>>> I AM IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDING NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL AND IMPLEMENTING TELEWORK POLICIES FOR MOST STATE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTION OF SERVICES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS BUT ALSO HELP MITIGATE RISK.

>> A YEAR AGO, THE THREAT OF THE CORONAVIRUS BEGAN SPREADING IN GEORGIA, AND GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP STARTED TAKING SOME DRASTIC MEASURES.

SO DID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY 29 OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A GOOD PART OF THE SHOW REFLECTING BACK ON THE PANDEMIC, AND HOW IT AFFECTED THE LEGISLATORS WHO WORKED UNDER THE GOLD DOME.

A COUPLE OF LAWMAKERS WHO CONTRACTED THE VIRUS ARE WITH US, INCLUDING ONE SO DEDICATED TO SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HIS DISTRICT, HE GOES TO WORK BRINGING ALONG AN OXYGEN TANK.

WE'LL TALK WITH LAWMAKERS ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL BILLS, THE RIGHT TO VISIT BILL, AND FIRST WE HEAD TO THE CAPITOL BRENDA WATERS WHO HAS A WRAP UP OF THE DAY'S NEWS.

>> AS YOU KNOW YESTERDAY WAS CROSSOVER DAY, SOME BILLS CROSSED OVER AND ADVANCED WITH A SHOT AT BECOMING A LAW.

OTHERS DID NOT.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES.

ONE BILL THAT HAS A CLEAR PATH TO BECOMING A LAW IS THE OVERHAUL CITIZENS ARREST LAW.

IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE HOUSE AND NOW GOES ON TO THE SENATE.

>> THE DAY DEFINITELY WAS A HISTORIC DAY, IT WAS A GREAT DAY TO HAVE HB 479 PASS.

IT'S LONG PAST DUE, BUT GEORGIA SHOWED GREAT STRIDES AND A UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM THE FLOOR, SPOKE STRONGLY THAT WE WANT TO BE NOT JUST THE BEST STATE TO DO BUSINESS.

WE ALSO WANT TO BE THE BEST STATE TO LIVE IN, AND THIS WAS DEFINITELY A HISTORIC DAY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE AL WILLIAMS SPOKE TO REPORTERS LAST NIGHT RIGHT AFTER THE BILL PASSED.

IT BASICALLY BARS BYSTANDERS AND WITNESSES FROM MAKE AN ARREST, PERMITTING THEM INSTEAD TO DETAIN SUSPECTS.

THE ORIGINAL LAW DATES BACK TO THE 1800s, THE OVERHAULING WAS PROMPTED BY THE MURDER OF AHMAUD ARBERY, A BLACK MAN WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY SHOT AND KILLED BY THREE WHITE MEN AS HE WAS JOGGING NEAR BRUNSWICK, MEANWHILE, ONE BILL THAT WILL NOT BE CROSSING OVER WAS SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE CASEY CARPENTER.

>> HOUSE BILL 120 WAS A SIMPLE BILL.

IT WOULD ALLOW KIDS, DACA STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA SINCE 2013, WHO GRADUATED A GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL TO ATTEND CERTAIN UNIVERSITIES AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY AN INSTATE RATE INSTEAD OF 3 1/2 TIMES THAT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING HE WOULD HAVE CHANGED ABOUT HIS BILL.

THIS HE KNOWS FOR CERTAIN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING IT, KEEP GRINDING IT, YOU KNOW, A MAN WITH FOUR CHILDREN, IT'S HARD FOR US TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER, SO WE KEEP FIGHTING.

>> Reporter: IT LOOKS LIKE LAWMAKERS WON'T BE GETTING THAT PAY RAISE.

>> AND IT WAS SO DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE SIGNERS ON THE BILL.

YET THEY WOULDN'T PASS THE FINAL PASSAGE, BUT THIS IS NOT MY FIRST RODEO.

I'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET US A RAISE FOR SOME YEARS NOW.

>> Reporter: LAWMAKERS HAVEN'T HAD A PAY INCREASE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.

>> WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE STATE TO DO BUSINESS, YET ALABAMA LEGISLATORS MAKE MORE THAN WE DO.

COME ON NOW, GEORGIA HAS ALWAYS LED THE WAY BUT IN THIS CASE, IT'S JUST THE GAMES THEY PLAY.

>> WILL YOU PRESENT AGAIN?

>> I WILL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF THE HOUSE VERSION COME TO THE SENATE I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

>> Reporter: HOUSE BILL 272 MADE IT THROUGH JUST AFTER 8:00 P.M. ON CROSSOVER DAY.

