♪ ♪ >> STUDENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHARTER ACADEMY OF GEORGIA SING A JAPANESE FOLK SONG AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF JAPAN IN ATLANTA.

GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "GPB LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY SEVEN OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATION.

MORE REACTION AT THE CAPITAL IN A MOMENT.

NOW, WHEN YOU THINK OF SOMEONE WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, PTSD, YOU MAY THINK OF PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY AND VETERANS.

HOWEVER, FIRST RESPONDERS ALSO SUFFER FROM THE DISORDER BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY SEE IN THEIR JOBS.

TWO LAWMAKERS WHO ARE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS WILL TELL US MORE AND DISCUSS A BILL AIMED AT GETTING THEM HELP.

AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT SEVERAL BILLS FOCUSING ON HIGHER EDUCATION INCLUDING A COUPLE INVOLVING GRANT PROGRAMS AND STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS FOR HIGH-DEMAND CAREERS.

PLUS, MORE ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.

BUT FIRST, LET'S GET A RECAP OF WHAT HAPPENED TODAY UNDER THE GOLD DOME FROM OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT.

>> HI, DONNA, MOST OF TODAY'S BUSINESS TOOK PLACE OUT OF THE CHAMBERS INCLUDING LAWMAKERS ACKNOWLEDGING A LONG TERM INTERNATIONAL PARTNER.

TODAY WAS JAPANESE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DAY AT THE CAPITAL.

JAPANESE BUSINESS WHO'S SET UP SHOP AROUND GEORGIA BROUGHT PRODUCTS TO THE GOLD DOME.

THEY CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP.

PRESENTING THEM WITH A PROCLAMATION.

>> JAPAN CURRENTLY SERVES GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYER.

AND THAT TRANSLATES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS FOR PEOPLE ALL ACROSS OUR STATE.

JUST OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS ALONE, JAPANESE OPERATIONS HAVE BROUGHT OVER $4 BILLION OF INVESTMENT TO OUR STATE.

>> GEORGIA AND JAPANESE COMMITTEE HERE HAS REACHED A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US.

FOR THAT, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WARM -- WARMTH AND HOSPITALITY WE RECEIVED, THE JAPANESE COMMITTEE RECEIVED FROM THE PEOPLE WITH GEORGIA AND STATE OF GEORGIA.

AND FOR THAT, I REALLY TRY TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU.

>> LAWMAKERS IN BOTH CHAMBERS ACKNOWLEDGED MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY.

THE REPRESENTATIVE WHO BROUGHT HER BABY TO THE HOUSE EVERY DAY THIS SESSION FIRED BACK AT DEMOCRATS WHO SAY REPUBLICANS ARE UNWILLING TO HEAR FIXES FOR THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS.

>> SINCE THE BEGINNING OF SESSION, THEY STOOD UP HERE AND TOLD THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA THEY ARE URGING REPUBLICANS TO ACT ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

BUT THE TRUTH, IS WE HAVE.

LEADERSHIP UNDER THE SPEAKERS HAVE WORKED ON A SOLUTION AND DELIVERED RESULTS ON THIS ISSUE GOING BACK TO 2014.

>> SENATOR TONYA ANDERSON ALSO CALLED ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE IN THE SENATE.

LATER THEY INTRODUCED SENATE RESOLUTION 465 DURING THE SENATE RULES MEETING.

THE RESOLUTION WILL IMPANEL A SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FANI WILLIS' MISHANDLING OF MONEY DURING HIS INDICTMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> THE STATE FUNDS $30 MILLION TO THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S COUNCIL.

$30 MILLION OF THAT GOES TO FULTON COUNTY.

AND SO WITH WHAT A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS IS ASKING IS HOW HAS THAT MONEY BEEN SPENT?

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN WITH STATE LAW?

WAS THERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC AND WE'RE GOING TO EMPOWER THIS COMMITTEE TO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

THEN THE COMMITTEE WILL BE ABLE TO WHEN YOU SEE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS IT RELATES TO LEGISLATION THAT WE MAY NEED TO TAKE AS A BODY TO ENSURE THAT CASES ARE PROSECUTED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AS THEY SHOULD BE.

>> THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE WILL HAVE THE POWER TO SUBPOENA AND QUESTION INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THEIR INVESTIGATION.

