♪♪ >>> THE MOB WAS A VICTIM OF VIGILANTE STYLE OF VIOLENCE THAT HAS NO PLACE IN GEORGIA, AND SOME TRIED TO JUSTIFY THE ACTIONS OF THOSE KILLERS BY CLAIMING THEY HAD THE PROTECTION OF AN ANTIQUATED LAW THAT IS RIPE FOR ABUSE.

>> THE DEATH OF A AHMAUD ARBERY, A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS TO REPEAL GEORGIA'S CITIZENS ARREST LAW.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ONDAY 17 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I'M DONNA LOWRY.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE BILL ANNOUNCED TODAY TO OVERHAUL THAT LAW THAT DATES BACK TO THE CIVIL WAR.

WE'RE GOING TO ALSO TALK ABOUT MEDICAID THIS EVENING, LEGISLATION TO HELP CHILDREN RECEIVED AN UNANIMOUS APPROVAL TODAY, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PUT A TEMPORARY HALT PART OF GOVERNOR KEMP'S PATIENCE FIRST EFRTS.

>>> THE AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LOOKING TO DANGLE A FINANCIAL CARROT.

>>> A TRIBUTE TO A LAWMAKER WHO NAVIGATED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR YEARS, AND WE'LL UPDATE EFFORTS TO BLOCK COMPANIES FROM RELEASING ETHYLENE OXIDE INTO THE AIR.

>>> BUT FIRST, WE HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME AND CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS.

THE GOVERNOR'S NEWS ON THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW GARNERED LOTS OF POSITIVE REACTIONS TODAY, DIDN'T IT?

>> INDEED IT DID AFTER THIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT BY GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP OVERHAULING THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW, AND IT HAS GAINED A LOT OF SUPPORT.

MANY ACROSS THE BOARD SAYING IT IS TIME AND IT IS TIMELY.

>> TODAY MY ADMINISTRATION IS INTRODUCING SIGNIFICANT REFORMS TO OUR STATES CITIZENS ARREST STATUTE TO CLOSE DANGEROUS LOOPHOLES THAT COULD BE USED TO JUSTIFY FUTURE ACTS OF VIGILANTEISM.

>> WITH THAT, THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE THE STATE OF GEORGIA A MORE JUST AND SAFE PLACE.

THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW CAME UNDER QUESTION LAST YEAR AFTER JUSTIFY NOT CHARGING TWO WHITE MEN POLICE SAY WERE INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF AHMAUD ARBERY, A BLACK MAN.

IT LED TO CALLS FOR CHANGE.

GOVERNOR KEMP SAYS HE WAS LISTENING.

HIS RESPONSE, HOUSE BILL 479.

>> THIS BILL REPEALS THE CURRENT CIVIL WAR ERA STATUTE TO PREVENT THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF A VAGUE AND OUTDATED LAW, AND IT CLARIFIES WHEN A CITIZEN, BUSINESS OWNER OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MAY REASONABLY DETAIN AN INDIVIDUAL.

>> THE BILL WAS SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE BURT REEVES.

>> SO WE WANTED TO APPROPRIATELY MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS KNOWN AS A DETENTION AND NOT AN ARREST.

>> IT'S TIME.

IT'S TIME FOR GEORGIA.

IT'S TIME FOR GEORGIA TO MOVE FORWARD.

MOVE FROM AN ANTIQUATED SYSTEM.

>> DICK REYNOLDS HEADS THE GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS BILL.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE YOU -- SOMETHING LITERALLY ON THE STATUTE THAT WAS PASSED IN THE 1860s, BACK THEN LAW ENFORCEMENT WASN'T AS PREVALENT AS IT IS NOW.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS SPREAD OUT.

YOU COULDN'T GET TO AN OFFICER.

AN OFFICER COULDN'T GET TO YOU.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES NOW.

I BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD BILL, AND I BELIEVE IT'S TIMELY.

>> Reporter: RIGHT AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT, THE GEORGIA NAACP FULLY ENDORSED THE BILL AND SAID, QUOTE, THANK YOU, GOVERNOR KEMP.

