>>> IT IS TIME FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO HAVE TO NOT HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY HAVE THE WILL TO LIVE OR THEY HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT COMES TO ONE THEY DECIDE TO NOT SEEK TREATMENT.

>> ONE AND A POLICE OFFICER TELLS A HOUSE COMMITTEE ABOUT HER TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, WATCHING HER PARTNER GET SHOT AND DIE.

SHE'S THE REASON THERE'S A LEGISLATION TO HELP FIRST RESPONDERS WITH PTSD.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON DAY EIGHT OF THE ASSEMBLY.

TONIGHT SHOW IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM OFFICER WILL SOME AND ONE OF THE SAFETY HOMELAND COMMITTEE WILL JOIN US.

FIRST, WE GET A WRAP UP FROM OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT, SARAH KALLIS.

>> Reporter: HI, DONNA.

TODAY THEY ACKNOWLEDGE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY WITH THE DEBUT OF A NEW CAMPAIGN.

BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS GAVE CONFERENCES THIS AFTERNOON TO ADDRESS SOME PRIORITIES THIS SESSION.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BURNS ANNOUNCED MAJOR TAX LEGISLATION HELP THAT HELP THING GEORGE'S POCKETBOOKS, ONE OF THE BILLS IS TO INCREASE TAX DEDUCTION FROM $3000 TO $4000.

>> CHILDCARE CALLS ARE HERE WITH US EVERY DAY AND WE'RE ALL THAT THE DOLLARS DEDUCTION PER CHILD WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE COSTS FOR THE PARENTS.

>> ANOTHER WOULD DOUBLE THE EXEMPTION FROM $2000 TO $4000.

HE HOPES TO INCREASE WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR GEORGIANS TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS.

THE THIRD BILL WILL REMOVE THE CAP ON SHORTFALL RESERVES.

GOVERNOR KEMP REQUESTED LET LEGISLATION.

>> WHICH WILL ALLOW OUR STATE SAVE RESPONSIBILITY, HELD OUR RESERVES AND PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO GEORGIA FAMILIES BOTH IN THE SHORT-TERM AND THE LONG-TERM FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS IT IS TODAY.

>> A FINAL BILL WILL AFFIRM THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED INCOME TAX CUT, THE NEW FLAT RATE IS 5.39%, DOWN FROM FIVE POINT 49.

>> RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR FAMILIES THAN HIGHER PRICES, AND AS A RESULT OF SOME THINGS FROM WASHINGTON WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, WITH A 40 YEAR HIGH INFLATION RATES.

>> THEY ALSO HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO PUSH FOR COMMITTEE HEARING FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

DEMOCRATS FILED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND IN BOTH CHAMBERS, THE BILLS WERE ASSIGNED TO A REPUBLICAN LED COMMITTEE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE HEARING.

>> AMERICA WAS FOUNDED AS A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY BUT THEY ARE NOT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE.

MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE IGNORING THE FACT AND SILENCING THE GEORGIA CITIZENS WHO ELECT THEM.

>> IN THE HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE KATY DEMPSEY UNVEILED A NEW MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HOTLINE PROMOTION .

FEATURING A FAMILIAR BASE FROM AROUND THE CAPITAL.

FIRST LADY MARTY CAMP.

>> IN THE COMING WEEKS, YOU WILL SEE ADVERTISEMENTS AROUND OUR GEORGIA PROMOTING THE TREMENDOUS RESOURCE AND TO HELP EACH OF US SPREAD THAT WORD AND HELP PEOPLE FIND ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES.

THIS MORNING, I'D LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE VIDEO SCREEN FOR ONE OF THESE MESSAGES THAT YOU WILL BE SEEING , THIS ONE FEATURES OUR VERY OWN FIRST LADY, MARTY CAMP.

>> I'M GEORGIA FIRST LADY, MARTY CAMP, AS A MONTH TO THREE DOLLARS, I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW HARD IT IS FOR KIDS THESE DAYS, THEY ARE FACING A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT WE DID NOT FACE GROWING UP.

IT'S NOT JUST OUR YOUTH, IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE OR WORRIED ABOUT A LOVED ONE OR WOULD LIKE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, HELP IS AVAILABLE 24-7, CALL OR TEXT 988.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.