WE ASKED THE SENATOR WHY NOT LEAVE IT TO THE COURT SYSTEM ALREADY DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OR EVEN THE PROPOSED PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OVERSIGHT COMMISSION?

>> THAT'S A COMMISSION THAT WILL HAVE DISCIPLINARY POWER.

OF OUR INTENT WITH THIS COMMISSION IS NOT WITH THIS COMMITTEE, I SHOULD SAY, IS NOT TO DISCIPLINE.

ITS TO GET A FACT PATTERN SO WE CAN INVESTIGATE OUR EXPENDITURES AT THE STATE LEVEL AND OUR STATE LAWS TO SEE WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ADJUSTED.

>> THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL RETALIATION AGAINST WILLIS.

>> WE DRAFTED THIS AFTER THE FACTS CAME TO LIGHT.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE DID A YEAR AGO.

THIS IS RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM CONSTITUENTS AROUND THE EXPENDITURE OF STATE FUNDS AS A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS IT RELATES TO THE SELECTION WHO HAVE IS GOING TO WORK ON THIS CASE AND HOW WE AS A STATE MAY NEED TO RESPOND.

>> HE EXPECTS THE RESOLUTION TO BE VOTED ON THE SENATE FLOOR WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS SELECTED QUICKLY AFTER THAT.

THE RESOLUTION WAS PASSED 10-3.

>> TOMORROW ON DIE EIGHT, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE ON MAJOR TAX ANNOUNCEMENT.

THAT'S ALL FROM THE CAPITAL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> OUR THANKS TO SARAH FOR THAT REPORT.

>>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION AND LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND LOOK CLOSER AT ITEMS IN THE STATE BUDGETS.

JOINING ME IS THE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE.

SHE'S ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK EDUCATION WHICH IS MY LANE.

YOU KNOW I COVER -- HAVE COVERED EDUCATION FOR A LONG TIME.

NOT ONLY THAT, I WORKED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AT ONE POINT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BEFORE ALL OF THIS.

YOU HAVE BEEN AN ADMINISTRATOR IN SCHOOLS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I HELPED START THE FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL IN FULTON COUNTY.

>> OKAY.

>> AND RAN THAT.

AND THEN MOVED OVER BACK INTO PRIVATE FROM PUBLIC AND ACTUALLY RAN DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE AND CAREER.

SO I'VE HAD A LOT OF HATS ON FROM PUBLIC TO PRIVATE AND CHARTER.

SO I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT AND YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN PARENTS HAVING CHOICE.

BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE.

WE BELIEVE THAT AT THIS POINT THAT GEORGIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS PROVIDING CHOICE AND MEETING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF SO MANY STUDENTS TO COME INTO K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND HAVE A GOOD, GOOD EDUCATION.

>> OKAY.

LET'S GET TO SOME OF THE BILLS THAT YOU'RE VERY INTERESTED IN.

A FEW OF THEM DEAL WITH STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT.

I WANT TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HB 163 AND SB 246.

TELL US ABOUT THIS LOAN REPAYMENT.

WHEN YOU GET TO THE COLLEGE LEVEL OR OUTSIDE OF THE K-12 LEVEL.

>> HIGHER EDUCATION IS ABSOLUTELY CONNECTING OUR HIGHER EDUCATION GOALS TO OUR -- WHAT WE CALL THE MARKETPLACE HIGH DEMAND CAREERS.

AND FOR THAT REASON, WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF BILLS OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS THAT DIRECTLY CONNECT OUR STUDENT DEBT AND OUR NEED FOR CERTAIN CAREERS TO GET TO THE MARKETPLACE QUICKER AND WITHOUT THE LOAD OF DEBT.

AND SO HOUSE BILL 163 IS THE STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT.

IT SPECIFICALLY IS FOR MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

YOU MIGHT ASK WHY MEDICAL EXAMINERS?

THE TRUTH IS, WE HAVE NEED OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS THROUGHOUT 159 COUNTIES.

AND INSIDE OF THE GBI, THE DIVISION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE, WE NEED THOSE MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

SO WE FELT LIKE, HEY, IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO THE MARKETPLACE QUICKER AND TO REALLY MAKE IT WHAT WE CALL AN INCENTIVIZED MARKETPLACE OPPORTUNITY IS TO HELP REDUCE STUDENT DEBT.