>>> A BILL THAT BEARS THE NAME OF A LITTLE GIRL WITH DISABILITIES PASSED IN THE HOUSE TODAY, AND IT HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> YOU MAY REMEMBER LITTLE GRACIE NOBLES.

SHE WAS BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND A CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT, BUT HER PARENTS QUICKLY LEARNED THAT GEORGIA LAW DID NOT PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTS.

HB-128 BEARS GRACIE'S NAME.

IT DOES PROHIBIT PROVIDERS FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST POTENTIAL ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS DUE SOLELY TO PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY OF THE RECIPIENT.

WE PASSED GRACIE'S LAW.

IT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY MAJORITY, AND I ASKED FOR YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT AGAIN AS WE TRY TO GET THIS ACROSS THE HURDLE OVER TO THE SENATE SIDE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MATT JACKSON, A DEMOCRAT, CO-SPONSORED THE BILL ALONGSIDE HIS REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBER.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 128 ONCE AGAIN SO WE CAN GET IT OVER TO THE SENATE AND GEORGIA CAN SHOW THE NATION THAT WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

>> THE BILL PASSED 166-0.

>>> A BUSY DAY IN THE HOUSE TODAY, SEVEN BILLS PASSED TODAY INCLUDING ONE THAT WILL CHANGE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN OUR POOREST COMMUNITIES.

HOUSE BILL 163 IS SPONSORED BY HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIR, SHARON COOPER.

IT PASSED 166 TO 0.

THIS BILL PUTS THOSE YOUNGSTERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UNDER MEDICAID.

THESE ARE CHILDREN WHO ALREADY QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE.

NOW DONNA WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS BILL LATER ON "LAWMAKERS" WHEN SHE SPEAKS WITH REPRESENTATIVE SHARON COOPER LIVE IN THE STUDIO.

>>> AND A BILL THAT WILL HELP DISABLED VETERANS FINANCIALLY PASSED IN SENATE, AND IT IS NAMED AFTER THE LATE SENATOR JACK HILL, WHO HAD SERVED FOR 30 YEARS IN THE HOUSE.

THIS IS HOUSE BILL 87.

>> APPROPRIATELY IS CALLED THE SENATOR JACK HILL VETERAN ACT.

WHAT THIS DOES IS THAT ON YOUR STATE INCOME TAX REFUND YOU CAN DONATE UP TO A DOLLAR OR MORE TO SUPPORT DISABLED VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WILL ADMINISTER THIS.

SENATOR JACK HILL DIED IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR.

THAT IS MY CAPITAL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

>>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND TIME ON HEALTH CARE ISSUES, WHICH ARE ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY UNDER THE GOLD DOME.

THIS YEAR THOSE ISSUES ARE MORE PRESSING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WITH US TO DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES ARE REPRESENTATIVE SHARON COOLER FROM MARIETTA AND ANDY MILLER, CEO AND EDITOR OF "GEORGIA HEALTH NEWS."

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S START WITH WHAT BRENDA TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, YOUR BILL THAT PASSED TODAY DEALING WITH CHILDREN, AN EXPRESS LANE FOR CHILDREN WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAID.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> WELL, I WAS TALKING WITH A LOBBYIST.

YOU KNOW, LOBBYISTS OFTEN HAVE BAD NAMES, BAD IN THE PUBLIC, BUT I WAS TALKING TO ONE THAT WORKS FOR VOICES FOR CHILDREN, AND WE'RE FRIENDS AND JUST IN PASSING, POLLY HAPPENED TO TELL ME THAT CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY FOR OUR SNAP PROGRAM, THAT'S OUR FOOD PROGRAM, ALSO WERE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE MEDICAID OR OUR PEACH MAKE A SEPARATE APPLICATION, AND IT MEANT THAT THOUSANDS OF GEORGIA CHILDREN WERE HAVING A DELAY OR NOT GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY WERE ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR.

SO WHAT WE DID IS I WROTE A BILL, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR A WAIVER, A MEDICAID WAIVER SAYING THAT WE BASICALLY CAN COMBINE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND MAKE IT WHERE IF A CHILD QUALIFIES FOR SNAP, THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY GO ONTO MEDICAID.

