEOPLE INTO FACILITATING RECOVERY.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT BRINGS THE REWARD WORKING IN THE FIELD.

>>> WE HAVE OPIUM SETTLEMENT DOLLARS OR TOBACCO SETTLEMENT DOLLARS.

TELL PEOPLE WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN.

>> WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

HERE'S THE HARD NEWS.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE KNOW THAT IN GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'RE FACING A RECORD NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS.

AND WE BELIEVE THOSE ARE PREVENTABLE WITH THE RIGHT SERVICES AND THE RIGHT ACCESS AND THE VOICE OF RECOVERY.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN REALLY IMPACT THIS.

SO THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT, WE'VE RECEIVED OUR FIRST PAYMENT FOR OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS.

WHAT THAT MEANS TANGIBLY, $11 MILLION COMING TO THE STATE.

DBHDD HAS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING THAT ON THE GROUND, OPENING UP TREATMENT AVENUES FOR PEOPLE IN AND SPECIFICALLY WE IMAGINE THOSE $11 MILLION WILL BE INVESTING IN DETOXIFICATION BEDS, THAT FIRST MOMENT OF CRISIS THAT THEY CAN GET HELP, AND THE EVIDENCE INVOLVED.

THE EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT WE USE IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO MAKE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE'RE REMINDING EVERYBODY ONCE AGAIN HERE'S HOW YOU WOULD GET HELP.

THE OTHER GOOD NEWS IS WE ANTICIPATE WITH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE WAY.

OUR JOB WOULD BE TURN THAT INTO TREATMENT ACCESS AND AWARENESS.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THERE TO REALLY TACKLE WHAT HAS BECOME A PANDEMIC OF ITS OWN.

>> I KNOW ANOTHER AREA THAT WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN IS IN TERMS OF SUICIDE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT MAY BE IN PLACE TO HELP.

>> THANKS.

IT'S A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT'S HAPPENING IS PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT TALKING ABOUT IT IS PART OF THE HEALING.

SO MOST IMPORTANT -- WELL, I WANT TO SAY FIRST WHAT WE SAW HAPPENING IN GEORGIA, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NAME WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING.

LAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY SAW AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN SUICIDES IN GEORGIA.

BUT WE SAW AN INCREASE IN A VERY SPECIFIC AREA, AND THAT WAS IN RURAL GEORGIA.

AND THIS WAS OF GREAT CONCERN TO US, I WILL SAY.

RURAL GEORGIANS AND YOUTH, ACROSS THE NATION WE SAW INCREASES IN YOUTH AS YOUNG AS AGES 5 TO 11, AND UP TO THE TEEN YEARS, SHOWING UP IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT HELP IS ON THE WAY.

I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT I THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT'S COMING.

THIS IS A TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SYSTEM.

THIS IS A NATIONAL CHANGE, AND THIS IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 988.

SO A FEDERAL LAW HAS NOW DESIGNATED THAT IN JULY THIS YEAR, A THREE-DIGIT DIALING NUMBER, 988, SOUNDS LIKE 911, BUT 988 WILL BE THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS LINE FOR EMERGENCIES.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND OTHER STATES HAVE AS WELL IS PREPARING FOR THE INITIATION OF 988 AS A THREE-DIGIT DIAL NUMBER.

HERE'S THE GREAT NEWS.

PEOPLE IN CRISIS, POSSIBLY AT THE LOWEST POINT IN THEIR LIFE WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO THINK, WHAT'S THE NUMBER, HOW CAN I GET HELP?

THEY ARE TO CALL THIS NUMBER AND THEY'LL BE DIRECTLY TALKING TO A PROFESSIONAL.

988 IS NATIONAL.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN GEORGIA, AND THE NUMBER WE CURRENTLY USE IN GEORGIA, FOLKS HAVE COME TO KNOW GCAL.

WE GET THOUSANDS OF CALLS WEEKLY TO THE GEORGIA ACCESS LINE.

IF PEOPLE DIAL THAT NUMBER TO GEORGIA, IT'S GOING TO BE REDIRECTED TO GCAL.

>> I WANT TO THANK MS. FITZGERALD FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

WE WILL POST IT ON GPB.ORG.

>>> A LOOK AT HOW TEEN DRIVERS CAN HAVE THEIR PEERS JOIN THEM IN THE VEHICLE.

THIS IS "LAWMAKERS."

.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BILLS DEALING WITH YOUNG DRIVERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR FRANK GINN IN DANIELVILLE IN MADISON COUNTY.

I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.

YOU'RE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE TRANSFORMATION COMMITTEE, AND YOU HAVE A BILL THAT WOULD REMOVE SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TEEN DRIVERS.

IT WOULD ALLOW NEW MEMBERS TO HAVE A YOUNG PERSON IN THE CAR THAT IS NOT A FAMILY MEMBER.