THAT'S WHAT WE KEEP HEARING FROM GEN-Z IS OUR STUDENT DEBT IS TOO HIGH.

WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HELP EMPLOYERS GET THOSE STUDENT DEBT LOANS DOWN.

>> YEAH.

ATTRACT THEM TO THE PROFESSION.

>> AND NURSING ALSO.

>> THAT'S THE SAME THING.

STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT FOR NURSING.

WE NEED NURSING PROFESSIONALS THAT HELP TEACH OTHER NURSES TO BECOME NURSES.

AND THAT'S A GREAT NEED.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REDUCE DEBT FOR THOSE WOULD ARE TEACHING IN NURSING AND THOSE WHO ARE GOING INTO NURSING AND STAYING WITHIN OUR STATE.

SO, IT'S A WAY TO ATTRACT AND TO RETAIN.

>> THAT'S THE BIG PUSH.

WHAT WE HEARD A LOT IN THE BUDGET, WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR.

WE HEARD A LOT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IS JUST THE TURNOVER HAS BEEN HIGH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND THOSE PROFESSIONS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE HARDEST TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE PROFESSIONS.

>> YET, IT'S THE GREATEST NEED FOR US AS FAR AS HEALTH CARE IN GEORGIA.

IF WE CONTINUE TO BE THE STATE OF THE HIGH DEMAND CAREERS AND ALL OF DOING BUSINESS, KEEPING THESE BUSINESSES AFLOAT, WE MUST CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, OUR STATE, OUR MEMBERS WITH GREAT HEALTH CARE.

AND, SO, WE GOT TO GET THOSE HIGH DEMAND CAREERS FILLED.

GOT TO DO IT SOONER AND LIGHTEN THE DEBT.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THE TWO BILLS ARE GOING TO DO?

>> THOSE TWO BILLS HAVE HAD SUPPORT.

>> BIPARTISAN?

>> BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE WOULD BE ANY TYPE OF ROADBLOCKS FOR THEM.

I THINK WE BOTH UNDERSTAND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT HEALTH CARE IN GEORGIA IF AT A PREMIUM AND WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN UNDER THE GOLD DOME TO MAKE SURE WE ATTRACT, RETAIN, AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO THESE CAREERS.

>> OKAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER ASPECT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THAT'S DUEL ENROLLMENT.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT K-12.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

BUT IT IS GETTING THEM INTO COLLEGE EARLY.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT WE'RE DOING SUCH GREAT WORK ON DUEL ENROLLMENT.

AND THAT IS WE START WITH TENTH GRADE STUDENTS WHO CAN GRADUATE IN TWO YEARS WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND IN SOME CASES THEY CAN GRADUATE WITH THEIR ASSOCIATES DEGREE FROM ANY OF OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

AND, SO, FOR US, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S INVESTING INTO OUR STUDENTS.

THAT'S TWO YEARS THAT THEIR PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR COLLEGE TUITION AND FEES, NOR PLACE FOR THEM TO LIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE AT HOME.

NOW WE SAY YOU ONLY HAVE TWO YEARS THAT YOU CAN GO AND COMPLETE YOUR FOUR-YEAR DEGREE AND HOPEFULLY STAY AND DO ANOTHER TWO YEARS AND GET THAT SECOND DEGREE AND GET INTO THOSE HIGH DEMAND CAREERS WITH THOSE HIGH-PAYING JOBS THAT WE SO -- WE NEED YOU IN GEORGIA.

WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE OUR FOLKS.

>> YEAH.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE INCREASE, HUGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO RECOGNIZE THAT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL THIS IS A GOOD THING.

>> IT'S NOT ONLY A GOOD THING, BUT WE EVEN HAVE GONE ONE STEP FURTHER IN THE -- LAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY HAD A BILL WHERE WE INCREASED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD DUEL ENROLLMENT AND WHAT WE CALL THE HOPE GRANT.

THE HOPE GRANT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE GRANT FUNDS ON THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM FOR CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER TYPE DEGREES THAT WILL PUT A SKILLED WORKER INTO THE MARKETPLACE.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, EMT.