AND SO THEY WILL NOT ONLY HAVE FOOD TO EAT, BUT THEIR FAMILY WILL KNOW THAT THEY HAVE MEDICAL CARE.

>> AND IT'S TAKEN THE BUREAUCRACY OUT OF THE PROCESS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

AND IT'S JUST A HAPPENSTANCE, YOU KNOW, FRIENDLY CONVERSATION OF SOMEBODY I KNEW TO TELL ME ABOUT IT.

THAT'S WHAT'S SO SAD SOMETIMES.

GOVERNMENT WORKS IN SILOS, AND UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES THOSE SILOS NEVER TALK, AND AS LEGISLATORS, WE CAN'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BUREAUCRACY IN GOVERNMENT, AND I JUST HATE THAT IT'S BEEN THIS LONG, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN A PRETTY EASY FIX.

IT PASSED WITH NO DISSENSION TODAY IN THE HOUSE.

>> AND WILL PROBABLY DO THE SAME IN THE SENATE, I'M THINKING.

>> CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

>> OKAY.

>> IT'S A VERY GOOD BILL.

>> TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT.

>> WELL, KIDS DO BETTER, OBVIOUSLY MEDICALLY, WITH HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT THEY ALSO DO BETTER IN SCHOOL.

AND THEY DO BETTER LATER IN LIFE IF THEY'RE CONTINUOUSLY INSURED.

SO I'M NOT SURPRISED IT WAS UNANIMOUS AND HOPEFULLY THE SENATE WILL CHIME IN AS WELL.

>> AND IT FILLS SOMETHING THAT EXISTED THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT WAS A PROBLEM AND PROBABLY HAS FRUSTRATED THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN.

>> OH, I'M SURE.

I KNOW THAT AT ONE POINT WE STREAMLINED THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

HERE AGAIN I WAS AT A RURAL HEALTH CARE MEETING AND SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP HOW ANTIQUATED THE SYSTEM WAS.

HERE AGAIN, WE SHORTENED THE PROCESS FROM ABOUT 30 PAGES TO 8, BUT NOBODY MENTIONED THAT IF THEY WERE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP, THEY SHOULD -- THEY'RE ALREADY ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID OR THE PEACH CARE PROGRAM.

A FEW YEARS LATER.

>> YOU CAN THANK THAT LOBBYIST.

>> YES, I DID.

PUBLICLY LIKE TONIGHT.

>> I LOVE THAT.

>>> WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT TO TALK ABOUT GOVERNOR KEMP'S MEDICAID PLAN THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS KIND OF PUT A HOLD ON RIGHT NOW.

EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> WELL, A BIG CHANGE IN THE WHITE HOUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT HAPPENED IN JANUARY, AND CLEARLY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS TOLD STATES THAT THEY HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH SO-CALLED WORK REQUIREMENTS TO GET ELIGIBILITY FOR THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

NOW, GEORGIA COUNTERS AND SAYS, LOOK, IT'S NOT JUST WORK.

PEOPLE CAN ALSO VOLUNTEER UNDER OUR PLAN, AND THEY CAN ALSO DO EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING TO GET MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY.

AND UNDER THE KEMP PLAN, IT WAS GOING TO COVER ABOUT 50,000 LOW INCOME ADULTS WHO ARE UNINSURED CURRENTLY.

BUT THE FEDS HAVE SAID, LOOK, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS, AND IT'S REALLY PUT THE WHOLE WAIVER PLAN, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO EFFECT IN JULY, IT'S PUT IT KIND OF IN LIMBO RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, AND SO WITH 80 HOURS, RIGHT, THAT WERE GOING TO BE REQUIRED.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS I GUESS SAYING IS THERE'S A PANDEMIC AND IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO FIND WORK.

>> HARD FOR PEOPLE TO FIND WORK, HARDER TO FIND AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE, AND THEY THINK IT WOULD BE TOO BIG OF A HURDLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET COVERAGE.

>> YEAH, SO I WANTED TO KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE COOPER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS.