THE BILL IS CONSIDERED A VICTORY FOR TEENS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCATES.

REPRESENTATIVE MANDY BALLINGER PRESENTED THE BILL.

>> THIS BASICALLY RAISES THE JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION AGE TO INCLUDE 17-YEAR-OLDS.

A LOT OF YOU THINK IF YOU GET ARRESTED AS A 17-YEAR-OLD YOU GO TO JUVENILE COURT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

WE'RE ONE OF THREE STATES WITH THIS HORRIBLY ANTIQUATED PRACTICE OF TREATING 17-YEAR-OLDS LIKE GROWN UPS.

THIS RAISES THE JUVENILE COURT AGE, WHERE 17-YEAR-OLDS WOULD GO TO JUVENILE COURT WHERE THEY BELONG.

>> TEXAS AND WISCONSIN ARE THE OTHER STATES THAT LEGALLY CLASSIFY 17-YEAR-OLDS AS ADULTS.

REPRESENTATIVE BALLINGER SAID JUVENILE COURT IS MUCH MORE REHABILITATIVE FOR TEENAGE OFFENDERS.

THE WILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

113-51, AND NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE.

>>> OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS IN GEORGIA, POLITICS FROM OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL.

CHIEF JUSTICE HAROLD MELTON ANNOUNCED THE RETURN OF JURY TRIALS IN GEORGIA, LIFTING THE SUSPENSION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

HE ISSUED THAT ORDER THIS MORNING.

CHIEF JUSTICE MELTON WILL BE HERE AT THE CAPITOL ONE WEEK FROM TODAY ON TUESDAY, MARCH 16th.

TO DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE JUDICIARY ADDRESS.

IT'S ALSO ELECTION DAY FOR VOTERS IN DEKALB, HENRY, AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES.

TODAY IS THE SPECIAL DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RUNOFF TO FILL THE ONLY VACANCY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 90.

VOTERS WILL MAKE THEIR CHOICE.

ANGELA MOORE OR FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE STAN WATSON.

WELL, THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT, DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND TIME NOW LOOKING BACK AT THE PAST YEAR WITH THE PANDEMIC, AND HOW IT AFFECTED A FEW OF THE LAWMAKERS AT THE GOLD DOME.

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE WORLD BEGINNING TO SHUT DOWN HIT AT THE CAPITOL ON LEGISLATIVE DAY 28.

>> CROSSOVER DAY 2020 MARKED THE LAST FULL DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEFORE A RECESS.

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE CAUTIOUS HERE.

>> CAUTION MEANT BOTH CHAMBERS GAVELLED IN FOR A PROCEDURAL DAY ON MARCH 13th, ONLY 21 SENATORS ATTENDED.

>> GOING TO DISPENSE WITH THE ROLL CALL TODAY.

>> IN THE HOUSE, SPEAKER RALSTON AND JUST NINE OTHERS.

AT THAT POINT, NO ONE KNEW WHEN THEY WOULD RETURN, BUT HOURS LATER, GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR GEORGIA, AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RETURNED TO RECONVENE FOR A SPECIAL ONE-DAY SESSION ON MONDAY, MARCH 16th, 2020 TO APPROVE THE MEASURE.

THAT DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME LAWMAKERS HAD THEIR TEMPERATURES CHECKED BEFORE ENTERING THE CHAMBERS.

LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THIS WOULD BECOME THE FIRST OF MANY SAFETY MEASURES.

>> CASES OF THE VIRUS, TODAY, THE NUMBER IS MORE THAN 829,000.

WE'RE GOING TO REFLECT ON THE CHALLENGING YEAR WITH TWO LAWMAKERS WHO CONTRACTED THE VIRUS, SENATOR BRUCE THOMPSON OF WHITE, GEORGIA IN BAR TOW COUNTY, AND REPRESENTATIVE DEXTER SHARPER OF VALDOSTA.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO BEGIN WITH YOU SENATOR THOMPSON, ASKING YOU ABOUT WHEN YOU KNEW YOU HAD IT, AND I TALKED ABOUT MARCH 16th.

YOU SAY THAT'S WHEN YOU KNEW YOU HAD IT.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> HAD A ROUGH WEEKEND LEADING UP TO THAT.

I I SPENT TIME IN BED AND MY TEMPERATURE SPIKED THAT MONDAY, TO A LITTLE OVER 103.5.

MY WIFE CALLED THE PRIMARY DOCTOR AND SAID GET HIM TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY.