THERE IS HOPE.

CALL OR TEXT 988, IT'S CONFIDENTIAL.

>>> ALSO, THE EMBATTLED DISTRICT MAP WAS DEBATED TODAY.

A NEW REPUBLICAN DRAWN MAP WAS BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR, THE DISTRICT MAP HAS BEEN IN LITIGATION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AFTER THE FIRST MAP WAS CHALLENGED BY THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER, THE ACLU AND RESIDENTS WITH CLAIMS OF PACKING PEOPLE OF COLOR INTO THREE DISTRICTS.

FIGHTING BETWEEN THE EDUCATION AND THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE COMPLICATED THE ISSUE.

BUT A RECENT FEDERAL COURT DECISION ORDERED THE LEGISLATURE TO DRAW A NEW MAP.

>> IN THIS PROCESS, WE HAD MEETINGS AMONG LEGISLATURES, THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF SESSION, WE HAD TWO MEETINGS.

OPEN MEETINGS, AND BIPARTISAN GROUP AMONG OUR LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.

AND WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS THE PRODUCT OF FALL THOUGHTFUL WORK TO ADDRESS THE PROVISIONS OF THE JUDGE'S ORDER AND REINFORCEMENT OF COMPACTNESS AND CORE ATTENTION , MINIMIZING SPLIT PRECINCTS, AND THOUGHTFUL OF THINGS THAT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST IN DEFINED AREAS AND A MAP THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF AND POST MAP IN THIS BILL, DOES NOT ADEQUATELY RESTORE VOTING POWER TO BLACK AND HISPANIC VOTERS THAT WERE INJURED LEGALLY BY THE 2022 MAPS.

INSTEAD, IT PERPETUATE THE BALANCE OF POWER AND MY APPS CREATED.

THE EMPOWERMENT OF WHITE WHITE VOTERS.

>> THE BILL WHAT IS ENGROSSED BEFORE A PAST 32-19 AMONG PARTY LINES.

OF YOUNGER LAWMAKERS CALLING THEMSELVES THE FUTURE CAUCUS.

MADE UP OF LEGISLATURES UNDER AGE 45 WHO SAY THEY WILL WORK IN A MORE BIPARTISAN FASHION IN ISSUES THAT AFFECT SUBJECT TO YOUR GENERATION.

THAT'S ALL FOR MY REPORT, I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW ONE DAY NUMBER NINE.

>>> THANKS TO SARAH KALLIS FOR THAT WRAPUP.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A TOP CONCERN IN EACH SESSION AND TONIGHT WE WILL LOOK AT SEVERAL ISSUES WITH LEGISLATURES THAT CONSIDERING.

JOINING ME IS LAWMAKER TO CRADDICK -- >>> AND IS THE FOUNDING PARTNER IN HIS LAW FIRM, WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS .

>> I WANT TO ADD THAT WE ALSO INVITED THE MAJORITY WHIP FOR THE SENATE, RANDY ROBERTSON, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT, BUT WE HOPE TO HAVE HIM ON AT SOME POINT IN THE SHOW.

SO WE HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THINGS AND I WANT TO START WITH SOMETHING THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN, AT 7:00 AM THIS MORNING THERE WAS A JAIL , THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE THAT THE SENATE CREATED HAD A MEETING AND IT WAS CREATED LAST YEAR THIS PARTICULAR SUBCOMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH THE 10th THAT AT THE FULTON COUNTY DEATH LAST YEAR.

THERE HAS BEEN ONE DEATH THIS MONTH, THAT'S 11 IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

SO I WANT TO PLAY A PORTION OF TODAY'S SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING WHERE FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF PAT THE BLACK SPOKE WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC SAFETY ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS IN THE GEL FROM THE HIGH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE TOP MAN WAS 600 INDIVIDUAL.

>> HE PICKED OUT AT 3600.

THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY PRODUCTION.

IT'S CLOSE TO 30%.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE OTHER PEOPLE WITH OTHER PEOPLE LISTENING AND I WOULD IMPLORE OUR FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA THAT ALWAYS LIKE TO REPORT THE BAD NEWS , AND NOT THE GOOD NEWS.