>> WELL, WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THEY HADN'T PUT THE RULES IN PLACE FOR WHAT WORK OR VOLUNTEERING WAS GOING TO REALLY COVER, AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS GOING TO BE PRETTY LOOSE AS FAR AS VOLUNTEERING, BUT I'M A NURSE.

IN A PERFECT WORLD, EVERYONE WOULD HAVE GOOD HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, AND SO I'M FOR FINDING WORK THIS OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET MORE PEOPLE COVERED AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL WORK OUT A SOLUTION FOR IT SO THAT WE WILL MOVE FORWARD IN SOME FORM OR FASHION AND MORE GEORGIANS WILL BE COVERED.

>> THE WORRY NOW IS THAT THOSE PEOPLE MAY NOT GET THE COVERAGE IN A FEW MONTHS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AFTER THIS.

>> AND SO HOPEFULLY -- I MEAN, THEY LEFT THE SECOND WAIVER IN PLACE IS MY UNDERSTANDING, ANDY, THE ONE WHERE WE CAN TRY TO MAKE INSURANCE POLICIES MORE AFFORDABLE, AND I THINK THAT WOULD REALLY HELP GEORGIA FAMILIES, SO APPARENTLY THAT ONE IS STILL IN PLACE, AND WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH THAT.

BUT NOT THE MEDICAID COVERAGE.

>> I KNOW YOU TALKED TO SOMEBODY WITH GOVERNOR KEMP'S OFFICE TODAY.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

>> WELL, THEY'RE UPSET, CLEARLY, THAT THEY FEEL LIKE WASHINGTON, D.C., IS MEDDLING WITH WHAT THEY THINK IS A GOOD, UNIQUE PLAN TO COVER MORE PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS ON THE OTHER HAND WILL SAY, WELL, MAYBE THIS GIVES US A CHANCE TO RETHINK THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A FULL MEDICAID EXPANSION, WHICH WOULD COVER A LOT MORE PEOPLE AND CLEARLY MAYBE TEN TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE, AND NOW THE FEDS IN THE RELIEF BILL, THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL CONGRESS IS LOOKING AT GREATER INCENTIVES FOR STATES THAT HAVE NOT EXPANDED MEDICAID UNDER AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

THEY'LL GET A HIGHER FEDERAL MATCH AS A RESULT IF THAT BILL PASSES.

>> RIGHT, AND SO RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE AN ARTICLE THAT YOU JUST DID FOR GEORGIA HEALTH NEWS, AND WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH GPB NEWS, SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW MORE, THEY CAN READ MORE ABOUT IT.

I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ON FRIDAY U.S.

SENATORS JON OSSOFF AND REVEREND RAPHAEL WARNOCK ANNOUNCED GEORGIA'S PORTION OF THE $1.9 TRILLION COVID RELIEF PACKAGE.

LET'S HEAR WHAT WARNOCK SAID ABOUT MEDICAID DURING THAT PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> AND THEN JUST FOR GEORGIA, NEARLY $2 BILLION TO INCENT SIZE OUR STATE TO FINALLY EXPAND MEDICAID, AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT POINT BECAUSE MANY OF US HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID FOR YEARS.

>> SO ANDY, YOU THINK THAT THIS WILL PUT PRESSURE ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE KEMP ADMINISTRATION OR THEY'LL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER THINGS BECAUSE OF THIS?

$2 BILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY IF THIS PACKAGE PASSES.

>> WELL, IT IS, AND THE KEMP ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OPTIONS.

POLITICALLY, I HAVE TO SAY REPUBLICANS HAVE OPPOSED IT FULL MEDICAID EXPANSION PRETTY CONSISTENTLY.

>> BECAUSE OF THE COST.

>> BECAUSE OF THE COST.

BUT NOW WITH THESE INCENTIVES AND WITH A FISCAL NOTE THAT THE DEMOCRATS DID A YEAR OR TWO AGO THAT SHOWS THAT, YEAH, IT WILL COST SOMETHING -- IT WILL COST X AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT WE'LL SAVE MONEY, TOO, IN CERTAIN SPENDING FOR HEALTH CARE.

SO I THINK IT DOES PUT MORE PRESSURE AND MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NEXT STEP IS GOING TO BE FROM THE KEMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> ANY RESPONSE?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT IS ONE OF THE REASONS IT WAS THE COST.