THERE IS A CERTIFICATION FOR THAT.

YOU CAN USE YOUR HOPE GRANT FOR THAT ALONGSIDE USING YOUR DUEL ENROLLMENT AND SAY IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO NURSING, YOU COULD HAVE YOUR DEGREE FOR NURSING AND YOUR ASSOCIATES AND THEN GET THE DUEL ENROLLMENT MAYBE IN MAYBE EMT CERTIFICATION.

USE THAT HOPE GRANT.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN GEORGIA HAVE ACCESS TO OPERATING INSIDE OF THEIR DREAMS, INSIDE OF THEIR TALENTS, AND THEN MEETING US IN THE MARKETPLACE SO THAT WE HAVE GREAT HEALTH CARE.

>> I CAN HEAR YOUR PASSION IN ALL OF THIS.

SB 86 IS THE BILL THAT DEALS WITH THAT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WE'LL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.

I WANT TO GET INTO A FEW BUDGET ITEMS THAT YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT AND ONE OF THEM DEALS WITH MATERNAL MORTALITY.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR -- WHERE YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT.

>> MATERNAL MORTALITY IS DEFINITELY A CRISIS THAT HAS BUBBLED UP IN GEORGIA.

IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE EVERY DAY DURING THE FIRST WEEK BACK.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THAT FROM 19 -- FROM 2020 TO 2024 THAT THERE'S A REPORT THAT HAS COME OUT FROM OUR OWN DPH THAT SAYS THAT THE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IN GEORGIA IS CONTINUING TO GET HIGHER.

WOMEN ARE CONTINUING TO DIE.

AND 76% IS PROBABLY PREVENTABLE.

SO, THAT'S WHERE THE CRISIS IS.

WHAT COULD BE PREVENTED AND HOW DO WE NOW TAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MATERNAL MORTALITY REPORT FROM DPH AND PUT THOSE INTO EFFECT INSIDE OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEMS AND TO HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE WHO ARE CONNECTING INTO THAT SPACE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHILD WHERE THERE'S COMPLICATIONS BUT WHERE WE HAVE THE MEDICAL CARE TO TREAT THEM.

DONNA, DID YOU KNOW THAT OVER 60 OF OUR COUNTIES DO NOT HAVE AN OB/GYN?

OVER 60.

>> YESTERDAY WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE ON AND THERE IS -- THERE IS A LEGISLATION THAT CAME LAST YEAR AND CONTINUING TO GO INTO RURAL AREAS AND VISIT HOMES TO TRY TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS, TRY TO HELP SOME OF THE NEW MOTHERS AND THE INFANTS.

SO, WE'RE SEEING THAT.

ANY OTHER IDEAS YOU'VE SEEN OUT THERE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO HELP?

>> WE HAVE JUST DONE AN AMAZING BILL WHERE WE EXPANDED MEDICAID FOR ONE YEAR POSTPARTUM.

WE HAD WOMEN WHO WERE DYING POSTPARTUM.

NOW WITH THEM BEING ABLE TO STAY ON MEDICAID FOR UP TO A YEAR, WE HOPE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE HEALTH CARE THAT THOSE WOMEN NEED TO ACTUALLY STAY ALIVE AND TO ALSO BE THE MOTHER THAT THEY WANT TO BE TO THEIR CHILD.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WHEN THERE'S ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY, THROUGHOUT THE BIRTHING PERIOD AND POSTPARTUM UP TO A YEAR, THEN THE REDUCTION OF MATERNAL MORTALITY HAPPENS.

THAT USUALLY ARE PEOPLE IN THE AREA OF MID WIVES AND DULAS.

SO WE NEED TO REALLY UPDATE MEDICAID SO THAT OUR MEDICAID SUPPORTS THOSE PARTICULAR MID WIVES AND DULAS AND GIVE THEM WHAT WE WOULD CALL A MARKETPLACE RATE TO BE IN THAT SPACE TO HELP MOTHERS BRING THEIR BABIES FORTH.

>> YOU'RE WORKING ON FROM BERTH THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE DOING IT.

I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO COME ON THE SHOW TODAY.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> HOPE TO HAVE YOU BACK TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU'RE DOING SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMING UP -- >> ONE IN THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TODAY ARE LOSING THEIR LIFE TO SUICIDE.