THIS NEEDS TO BE REPORTED.

THE SIGNIFICANT TEAMWORK AND PROGRESS IS IN PLAY AND YOU NOW ARE AT A CAPACITY THAT WE FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH AND STILL WORKING ON AND CERTAINLY, WE ALL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

>> SO QUITE A FEW PEOPLE STILL IN THE JAIL, BUT IT IS AT LEAST A WORK REDUCING THE NUMBER.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT , YOU'RE IN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE HAS SUBCOMMITTEE, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT APPROACHING IT THAT WAY?

>> THAT IS CERTAINLY THE PREROGATIVE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED .

WHAT I WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED AND RECOMMENDED HOWEVER, I'M IN THE MINORITY PARTY , SO I MY INFLUENCE IS LIMITED SO I WOULD SUGGEST DOING IT STATEWIDE.

GEORGIA HAS A PROBLEM WITH PRISON SAFETY AND JAIL SAFETY ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT'S IS WE HAVE TO HAVE SAFETY FOR THOSE THAT WORK IN THOSE INSTITUTIONS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE SAFETY FOR PRISONERS AS WELL.

RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T .

WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS WE TAKE A VERY ARTICLE I AND HIGHER PERHAPS AN AUDIT FIRM TO COME IN AND EXAMINE HOW WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WELL AND POORLY AND WHAT WE NEED TO ACHIEVE .

I AM NOT SURE THAT THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY COMMITTEE WILL BE THAT HELPFUL IN TERMS OF STATE-LEVEL POLICY, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED BECAUSE GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING.

>> WHAT CAN A STATE-LEVEL COMMITTEE DO?

CAN THE STATE ABLE TO GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT A LOCAL CONCERN?

>> IT CAN.

WE CAN INFLUENCE LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL IN TERMS OF POLICY AND WE CAN ALSO POTENTIALLY PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES .

WHAT WE FREQUENTLY HERE AT THE STATE LEVEL IN TERMS OF CORRECTIONS, OR A COUPLE THINGS, ONE IS THE PAY HAS BEEN REALLY LOW FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THOSE INSTITUTIONS , COUPLED WITH ITS QUITE DANGEROUS.

ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS ARE THERE THINGS WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION, IN TERMS OF BUILDING, IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY?

THAT CAN MAKE THE PLACE FOR.

YOU DON'T HEAR THAT MUCH ABOUT THAT FOR THE MOST PART, WE G'S JUST KEEP WRITING ALONG AND THERE'S NO DEEPS OF DESICCATED INQUIRY IN TERMS OF CAUSES AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX THESE THINGS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GETTING BETTER BUT A LONG WAY TO GO.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BILLS YOU ARE CAUSE SPONSORING AND THAT IS THE PEDIATRIC HEALTH STORAGE ACT FOR GUNS.

HB 161, TELL US WHAT THAT IS ALL ABOUT.

>> THIS BILL IS A VERY SIMPLE IDEA AND IT'S TO TRY TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE FROM GUN VIOLENCE.

THE IMPETUS BEHIND IT , I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO MY HOUSE COLLEAGUE, DR. ALOU HAS BEEN AT CHAMPION OF TRYING TO IMPROVE SAFETY WITH RESPECT TO FIREARMS TO MAKE IT SO THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE FIREARMS HAVE TO SECURE THEM SAFELY , IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF CHILDREN.

AND THERE'S A CRIMINAL COMPONENT TO THE BILL , SOMEONE IF SOMEONE DID NOT DO THAT.

IT'S KIND OF COMMON SENSE, IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE FIREARMS AND THEY DON'T HURT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

I THINK THE BILL PROMPTED A RESPONSE BILL BILL FROM THE MAJORITY PARTY AND THAT BILL WILL HAVE A TAX CREDIT FOR CONTAINERS THAT SECURE FIREARMS.

INSTEAD OF HAVING PUNITIVE, WITH A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL PENALTY, IT WOULD BE AN INCENTIVE TO A TAX CREDIT.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET TO THE OUTCOME THAT WE WANT WHICH IS TO REDUCE OVERALL GUN VIOLENCE, I THINK IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED .

>> I KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE AL WAS SURPRISED LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WAS A HEARING DO YOU THINK THERE'S A BILL FROM THE MAJORITY PARTY BECAUSE OF THAT?

>> I THINK IT PROMPTED IT FOR SURE.

THE QUESTION WILL BE , HOW FAR IT MOVES.

THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY, AN ELECTION YEAR, SO WE WILL SEE IF IT'S A GOOD IDEA OR IF IT WOULD BE DEFEATED BY POLITICS.

>> I WANT TO GET INTO ANOTHER THING, YOUR THOUGHTS ON A BILL THAT MIGHT BE THAT YOU DID NOT VOTE ON AND THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH CONTRABAND AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.

TALK ABOUT THE BILL A BIT AND WHY YOU VOTED NO.

>> THERE'S BEEN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CONTRABAND IN PRISONS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT PARTICULARLY CELL PHONES AND DRONES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WOULD INCREASE THE PENALTIES WOULD PRESUMABLY THE IDEA OF BEING THAT THE HIGHER THE PENALTY THE LESS LIKELY IT WOULD BE FOR THIS ACTIVITY TO THIS GETS TO THE POINT THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, IN TERMS OF , TAKING PLACE WITH THE CORRECTION SYSTEM BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO NINE TO KNOW WHAT THE REAL DRIVERS AS TO WHY THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ARE BREAKING THE LAW AND HELPING FACILITATE CONTRABAND.

>> THEY ARE BRINGING IN CELL PHONES, BRINGING IN CIGARETTES AND OTHER THINGS, THEY ARE THERE ARE DRONES BRINGING IN THINGS, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY, WHY ARE PEOPLE DOING THAT?

IS IT BECAUSE THEY ARE PAID TOO LITTLE AND SUPPLEMENTING INCOME OR ARE THEY DOING IT FOR MONEY SAY ?

ARE THEY DOING IT BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING THREATENED AND THERE FAMILIES BEING THREATENED, IT IS AN ISSUE OF TRYING TO PRESERVE THEIR OWN SECURITY?

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

IT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO EXAMINE.

THERE MAIN REASON I VOTED AGAINST IT WAS BECAUSE IT HAS MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE DISCRETION OF THE JUDICIARY TO CONSIDER A MULTITUDE OF FACTORS WHEN RENDERING AT SENTENCING.

THE BEHAVIOR IS WRONG, YES, DO I THINK THE POLICY TO END IT IS THE BEST POLICY, NO.

>> THE BILL IS HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO SIGN.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL SAFETY LEGISLATION.

HE HAS A BUNCH OF INITIATIVES.

ONE OF THEM IS OUT OF THE BUDGET OF $45,000 TO GO INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL A LINE ITEM EVERY YEAR TO GO INTO SCHOOLS FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH SCHOOL SAFETY.

>> I'LL START BY SAYING , I THINK EVERYBODY WISHES THIS MONEY WASN'T NEEDED .

I THINK IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL AND DON'T HAVE SAFETY ASSURED.

I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN REALLY TALK ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN A LARGER SENSE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE DON'T DO , UNFORTUNATELY.

I WISH WE WOULD.

MEASURES TO INCREASE THE SECURITY OF OUR SCHOOLS.

I REALLY WISH WE DID NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.

BUT WE DO, SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS , HARDENING THEM, BUT WITH THAT, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, WHAT ARE THE MISSIONS OF ITS PLACES?

THE MISSION IS TO EDUCATE KIDS.

WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE ATMOSPHERE OF BEING A PLACE THAT KIDS WANT TO BE AND THEY CAN THRIVE AND THE FOCUS IS ON EDUCATION.

COUPLING AND FIGURING OUT A WAY TO HAVE A GOOD MARRIAGE BETWEEN A GREAT EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO.

>> THERE IS AN EFFORT TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A BILL THAT INCENTIVIZES TEACHERS TO CARRY WEAPONS , YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK THAT'S A DISASTER.

>> THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

>> TEACHERS ARE GOING INTO THE TEACHING PROFESSION TO TEACH.

THERE MAY BE SOME INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS THAT FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE AND CAPABLE OF HAVING A FIREARM IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT I THINK IF YOU WERE PULLED THEM, VAST MAJORITY WOULD NOT WANT THAT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER LAYER ANOTHER DYNAMIC WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.