ALSO, MEDICAID IN THE PAST HASN'T ALWAYS HAD THE BEST HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND THE OTHER THING IS WHO IS GOING TO TREAT ALL THESE PEOPLE AROUND OUR STATE?

OUR DOCTORS ARE PRETTY FULL WITH THE MEDICAID PATIENTS THEY ALREADY HAVE.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T HAVE ALL MEDICAID PATIENTS AND KEEP A PRACTICE OPEN BECAUSE IT PAYS LESS THAN WHAT IT COSTS, AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THE NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND THE P.A.s THAT WILL GO TO RURAL GEORGIA, BUT THEY DON'T.

THEY GO WHERE THE DOCTORS ARE, AND YOU KNOW, DOCTORS AND P.A.s AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE MARRIED TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS, AND THEY WANT TO LIVE WHERE THERE'S A THEATER AND SYMPHONY AND NICE PLACES TO GO OUT TO EAT.

I BELIEVE RURAL GEORGIA IS A GREAT PLACE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE RURAL COMMUNITY.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON EXPANDING THAT.

WE HAVE 220 SOMETHING FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE REALLY OUR SAFEGUARDS, THAT ARE, THE FEDS KNOCK OFF THE DOCTOR'S SCHOOL DEBTS MUCH FASTER THAN WE EVER COULD SO THEY CAN GET PHYSICIANS, AND WE'VE UPPED OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS, WE'VE STARTED RESIDENCY PLANS.

WE'RE TRYING TO, BUT IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THOSE DOCTORS OUT THERE AND GET THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY TO TREAT PATIENTS.

SO I WONDER IF WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE COVERED WITH A MEDICAID CARD BUT NO ONE WHERE THEY CAN GET IN TO BE SEEN.

I DON'T KNOW.

HERE AGAIN, IN A PERFECT WORLD, EVERYBODY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED.

>> INTERESTING.

ALWAYS A DIFFICULT DISCUSSION WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAID, THOUGH, THAT'S FOR SURE.

I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BILL THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU JUST DROPPED IT TODAY, HB-458, AND IT'S A BILL THAT REQUIRES THE TRAINING FOR DOCTORS ABOUT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, AND TO HAVE THEM GIVE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY WITH CASES THAT HAPPENED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, NOT THAT GEORGIA'S IMMUNE.

THERE ARE BAD DOCTORS, BAD LAWYERS, BAD LEGISLATORS, I GUESS BAD TV PERSONALITIES.

I DON'T KNOW, DONNA.

YOU'RE GREAT, BUT SO THERE'S BAD APPLES IN EVERY PROFESSION.

I THINK IN GEORGIA I TALKED TO THE MEDICAL BOARD WITH WHAT INFORMATION THEY CAN GIVE ME.

WE DON'T HAVE QUITE THE PROBLEM THAT MAYBE THEY HAVE IN SOME OF THE OTHER STATES, BUT THE PUBLIC -- AND I THINK PART OF IT IS FOR WHAT WE SAW IN WASHINGTON AND OUT IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ACCUSED IN -- OR ARE UNDERGOING TRIALS AND THINGS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE.

>> THE OLYMPICS COMES TO MIND WITH THE DOCTOR FOR THE GYMNASTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT WAS ANOTHER AREA.

SO I THINK THERE'S PUBLIC AWARENESS AND MAYBE FEAR THAT THERE MIGHT BE MORE GOING ON IN GEORGIA, AND I THINK THAT IT WILL BE GOOD FOR US TO HAVE THE INFORMATION, THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT THEY DO, AND I THINK THAT IT CERTAINLY WILL BE GOOD FOR THE DOCTORS TO BE MORE -- MADE MORE AWARE THROUGH EDUCATION OF THE BARRIERS AND THE PARAMETERS THAT YOU SHOULD PUT BETWEEN YOU AND THE PATIENTS AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT OVERSTEPPING THE BOUNDAIES INTO SOMEBODY'S -- I WON'T CALL IT PERSONAL SPACE, BUT OVERSTEPPING THE BOUNDARIES WITH A PATIENT/DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF OVERSIGHT, YOU AGREE.