I HONESTLY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS THAT SICK.

OKAY, LET'S GET TO THE CAR, AND BY THE TIME WE GOT TO NORTH SIDE CHEROKEE HOSPITAL, THEY MET US AT THE DOOR WITH A WHEELCHAIR AND THAT'S FRANKLY THE LAST THING I REMEMBER OTHER THAN WAKING UP IN THE E.R.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER.

>> HOW BAD DID IT GET FOR YOU?

>> MY OXYGEN LEVEL DROPPED TO 41.

SO THOSE IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY SAY YOU HAD JUST A FEW HOURS LEFT.

SO IT WAS PRETTY TOUGH.

>> YEAH.

IN TERMS OF THE RECOVERY, WHAT WAS IT FOR YOU?

>> SO, I SPENT THAT DAY IN THE E.R., SEVERAL HOURS IN THE E.R.

AND THEN MOVED TO INTENSIVE CARE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND THEN JUST MIRACULOUSLY, MY BODY RESPONDED AND I WAS RELEASED, AND TWO WEEKS LATER I WAS BACK RUNNING A MILE.

BUT DURING THAT TIME IN THE HOSPITAL, IT WAS PRETTY ROUGH.

MEDICAL DOCTORS AND NURSES WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH COVID, HOW TO TREAT YOU, HOW TO MAKE SURE THEY WEREN'T INFECTED, SO ONE OF THE STORIES FOR ME WAS JUST SEEING HOW PANICKED THEY WERE, TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF ME, WHILE NOT TRANSMITTING THIS BACK TO THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

AND SO I GOT A CHANCE TO POUR BACK INTO THEM ONCE I STARTED RECOVERING.

>> YOU WERE IN THE EARLY STAGES, NOBODY KNEW.

121 CONFIRMED CASES.

DID IT SHOCK YOU THAT YOU WERE ONE OF THEM?

I MEAN, I GUESS EARLY ON YOU WERE THINKING, THIS CAN'T BE CORONAVIRUS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

LEADING UP TO THAT, I HAD BEEN TO THE ALLERGIST, HAD EXAMS ON MY CHEST, HAD AN EXAM DONE FOR COVID, AND IT CAME BACK NEGATIVE, AND I WAS ON ANTIBIOTICS BUT IT WAS THAT THURSDAY WHERE I DIDN'T FEEL THAT GREAT, WENT HOME, TEMPERATURE CLIMBED TO 99.

I DECIDED I WOULD STAY HOME, FRIDAY, THE NEXT DAY IS WHEN THEY SAID DON'T COME IN IF YOU HAVE A TEMPERATURE.

I HAD STAYED HOME, AND THEN AGAIN OVER THE WEEKEND, IT DECLINED, AND THEN THAT MONDAY IS WHEN IT JUST HIT ROCK BOTTOM.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE TO YOU.

BUT I WANT TO GET TO YOU REPRESENTATIVE SHARPER.

FOR YOU IT WAS LATER IN THE YEAR.

YOUR STORY BEGINS, WHAT, IN DECEMBER?

2020, JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

>> RIGHT.

DECEMBER 10th OR SO.

I WAS FEELING BAD, YOU KNOW, HAD A FEVER, AND THE NIGHT BEFORE I WAS LIKE, I COULDN'T REALLY SLEEP.

I SAID I GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

SO WE ENDED UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND THEY CHECKED OUT, I HAD SOME PNEUMONIA AND THEY ASKED ME ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN MY BODY.

MY LABS, THEY WAS JUST AMAZED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP YOU ONE NIGHT FOR OBSERVATION, AND THAT ONE NIGHT TURNED INTO ELEVEN DAYS BECAUSE I WENT IN FOR OBSERVATION, AND THEY SAY I JUST WENT DOWNHILL REALLY REALLY BAD, SO FIVE OR SIX OF THOSE DAYS THEY WASN'T SURE IF I WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE IT OUT PERIOD.

AND THAT'S JUST A MIRACLE TO BE HERE KNOWING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD PASSED.

EVEN MY MOM PASSED WITH COVID IN JULY OF THAT YEAR.

SO IT WAS REALLY BAD FOR ME.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE TO TELL THE STORY.

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU'RE A PARAMEDIC, AND WE WANT TO SAY THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND YOU ARE COMING TO THE CAPITOL ALL THE TIME.

YOU'RE STILL SUFFERING SOME EFFECTS OF THAT.

EXPLAIN THAT, EXPLAIN WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO EVERY DAY JUST TO COME TO THE CAPITOL.