MUCH BETTER APPROACH IS TO HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED WITH FIREARMS.

I WILL NOT TRY TO DO POLICY MEETING BY ANECDOTE BUT I WILL SHARE.

I'M VETERAN AND DEPLOY THREE TIMES.

I HAVE UNDERSTANDING OF FIREARMS.

IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORLD FROM GOING TO THE GUN RANGE AND FIRING WEAPON AND THEN BEING IN SITUATION WHERE SOMEBODY IS SHOOTING AT YOU.

YOU WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRAINING AND ALSO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THEMSELVES IN A CALM MANNER.

WHEN IT'S AN EMERGENCY CRISIS SITUATION.

I JUST DON'T KNOW , EVERYTHING WE PUT ON CHILDREN OR TEACHERS ALREADY, STACKING THIS ON THEM AS WELL AS, NOT THE BEST THING TO DO.

I HAD A , I REMEMBER AFTER SANDY HOOK, THAT WAS A BRILLIANT IDEA ON HOW TO FIX SCHOOL SECURITY IN GEORGIA, I AM NOT CONVINCED.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND STICKING AROUND.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE WITH YOU ABOUT A FEW THINGS, THANKS FOR STICKING AROUND FOR THE REST OF THE SHOW.

IT'S A PROBLEM PLAGUING GEORGIA'S FIRST RESPONDERS.

POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, PTSD.

WHAT A POLICE OFFICER WHO SUFFERS FROM PTSD TOLD LAWMAKERS AT A HEARING TODAY.

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

WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE, AFTER ALL, ADD IS GEORGE'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY, FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENT BILLIONS OF THE OUTPUT ECONOMY AND THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR- ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

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

FIRST AN UPDATE ON THE ISSUE WE EXPLORED YESTERDAY, BUILT TO PROVIDE ALL HEALTH HELP TO FIRST RESPONDERS WHO EXPERIENCED PTSD.

THE HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE HAD A HEARING ON HB 451 TODAY.

OFFICER ASHLEY WILSON TOLD THE PANEL ABOUT THE TRAUMA SHE EXPERIENCED AFTER HER PARTNER WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN 2018.

>> I DID CPR ON HIM ALL THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.

I HELD HIS HAND IN THE TRAUMA ROOM.

WHILE THEY RENDERED AID.

UNTIL FINALLY THEY CALLED IT THEY SAID, OUR FRIEND WHO WE HAD JUST CELEBRATED HIS 30th BIRTHDAY , THREE DAYS PRIOR, WE JUST GONE OUT FOR TACOS AND BEER, WAS GONE.

AND SOMEHOW, WE HAD TO CALL HIS MAMA, IN CALIFORNIA, AND TELL HER , I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT HER , AND I TRIED MY HARDEST, BUT HE DID NOT MAKE IT.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAD TO DO?

WE HAD TO SIT ON PERIMETER , WE HAD TO STAND OVER EVIDENCE, WE HAD THREE DAYS OF A MANHUNT LOOKING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT KILLED HIM.

BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE WANTED TO SIT AT HOME AND CRY MOURN, THERE'S STILL JOB TO DO.

I DID REALLY WELL , I TOOK HIM ALL THE WAY HOME TO CALIFORNIA AND WE BURIED HIM.

BUT WHEN THINGS STOPPED MOVING, MY BRAIN STARTED RACING AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT PTSD WAS, OTHER THAN HAVING A VETERAN FOR A HUSBAND, OF WHAT I THOUGHT PTSD COULD ONLY COME FROM WAR , BUT I HAD FLASHBACKS, I HAD NIGHTMARES THAT I WENT FROM AN IRONMAN TRIATHLETE TO SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLED TO BRING --TO GET OFF THE COUCH.

MY LIFE WAS CRUMBLING AROUND ME.

>> OFFICER ASHLEY WILSON WITH THE GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT TALKING ABOUT A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.

I'M SO GLAD THAT REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OF A LANTE IS WITH US, BECAUSE YOU STAYED WITH US TO THE SHOW AND I APPRECIATE THIS.

YOU ARE ON THE COMMITTEE AND YOU WERE THERE.