>> YEAH, THE PROTECTION FOR PATIENTS IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT'S AN AWFUL THING WHEN THAT'S ABUSED, AND I THINK THE AJC DID A GOOD JOB A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO POINTING OUT SOME OF THESE CASES THAT OCCURRED HERE, AND WE COULD -- PHYSICIAN S DO A GREAT JOB.

THERE ARE A FEW PROBABLY THAT ARE ABUSIVE AND NEGLECT THEIR DUTIES AND IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO AT LEAST HAVE THIS EDUCATION OUT THERE AND HOPEFULLY COME DOWN ON THESE DOCTORS THAT GO OUTSIDE THE LINES OF WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR BILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ANDY, YOU'RE GOING TO STICK AROUND WITH US BECAUSE AFTER THE BREAK WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE IN THE AIR IN SOME GEORGIA COMMUNITIES.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

STAY WITH US.

"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, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER 74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU 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.

>> WE'RE ALL IN THIS FIGHT ALL THE WAY FROM THE 7,000 CIGNA CLINICIANS SUPPORTING FRONT LINE DOCTORS AND NURSES TO EVERYONE STAYING HOME TO PROTECT OTHERS.

FIND ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS AT CIGNA.COM/COVID-19.

>>> GEORGIA HUMANITIES CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION, AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>>> JOIN GPB AS WE CELEBRATE AMERICAN PORTRAIT.

>> I HAVE A GREAT TRADITION IN MY FAMILY.

WE GO TO "STAR WARS" MOVIES EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY COME OUT.

>> I'M HALF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HALF SOUTH ASIAN EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL, I'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME RETHINKING MY CHOICE TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY.

TO GO BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

>> SHARE YOUR STORY AT GPB.ORG/AMERICANPORTRAIT.

>>> WE'RE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME NOW TALKING ABOUT THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE DANGERS TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR PLANTS THAT RELEASE ETHYLENE OXIDE.

HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ETHYLENE OX SIDE.

IT'S A FLAMMABLE COLORLESS GAS THAT SMELLS LIKE E THER.

IT'S USED TO STERILIZE MEDICAL DEVICES INCLUDING CATHETERS, AND BIOPSY NEEDLES, AND THE FDA HAS CLASSIFIED IT AS A CANCER CAUSING AGENT.

FOR YEARS A STERILIZING COMPANY HAS USED ETHYLENE OXIDE GAS IN THE STERILIZATION OF ITS CLINIC IN ITS PLANT OFF ATLANTA ROAD NEAR SMYRNA.

GEORGIA HEALTH NEWS HAS BEEN COVERING THIS FOR A LITTLE BIT.

WE REALIZE -- AND WE WERE JUST FAIRLY NEW THING THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, BUT TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENED.

KIND OF GIVE US A BRIEF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> WELL, BACK IN 2019, WEB MD AND GEORGIA HEALTH NEWS COMBINED IN LOOKING AT ETHYLENE OXIDE, THERE WAS SOME REPORTS FROM THE EPA ABOUT AIR TOXINS, AND ESSENTIALLY IT SAID THAT THERE WERE 109 CENSUS TRACKS IN THE U.S. THAT HAD ELEVATED AIRBORNE RISK OF CANCER, AND LARGELY DRIVEN BY ETHYLENE OXIDE, WHICH A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE WAS DECLARED A KNOWN CARCINOGEN.

AND SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT WHERE THE CENSUS TRACKS WERE, AND THERE WERE THREE IN GEORGIA.

TWO OF THEM WERE NEAR THE STEROGENICS PLANT AND ONE IN COVINGTON NEAR THE BD BARD PLANT.

WHEN WE WROTE OUR REPORT, WE FOUND -- ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS WAS THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE KNEW THIS.

STATE KNEW IT AND STATE REGULATORS, BUT NO ONE ELSE DID, AND WHEN WE WENT TO PEOPLE WHO LIVED NEAR STEROGENICS OR BD BARD, THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN, I DON'T THINK I PROPERLY INTRODUCED YOU OF THE SMYRNA AREA.