CURRENTLY A NON-FAMILY MEMBER HAS TO BE A CERTAIN AGE.

YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

TELL US WHERE THIS COMES FROM.

>> I HAD A CONSTITUENT CALL WITH A CONCERN.

HIS 16-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER HAD TO COME DOWN LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN ONE NIGHT AROUND CHRISTMAS AFTER DARK, AND YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE UNNERVING TO PULT -- PUT A 16-YEAR-OLD BEHIND THE WHEEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY CAN'T HAVE SOMEBODY BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH THEM WHO IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER.

I CALL IT THE GOOD VALUE BILL.

NOT EVERYBODY LIVES IN NEVADA.

I LIVE WHERE THEY WOULD CALL THE HUNTERLAND IS.

MY 90-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR, IF HE NEEDED A RIDE TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, A RIDE TO THE GROCERY STORE, UNFORTUNATELY, IF MY DAUGHTER WAS 16 AND JUST GOT HER LICENSE, SHE COULDN'T GO WITH HIM TO THE GROCERY STORE OR THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CURRENT LAW DOESN'T ALLOW FOR YOUR AUNT OR UNCLE TO BE IN THE CAR.

YOU HAVE TO BE AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE.

AND FOR ME WHAT I WANT TO TRY TO DO IS RELAX THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

JOSHUA'S LAW HAS DONE A LOT OF THINGS TO SAVE A LOT OF KIDS, AND I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO EXASPERATE THE SITUATION SO THAT ANOTHER ADULT, SOMEONE 16 YEARS AND OLDER, CAN BE THERE WITH THAT DRIVER.

THIS PIECE OF PAPER WOULD ALLOW THAT TEEN TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH AN ADULT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER.

>> I KNOW WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED THIS, THOUGH, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT 21.

THIS WENT THROUGH A FEW ITERATIONS HERE.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE LEJS LAIFBL PRORSZ ON.

HEY, THERE'S A LOT MORE RANGE ON THE OTHER SIFD.

TO ME I LIKE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO TRY TO IMPROVE D KPLAV TO WORK MONEY IF WITH GEORGIA.

>> I KNOW WHEN THIS CAME INTO COMMITTEE, I KNOW YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS.

TELL ME HOW HOW WERE.

I GOTH MINE IN 1992 IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY WHERE I WAS RAISED AND STILL LIVE.

GEORGIA IS 11 MILLION PEOPLE, ALMOST 11 MILLION IN GWINNETT.

ME RAISING MY TEENAGE DAUGHTERS, THAT PROCESS HAPPENED ABOUT 12D YEARS AGO.

THEY HAD FRIENDS WHO HAD SIMILAR AGED CHILDREN.

WE'RE COMFORTABLE WHERE IT SITS AS OF NOW.

FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, YOU COULD ONLY HAVE THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE CAR, AND THEN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, YOU CAN HAVE A 21-YEAR-OLD PEER.

THE FIRST ITERATION THAT CAME TO MOTOR VEHICLES LOWERED THAT STANDARD TO ANOTHER TEENAGE PASSENGER, ANOTHER 16-YEAR-OLD.

AND I WAS NOT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

AS OFTEN HAPPENS, THE HOUSE TAKES A SENATE BILL AND PERFECTS IT AND MAKES IT BETTER, SO WE WERE TRYING TO DO THAT FOR YOU AGAIN.

THE SECOND SUB STULT THAT CAME, I VOTED FOR IT IN THE COMMITTEE AND I'M COMFORT WABL WHERE.

>> A SUBCOMMITTEE FEELS GOOD WHEN IT MAKES IT TO THE HOUSE.

>> YOU SHOULD NEVER FEEL GOOD UNTIL THEY RETURN.

IF YOU LIVE IN GEORGIA, YOU'RE A CONSTITUENT.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE 47th DISTRICT, THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO AM MANG AND WHO'S OUT THERE ON THE ROAD.

SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP IN THE RULES COMMITTEE, THEY SAID, WELL, IS IT RIGHT FOR US TO TEACH ROB REMPLT.

I'M NOT HERE TO DEFWHALT, IF YOU NEVER DRIVE, YOU'RE NER GOING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

SFWLZ THEY'RE GOT TO HEAR HIM, HIS BRAIN IS LIKE A SPONGE, YOU HAVE TO GOAT A SMAERN NURLT -- YOU BETTER NOT TSH.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE ONE NON-RELACHLTD.

HERE'S WRRMD WE GO.

AND HE SAID, I'LL BE LONEST TOU STWURKS THE OWNERS OF A DRIVER'S HED SCHOOL HERE IN ATLANTA, HE WAS PROMOTING THE BILL, HE LIKES THE BILL.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT EDUCATIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHILD WHERE IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR AN AUNT OR UNCLE TO TAKE IN AND HELP THEM WITH THAT.