AND PTSD, IF YOU WORK IN OUR PROFESSION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PTSD.

>> TWO GEORGIA LAWMAKERS TALK ABOUT THE TRAUMA THEY FACE AS FIRST RESPONDERS.

THEY WANT LEGISLATION PASSED TO HELP REDUCE THE STIGMA FOR THOSE IN THE PROFESSION.

>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

FOOD AND FIBER REPRESENTS $74 BILLION IN GEORGIA ECONOMY.

THE FARM BUREAU ELECTIVE 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.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AVOIDANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SYMPTOMS OF OCCUPATIONAL POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, PTSD.

FIRST RESPONDERS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, EMTs ALL EXPERIENCE TRAGIC, COMPLEX CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THEM DEVELOPING THE DISORDER.

TONIGHT TWO LAWMAKERS WHO HAD LONG CAREERS AS FIRST RESPONDERS TALK ABOUT WHY THEY WANT TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE WORKING IN THIS FIELD.

DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DEXTER SHARPER HAS BEEN AN EMT FOR 30 YEARS.

BUT WE FIRST HEAR FROM REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DEVIN SEBAW.

>> ONE IN THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TODAY ARE LOSING THEIR LIFE TO SUICIDE.

AND PTSD, IF YOU WORK IN OUR PROFESSION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PTSD.

WE SEE THINGS THAT HUMANS JUST SHOULD NOT SEE.

AND THERE'S DIFFERENT TRIGGERS, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CAREER.

I CONSIDER MYSELF A PTSD SURVIVOR.

YOU KNOW, I CAN RIDE AROUND TOWN AND SEE THINGS AND REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

BEFORE I CAN PROCESS THAT AND MOVE ON.

AND SOME PEOPLE CAN'T.

SOME PEOPLE IT'S VERY DEBILITATING AND SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T GO ON AND THEY'RE COMMITTING SUICIDE.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CALLS THAT I'VE SEEN, THINGS I'VE SEEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT NEVER LEAVES YOUR MIND.

30 YEARS LATER.

BUT I CAN GO BACK TO THAT IN MY MIND.

WE SEE A LOT.

REMEMBER, WE'RE FIRST ON SCENE.

MAYBE THE NURSES AND DOCTORS, THEY DON'T SEE THE SAME THING WE SEE WHEN YOU SEEING CARS TORE UP AND BODIES AND TRAINS RUN OVER THEIR ARM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, KIDS, A LOT OF TIMES KIDS ARE THE WORST.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR LIVES, THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAVE BEFORE US.

YOU KNOW?

TELL YOU OR ASKING YOU, HEY, AM I GOING TO DIE?

THE ONLY THING YOU CAN SAY, NO, BABY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE OKAY EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW THEIR SITUATION IS TERRIBLY BAD.

SO, I JUST GAVE YOU SOME, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT'S IN MY MIND STILL.

BUT I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED BECAUSE EMS AND OTHERS, YOU KNOW, FIRST RESPONDERS GO THROUGH A LOT THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE.

YOU SEE THEM IN THE EVERY DAY LIFE THAT YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN.

THAT STUFF IS STILL IN YOUR MIND.

>> ONE OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IS I PICKED UP WHEN I WAY GEORGIA STATE TROOPER, HE WRECKED AND DIED AND TOOK US A WHILE TO CUT HIM OUT OF THE CAR.

YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS, THEY JUST WEIGH ON YOU.

AND WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY'S KID THAT IS KILLED IN A CAR WRECK AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GO AND SEE THE PARENTS AND THEIR REACTIONS, IT'S JUST EMOTIONALLY TAXING.

>> IT'S VERY TRAUMATIC.

EVEN WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MILITARY AND IN THE FIELD, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAUMA.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAUMATIC THINGS YOU SEE.

YOU MAY GO TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEONE.

BUT SEEING SAFETY IS FIRST.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO HELP SOMEBODY, THERE MAY BE SOMEONE STILL ON THE SCENE THAT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO HURT THAT PERSON.

SO, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCENE IS SAFE BUT THE THINGS WE SEE, A LOT OF PEOPLE -- I'LL HONESTLY SAY, SOME PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY WON'T SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE.

YOU KNOW?