YOU HAVE HAD TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT THIS QUICKLY, RIGHT?

>> YAERKS LIKE ANDY SAID, WHEN THIS FIRST CAME OUT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMMUNITY, SO WE WERE ALL EDUCATED THROUGH HIS ARTICLE AND HIS WORK AND REALLY SINCE THEN HAVE BEEN FULL THROTTLE JUST LEARNING ABOUT THE ISSUE NATIONALLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST IN GEORGIA.

THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

>> AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN A MINUTE.

YOU'VE HAD HEARINGS IN RECENT WEEKS, SO TELL US WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING.

ACTUALLY, THE RECENT DAYS WITHIN THE LAST WEEK TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> LAST WEEK THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION HAD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A NEW PERMIT FOR THE STEROGENICS PLANT THAT WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ETHYLENE OXIDE THEY'RE ABLE TO RELEASE AS WELL AS CONTINUING MONITORING OF THE STACK EMISSIONS AND OTHER MEASURES.

SO THEY HAD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS GOING TO BE OPEN UNTIL FEBRUARY 25th, AND AT THAT POINT THEY WILL COMPILE ALL OF THEIR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND PUT OUT A REPORT AND A NEW PERMIT FOR STEROGENICS THAT HOPEFULLY IS A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN THE ONE THEY OPERATE ON NOW.

>> IN GENERAL, WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

>> PEOPLE ARE STILL WANTING TO BE SATISFIED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND THE 25th TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S VOICE IS HEARD AND THAT WE GET THE RIGHT COMMENTS IN, AND UNWITH OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES PEOPLE HAVE IS NOT NECESSARILY THE OPERATION OF THE PLANT, BUT THE LENIENCY ON THE STATE REGULATORS TO FINE AND CONTROL.

SO THAT'S ONE AREA THAT'S NOT LOOKED AT.

WE HAD A COBB DELEGATION MEETING JOINTLY WITH FULTON COUNTY LAST WEEK, AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO LEGISLATIVELY TO GIVE THEM MORE TOOLS TO AGGRESSIVELY GO AFTER BAD ACTORS ONCE THE PERMIT IS ISSUED, BUT THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GOING FORWARD.

>> I WANT YOU TO BRING US UP TO DATE.

LAST YEAR THE COBB GOVERNMENT STOPPED THE -- STOPPED STEROGENICS BUT THEN IT OPENED AGAIN IN THE FALL.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> STEROGENICS SUED THE COUNTY OVER THAT SHUTDOWN, AND A COURT -- A JUDGE RULED THROUGH A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT STEROGENICS COULD REOPEN UNTIL THE LAWSUIT WAS RESOLVED.

WE'VE ALSO HAD OTHER LAWSUITS.

THERE'S A GROUP OF PLAINTIFFS WHO CLAIM HEALTH PROBLEMS AROUND BOTH THE STEROGENCS PLANT AND THE BD BARD PLANT BASED ON ETHYLENE OXIDE EMISSIONS.

THERE ARE WAREHOUSES ALSO THAT HAVE BECOME PROBLEMS.

THESE ARE WAREHOUSES THAT CONTAIN PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN STERILIZED BUT ARE OFF GASSING THIS GAS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, AND IT'S NOT JUST SMYRNA, SO WE'VE GOT A MAP THAT SHOWS THAT THERE ARE PLANTS ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE ONE IN COVINGTON, BUT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE COAST, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THERE'S SIX OF THESE FACILITIES IN GEORGIA.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MAP, MOST OF THEM CONCENTRATE IN THE METRO AREA BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY TO THE AIRPORT, OTHER TRANSIT, YOU KNOW, FOR SHIPPING.

SO IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND AS A STATE, NOT JUST IN SMYRNA OR THE ATLANTA AREA, BUT IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL.

>> SO WE WERE TALKING EARLIER THAT I WAS READING ABOUT ILLINOIS.

THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF LAWSUITS FILED IN THE ILLINOIS AREA AROUND THE STEROGENICS PLANT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT KIND OF LITIGATION.