SO FOR ME, THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO ENDANGER THE PUBLIC ANYMORE THAN WE ALREADY ARE.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS 16, IT WAS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO, OKAY, I GOT TO DO ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD.

>> I THINK THE BIG CONCERN WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE A BUNCH OF TEENAGERS IN A CAR.

I REMEMBER COVERING JOSHUA'S LAW AND I REMEMBER WE HAD QUITE A FEW OF THESE ACCIDENTS WHERE THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE TEEN IN A CAR, AND, YOU KNOW -- >> DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

THAT'S NOT WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

>> OKAY.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.

>> I'M GOING TO CHANGE GEARS WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT, REPRESENTATIVE KENNARD.

YOU'RE SPONSORING A BILL 8275 AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS AND THE PTSD THEY MIGHT SUFFER.

TELL ME WHERE THIS CAME FROM FOR YOU.

>> SURE.

I WAS CONTACTED BY ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHO REALLY BROUGHT LIGHT TO THIS ISSUE.

AS IT SITS NOW, IF A FIRST RESPONDER EXPERIENCES PTSD IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PHYSICAL INJURY, WORKERS' COMP WILL COVER THAT AS A COMPENSIBLE CLAIM.

BUT IF IT'S A STAND-ALONE PTSD INJURY, STAND-ALONE PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY, IT DOES NOT.

WHAT WAS SURPRISING TO ME WAS THE FACT THAT A POLICE OFFICER IS MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY SUICIDE THAN IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

AND WE'RE SEEING THIS ACROSS THE BOARD WITH ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS, PARAMEDICS, THEY'RE EXPERIENCING SUCH TRAUMA ON THE JOB IN THE LINE OF DUTY WITH TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS THAT THEY LIVE WITH EVERY DAY THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO PROCESS.

YOU'RE NOT UNAFFECTED WITH THE THINGS YOU KNOW THEY SEE AND HEAR.

SO THEY BASICALLY HAVE TO SUPPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS AND HOW THEY'RE FEELING ABOUT APPROXIMATE SEEING THESE EXPERIENCES, AND IT'S TAKING A TOLL PSYCHOLOGICALLY.

THERE NEEDS TO BE TREATMENT OFFERED, AND SO WHAT HB 855 DOES IS OPEN UP THE WORKERS' COMP SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THAT.

RIGHT NOW A FIRST RESPONDER WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET TO TREAT PTSD AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THEIR OWN PERSONAL LEAVE.

THE OFFICER I SPOKE TO SPENT $20,000 WHEN SHE SAW HER FRIEND, HER COLLEAGUE DIE IN HER ARMS FOUR YEARS AGO.

SHE GOT WELL.

SHE GOT HEALTHY.

SHE PROCESSED THIS PAIN, BUT IT TOOK $20,000 OUT OF HER OWN POCKET TO SEEK TREATMENT AND SHE BURNED ALL OF HER PERSONAL LEAVE TO ADDRESS THIS.

>> BUT IF SHE HAD BEEN INJURED PHYSICALLY, SHE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED WORKERS' COMP.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THERE.

AND SO IN TERMS OF CLAIMING THE COMPENSATION, IT EXCLUDES MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES LIKE ADDICTION, THOUGH, WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> SO IT WOULDN'T INVOLVE ANY OF THAT.

>> NO.

>> WHERE IS THE BILL GOING RIGHT NOW?

>> WE HAD A COMMITTEE HERE, AND IT WAS COMPELLING.

THE ROOM WAS FILLED WITH TESTIMONIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS, FIREFIGHTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PARAMEDICS THAT CAME AND GAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAD LOST A LOVED ONE WHO WAS A FIRST RESPONDER BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION.

IT WAS HEARD, IT WAS COMPELLING, IT WAS RIVETING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CHAIRMAN DECIDED TO HAND THIS OVER TO THE WORKERS' COMP ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND THAT IS WHERE IT SITS NOW FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT.

>> YOU'RE JUST HOPING THAT INDIVIDUALLY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET BACK AT THAT TIME?

>> THAT DOES OPEN SOME DOORS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT EXTENDS THAT CONVERSATION TO INCLUDE ALL THESE ARENAS WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS.

I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC IT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FAVORABLY, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW THAT PARTICULAR SYSTEM WORKS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK THE COUNTIES AND THE CITIES WHO EMPLOY MOST OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THEY'RE WORKING ON A BULLET TONE INSURANCE POLICY THAT HOPEFULLY BY THE END FORTUNATE YEAR THEY WILL HAVE IN PLACE THAT WILL COVER THESE.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW TODAY.

APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD STUFF.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON "LAWMAKERS."

YOU CAN USE THE #GPBLAWMAKERS.

JOIN US TOMORROW.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.