BECAUSE YOU CAN KIND OF VISUALIZE SOMETIMES WHAT PEOPLE CAN SEE IN THE MILITARY AND, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT MAY BE HURT AND CASUALTIES.

BUT WHEN YOU GO TO A DOMESTIC HOME JUST LIKE YOUR HOME AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY EITHER, YOU KNOW, HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE MAYBE BY GUN, BY HANGING, THESE THINGS, THEY NEVER LEAVE YOUR MIND.

BECAUSE BY ME TALKING ABOUT IT NOW, MY MIND WENT TO ABOUT THREE HANGINGS THAT I'VE SEEN AND I MY FACE AND THE WAY THEY WERE, WHETHER IT WAS A BARN OR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE I SAW THESE THINGS.

SO IT STAYS IN YOUR MIND.

I MEAN IT'S NEEDED.

I DEAL WITH IT.

IT NEVER LEAVES MY MIND.

A LITTLE GIRL, SHE WANTED TO OPEN UP HER CHRISTMAS PRESENT THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

AND THE DAD TOLD HER, NO, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT.

WE'RE GOING TO WAIT.

WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW.

YOU KNOW.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

RIGHT AFTER MIDNIGHT ON CHRISTMAS, WE GET TO THE HOME AND THAT CHILD, YOU KNOW, SHE HAD BEEN GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS AS A CHILD, YOU KNOW, TERMINAL SITUATION.

THE BUT SHE WAS UP AND SHE COULD TALK.

YOU KNOW, SHE HAD A TUBE WHERE SHE COULD BE ABLE TO STILL TALK AND EVERYTHING.

SO WE GOT TO THAT HOME AND IT IS LIKE AFTER MIDNIGHT AND THEY SAID SHE'S NOT BREATHING.

WE GET THERE TO THAT HOME AND BEGIN TO TRY TO WORK ON HER BECAUSE WE CAME OUT EARLIER TO CHECK ON HER.

BUT THEY SAY, WELL, SHE'LL BE FINE.

AND SHE WAS LIKE FINE.

I STILL WANT TO OPEN MY LITTLE PRESENT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

SO WE WENT TO THE HOUSE AND CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE AFTER MIDNIGHT AND ALL I COULD SEE IS THE FACT THAT FATHER OVER THERE CRYING SAYING SHE JUST WANTED TO OPEN UP ONE OF HER PRESENTS AND I TOLD HER NO.

I TOLD HER NO.

SO, THE FACT THAT WE WENT OUT, EVERYTHING SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE BETTER.

GO BACK TO THE HOME, SHE WASN'T -- SHE WASN'T AUTOMOBILE TO OPEN THAT ONE PRESENT THAT SHE WANTED TO WAIT -- YOU KNOW, TO OPEN UP BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

SHE WASN'T ABLE TO OPEN IT UP.

AND SO ME SEEING THAT, AND THAT HAPPENED ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO.

OKAY?

IT'S STILL IN MY MIND.

THE I NEVER FORGET THAT.

WHEN MY DAD WOULD ASK ME, DAD, CAN I OPEN UP ONE OF MY GIFTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS?

I DID IT.

I DON'T WANT THAT SITUATION TO HAPPEN THAT I DIDN'T LET THEM DO SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

>> THERE IS A STIGMA WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT ON THEIR RECORD AS GETTING HELP FOR SEEING A PSYCHOLOGIST OR A COUNSELLOR.

SO THIS BILL WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.

NOT BEING SECRET, BUT IT WILL GIVE THEM A ONE-TIME CASH BEN -- BENEFIT OF $10,000.

FOR THE FIRST 90 DAYS, THEY CAN GET HELP.

AFTER 90 DAYS, A THREE YEAR BENEFIT WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING FOR THREE YEARS.

>> THE KEY IS THIS FEAR OF PEOPLE FINDING OUT ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, I WOULD THINK FIRST RESPONDERS, MALE AND FEMALE, ARE THE TOUGH PEOPLE.

AND THEY WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THEY'RE TOUGH.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HESITANT TO COME FORWARD AND SAY I NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS.

AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HELP.

I TALKED TO A LOT OF FIRST RESPONDERS.

WE GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT BEHIND THIS BILL THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION, THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, OUR FIRE AND POLICE CHIEF ASSOCIATIONS ARE ALL BEHIND THIS.