WHEN SHE WAS TALKING TODAY.

TALK ABOUT LISTENING TO SOME OF THE TESTIMONY LIKE THAT TODAY.

>> I WAS THERE.

DID A TERRIFIC JOB .

SHARING HER STORY , AS DID THE OTHERS THAT TESTIFIED.

THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON THE FIRST RESPONDERS IS REAL.

IT SIGNIFICANT.

I'M GRATEFUL THAT AS A SOCIETY, WE ARE AT A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE 5 TO 10 YEARS AGO TALKING ABOUT AND HAVING UNDERSTANDING.

BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE THINGS.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SHE FIRST OF ALL, REPRESENTATIVE DEVON SOME THOUGHT YESTERDAY, SAID THAT OFFICER WILSON IS THE ONE WHO CAME TO HIM ABOUT THIS BILL.

SHE HAS BEEN THE IMPETUS FOR THE BILL.

SHE WAS ABLE TO BE THERE TODAY WHEN THE COMMITTEE, SORRY, THE HEALTH COMMITTEE VOTED AND YOU VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PASS THE BILL.

IT MOVES ON.

SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAVE 'S, WE WILL KEEP YOU UP-TO-DATE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE INVOLVING ALL OF THIS.

PUBLIC SAFETY.

SOMETHING THAT NEAR AND DEAR TO YOU.

WHEN YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS A BILL THAT DEALS WITH THE WRONGFUL CONVICTION OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED.

A WRONGFUL CONVICTION COMPENSATION ACT, A BUILDER HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

LAST YEAR, I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND I WANT TO PLAY A LITTLE ABOUT THAT BILL FROM LAST YEAR.

>> WE ARE UP HERE REPRESENTING, WE ARE REPRESENTING HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHEN WE VOTE ON BILLS, THIS IS A ONE-ON- ONE, VERY INTIMATE, VERY, VERY STRESSFUL AND VERY GUTWRENCHING , TIS NOT SO PLEASANT TERMS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO FAIL THEM.

THEY HAVE BEEN FAILED BY THE SYSTEM ALREADY AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE TO FAIL THEM AGAIN .

>> FOR THESE LAWMAKERS, THE BILLS ARE PERSONAL BECAUSE EACH LEGISLATION REPRESENTS ONE PERSON FOR REPRESENTATIVE, -- EXONERATED AFTER 23 YEARS.

>> HE WAS CHARGED IN THE MURDER.

THEY HAD EVIDENCE WITHHELD BY THE DA.

DNA PROVED FINALLY THAT HE WAS NOT THE PERSON.

THAT THEY DO DISREGARDED THE DNA LATER ON.

SUPPOSEDLY, ONE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE LIGHT AT THE TRIAL.

>> FOR REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE BUCKNER, IT IS TELLING OF COOK COUNTY WHO SPENT 40 YEARS IN PRISON BEFORE EXONERATION.

>> THEY WERE NOT ONLY EXONERATED WHICH WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PROCESS , AND THEY HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM BEING IMPRISONED AND THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO GET AWAY TO GET THEMSELVES BACK ON THEIR FEET AND START THEIR LIFE .

>> I'M JUST A REPRESENTATIVE TRYING TO GET WHAT IS RIGHT , A LITTLE JUSTICE AROUND HERE.

AND EVERYBODY THAT DO NOT HAVE A VOICE.

I FEEL LIKE I WAS THE VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE.

>> A VOICE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE.

SO YOU HAVE A BILL , HB FOUR 364 DEALING WITH THIS.

TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE FROM ONE LAWMAKER DEALING WITH ONE PERSON, TO A COMMITTEE OF SOME SORT ?

>> THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS NOW FOR THOSE WHO ARE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE THOSE WHO ARE TRULY INNOCENT , NOT SOME TYPE OF LEGAL TECHNICALITY BUT TRULY INNOCENT AND SPENT 10 TO 5th , 20, 25 YEARS IN PRISON.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMPENSATE THESE PEOPLE.

THE WAY IT WORKS RIGHT NOW IS INDIVIDUAL WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY CONVICTED HAS TO FIND A LEGISLATURE, HAVE THAT LEGISLATOR FILE A BILL AND HAS TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.

THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS MAKING THESE DECISIONS.

WHAT I HEARD FROM MANY OF MY REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING THESE DECISIONS AND EXAMINING WHAT TOOK PLACE IN PRETTY COMPLEX CRIMINAL TRIALS AND MAKING JUDGMENTS.

THERE'S BROAD CONSENSUS THAT WE NEED TO COMPENSATE, SO WHAT I PROPOSED IN A AND I AM GRATEFUL TO CHAIRMAN HOUSTON AND REPRESENTATIVE BUCKNER WHO IS MY SEATMATE AND OTHERS WHO WORKED ON THIS AS WELL, WE'RE TRYING TO DO HAVE A COMMISSION AN EXPERT, TO REVIEW THE CASES .

FIRST, MAKE SURE THEY WERE IN FACT, INNOCENT AND SECONDLY, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMPENSATION.

THERE'S A BIT OF HOUSE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE SENATE.

ONE THING I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE SENATE LAST, THE HOUSE PASSED IT AND THE HOUSE DID NOT END THE SUBCOMMITTEE , HE WAS PASSED IN THE SENATE CHANGE THEIR RANGE FOR POTENTIAL COMPENSATION FROM 50 TO 100,000, FROM 60 TO 100,000.

HE THOUGHT THE COMPENSATION BETWEEN 50 AND 100,000 WAS TOO LOW.

FOR TAKING AWAY SOMEONE'S LIBERTY.

I COMMEND HIM FOR THAT.

SO WHERE THE BILL STANDS NOW, IT'S STILL ALIVE AND IT PASSED SUBCOMMITTEE AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT TO FULL COMMITTEE AND THEN SENATE.

THERE'S PRETTY STRONG SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE, IT PASSED LAST YEAR MULTIPLE TIMES.

IT ALSO PASSED IN PRIOR SESSIONS.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE .

IT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THIS WILL AFFECT , BUT KNOWS THAT IT WILL AFFECT WILL MAKE AN INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

COULD YOU IMAGINE BEING WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AND BEING TOLD OKAY, GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE.

>> AND YOU HAVE NO MONEY AND YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT BILL.

WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE TOPIC QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND THAT IS MEDICAID EXPANSION.

>> MEDICAID EXPANSION GETS TALKED ABOUT ALL THE TIME.

WHAT I WANT TO SHARE AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS AND DID SO IN A LIMITED WAY.

WHAT WE DID IS PASS WHAT IS CALLED GEORGIA PATHWAYS AND IT COVERS INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE UP TO 100% OF FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

IF THE STATE WERE TO EXPAND MEDICAID FULLY, WE WOULD COVER THOSE THAT MAKE UP TO 138 PERCENT OF THE POVERTY LEVEL.

HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

GEORGIA PATHWAYS CAN ONLY BE REIMBURSED , IT'S A SHARED SPLIT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

UNDER GEORGIA PATHWAYS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS ROUGHLY 66% WHICH MEANS GEORGIA PAYS 34%.

IF WE WERE TO EXPAND FULLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH PAY 90%, AND GEORGIA WOULD PAY 10%.

WHAT GOVERNOR KEMP AND OTHERS SAID, THEY WOULD SUPPORT GEORGIA PATHWAYS FOR UP TO 345,000 GEORGIANS , IF THAT HAPPENED, THE STATE WOULD PAY $681 MILLION .

IF WE DID FULL MEDICAID EXPANSION, WE CAN ROUGHLY 290 MILLION.

ALMOST A $400 MILLION SAVINGS.

COUPLED WITH , I WILL STOP HERE, THERE'S FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT WILL GIVE US A 5% BOOST ON OUR EXISTING MEDICAID POPULATION FOR TWO YEARS .

THAT'S ESTIMATED $222 MILLION.

THE ECONOMIC CASE, IT'S A NO- BRAINER, SO I HOPE WE DON'T TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE.

>> WILL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

WE ARE HEARING THERE MAY BE APPETITE FOR SOMETHING WITH MEDICAID.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

A FULL HALF HOUR, WE APPRECIATE YOU.

THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS TODAY.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW, THAT IS FOR DAY NUMBER NINE OF THE LEGISLATIVE STATION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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