>> NO, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES WITH WILLOW BROOK IN ILLINOIS IS IT WAS REALLY A CONVERSATION AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

DICK DURBIN FROM THE SENATE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LOCAL LEGISLATORS WERE WORKING ON THE ISSUE IN A VERY BIPARTISAN MANNER, AND THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD HERE IN GEORGIA YET.

I'M GETTING HOPEFUL.

TODAY A BILL WAS INTRODUCED, SENATE BILL 180 BY SENATOR JIM JORDAN WHICH WAS A COMPANION BILL TO HOUSE BILL 3 THAT I FILED, BUT THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT BILL IS IT DOES HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

SO WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE SOME WORK, YOU KNOW, BEARING FRUIT ON MAKING THIS AN ISSUE THAT WE JUST HAVE TO TACKLE AS A LEGISLATURE.

>> YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING, SOME MOVEMENT ON THIS AT LEAST FROM THAT FIRST ARTICLE YOU WROTE.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK WHAT REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN SAYS IS IMPORTANT, THE FACT THAT WE MAY NEED MORE STATE MONITORING OF THESE EMISSIONS, INSTEAD OF HAVING COMPANIES SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH WE PUT OUT THERE, THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE TO PUT OUT MONITORS AND DO THEIR OWN TESTING SO THAT PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE MORE TRUST IN THE SYSTEM AND WHAT'S BEING EMITTED OUT IN THE AIR.

I DO WANT TO GET TO ANOTHER BILL YOU HAVE BECAUSE I FIND IT INTERESTING.

FIREWORKS GO OFF IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU HAVE A BILL DEALING WITH THE DATES AND TIMES TO USE FIREWORKS.

>> HOUSE BILL 79.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S REALLY A QUALITY OF LIFE AND A LOCAL CONTROL BILL.

I'VE GOTTEN CALLS FROM VETERANS SUFFERING FROM PTSD, FROM ANIMAL PET OWNERS, FROM, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN WHO CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT.

IT IS AN ISSUE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HOLD BACK LOCAL CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM BEING ABLE TO REGULATE IT STRONGER IS THE FACT THAT STATE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW IT.

SO ALL THIS DOES IS GIVES THOSE CITIES OR COUNTIES WHO WISH TO ACT THE TOOLS TO DO SO SO THEY CAN RESPOND TO THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT I THINK EVERYBODY HAS DEALT WITH.

>> SO RIGHT NOW THEY CAN'T REGULATE THAT, THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES CAN'T SAY THIS IS -- THESE ARE THE TIMES.

THIS IS THE DATE WHERE WHEN YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE FIREWORKS.

>> THEY CAN ONLY USE A GENERAL SPECIFIC NOISE ORDINANCE TO FIREWORKS.

THAT WILL GIVE THEM A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE.

RESPOND TO THE LOCAL CONSTITUENCIES.

THE FIREWORKS ISSUE IS A LOT DIFFERENT IN SUBURBAN AND URBAN AREAS THAN IT IS IN RURAL AREAS WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE THE DENSITY.

SO THIS JUST GIVES THOSE CITIES THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO RESPOND IF NEEDED.

THAT'S ALL IT DOES.

>> WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT ARE YOU GETTING?

>> ACTUALLY, THERE IS SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HEARD IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE OTHER SIDE WHO WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK IT AS WELL.

SO NEXT WEEK I THINK WE'LL HAVE A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT'S HEARD IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

>> WHY DO I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE GETTING CALLS ABOUT THESE FIREWORKS?

I THINK IT IS AN ISSUE.

OKAY.

SOME OF US, YOU KNOW, WE DO HEAR THEM AT NIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND ANDY, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU, AND PLEASE COME BACK.

WE ALWAYS HAVE HEALTH NEWS TO TALK ABOUT.

>> GREAT TO BE HEAR.

>> AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR "LAWMAKERS."

BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 18.

YOU CAN TRACK US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT GPB NEWS.

USE THE #GPBLAWMAKERS TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND FEED YOUR POLITICAL APPETITE THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON OUR POLITICS PAGE GPB.ORG/POLITICS.

TUNE IN TO ""POLITICAL REWIND"" HOSTED BY BILL NIGUT TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.