THEY KNOW THIS IS GOING TO SAVE LIVES IN THE LONG RUN.

>> THEY FEEL THAT WE KIND OF TOUGH AND WE GO THROUGH AIN'T MAKE IT THROUGH AND WE PUSH THROUGH IT.

BUT ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS GO TO YOUR SUPERVISOR AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY BRIEF ABOUT IT AND IN HOUSE, YOU KNOW, HOSPITAL MAY OFFER SOME TYPE OF SERVICES.

YOU KNOW, GET YOU COUNSELLING.

I THINK IT'S NEEDED ON GRAINEDER -- A GRANDER SCALE.

THE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT OUT A WHOLE LOT MORE.

THE BILL IS GOING TO BE A GOOD BILL.

IT'S NEEDED.

WE JUST THINK THAT ALL OF OUR RESPONDERS ARE NOT HUMAN MUCH BUT WE ARE HUMAN JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS.

IT'S NEEDED.

I HOPE IT GETS PASSED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE -- YOU GOT TO KNOW THAT ALSO A LOT OF YOUR EMS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS, THEY WORK SEVERAL JOBS.

SO ON TOP OF SEEING WHAT THEY SEE AND THE PHYSICAL, YOU KNOW, THE PHYSICAL STRENGTH THAT IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB WELL, YOU GOT TO DO THAT.

I'VE SEEN WHERE SOME, YOU KNOW, PARAMEDICS, WE'RE WORKING ON A CALL AND THIS WAS A LITTLE BABY.

A LITTLE TINY LITTLE BABY.

WE WENT TO THE HOME AND IT WAS LIKE WE CHECKED THEM.

CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT.

THE BABY HAD PASSED AWAY RIGHT THERE AS SOON AS WE GOT THERE.

THE BABY WAS GONE.

AND ONE OF MUST COLLEAGUES, A FEMALE, SHE BROKE DOWN, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE.

SHE WAS A YOUNG MOTHER.

AND SHE COULD ONLY IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING TO HER CHILD.

AND IT WAS REALLY -- IT WAS REALLY TRAUMATIC FOR HER.

IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC FOR HER.

I THINK SHORTLY AFTER THAT SHE GOT -- SHE WAS NO LONGER A PARAMEDIC.

IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH SITUATION.

SO, THEREFORE, THEY HAVE THE FUNDS THAT CAN HELP US WITH THIS.

I THINK ANOTHER THING IS IF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT HERE AND, YOU KNOW, RESPONDERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, IF THEY DON'T GET IT TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE STIGMATIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, YEAH I NEED TO SEE SOMEONE ABOUT MY MENTAL HEALTH.

BUT IF THEY CAN JUST SAY, I NEED TO SEE SOMEONE ABOUT MY PTSD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT MAY BE BETTER.

IT IS PART OF A MENTAL SITUATION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S NEEDED.

IT'S GOING TO HELP THEM LAST LONGER KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE THIS HELP IN BEING A FIRST RESPONDER.

A LOT OF US WE LOVE WHAT WE DO.

WE LOVE IT.

WE DON'T DO IT FOR THE MONEY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO DO IT.

BUT WE LOVE IT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKEN CARE INFORM OUR MENTAL CAPACITIES.

BUT WE NEED THE HELP.

WE NEED IT.

>> SO THERE WILL BE A SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFIT.

THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFIT IN YOUR MEDICAL POLICY WOULD COVER SAY UP TO 80% OF IT.

THIS WOULD KICK IN AND COVER THOSE OUT OF POCKET COSTS WHETHER THAT IS FOR MEDICINE OR DAYCARE OR GAS TO GET TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

WE HAD AN OFFICER THAT WATCHED HER PARTNER GET SHOT.

SHE HAD A REAL HARD TIME WITH IT.

SHE CAME OUT OF POCKET ABOUT $35,000 TO GET THE HELP SHE NEEDED TO RETURN TO DUTY.

SHE RETURNED TO DUTY AND DOING QUITE WELL.

BUT IT WAS A SACRIFICE TO HER AND HER FAMILY FINANCIALLY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S NOT STOPPING PEOPLE FROM SEEKING TREATMENT.

>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com