>> WELL, I KNEW ONE THING THAT I COULDN'T JUST STAY HOME.

FOR ONE, I KNOW THE PEOPLE WANT ME TO REPRESENT THEM.

THERE ARE PEOPLE SAYING YOU STILL NEED TO GET WELL, BUT I KNEW THAT ME COMING TO THE CAPITOL, GETTING DRESSED EVERY MORNING, AND AT THIS TIME, NOW, I'M BASICALLY ON OXYGEN 24 HOURS, SLEEPING WITH OXYGEN, SO I WOULD GET UP, TAKING A SHOWER, WHEN I GET OUT, YOU'RE TIRED, GETTING DRESSED, YOU'RE TIRED SO THE O 2 WAS THERE ALL THE TIME, AND IT WAS JUST GOING, YOU KNOW, STAY WORKING THE STAIRS, I WOULD TAKE THE STAIRS, AND EVERYTHING.

>> THE CAPITOL STAIRS ARE REALLY CHALLENGING.

>> RIGHT.

SO I WOULD TAKE THE ELEVATOR, AND THEN THE PARKING GARAGE, SO I SAID I STILL GOT TO PUSH.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP ME.

I THINK THIS HAS REALLY HELPED MY RECOVERY BY KNOWING THAT I GOT TO GET UP, GOT TO GET TO SESSION, GET TO MY COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND DO WHAT I WOULD NORMALLY DO, AND YOU KNOW, RIGHT HERE, 10 OR 15 POUNDS GOING WITH YOU IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HAVING A BABY WITH YOU.

YOU GOT TO KEEP IT CHARGED.

YOU GOT TO KEEP IT GOING.

>> YOU WERE TAKING THAT BACK AND FORTH FROM THE PARKING LOT INTO THE CAPITOL, AND YOU WERE WEARING IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE IT ON NOW.

>> IT WAS ON ME THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME, SO FEBRUARY 1st, I SAID I'M GOING TO STOP SLEEPING WITH IT ON, AND I WOULD TAKE MY PULSE OX AND KEEP THAT WITH ME TO MAKE SURE I'M CHECKING MY HEART RATE, AND PULSEOX TO MAKE SURE I'M AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, AND MARCH 6th.

WHICH WAS A GOAL.

I SET GOALS FOR MYSELF, I'M GOING TO TRY THIS.

WHAT I DID, I WASN'T SLEEPING WITH THE OXYGEN ANYMORE, I HAVE THIS ON, LET ME SEE IF I CAN DO WITHOUT THE OXYGEN AS MUCH AS I CAN AND ONLY USE IT IF I LOOK AT THE PULSE AND IT GETS DOWN TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.

SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING, AND THIS WEEK I HAVE WORKED EVEN HARDER TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THE MASK ON FOR EVERYBODY IT'S ALREADY A CHALLENGE TO HAVE THE MASK ON, BUT FOR ME, IT WAS DOUBLE JEOPARDY BECAUSE I HAD THE MASK ON AND, YOU KNOW, SO I HAVE THE OXYGEN ON AND THE MASK, BUT THIS WEEK, I STARTED TAKING THIS, WELL, LAST WEEK, ACTUALLY, I TOOK THIS OFF, PUT THE MASK ON, AND EVERY NOW AND THEN, IF I FELT, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE JEOPARDIZED I WOULD JUST PULL IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, AND JUST TAKE LITTLE DEEP BREATHS BECAUSE WE SOCIAL DISTANCE, AND GOT PLENTY OF DISTANCE.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING LATELY.

I BROUGHT IT IN WITH ME AS A TESTAMENT OF THANKING GOD THAT I DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE YET, THAT I KNOW OF.

SO BUT I WATCH MYSELF, AND I TOOK THE STEPS TODAY, AND SAW HOW I DID, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING, TAKING LITTLE STEPS, BABY STEPS, KEEPING THIS NEAR ME BUT STAYING AWAY FROM IT.

>> YOU HAVEN'T HAD TO USE IT IN A WHILE.

I INTERVIEWED YOU WEEKS AGO, YOU LOOK SO MUCH BETTER, AND FEEL BETTER RIGHT?

>> NOW THAT I LOOK BACK, I FELT REALLY BAD.

I WAS WEAK.

YOU KNOW, I LOST ABOUT 12 POUNDS.

YOU KNOW, SO WHEN I GOT HERE, I NEEDED TO GET THAT WEIGHT BACK.

I STARTED EATING, YOU KNOW, LIKE I NEEDED TO EVEN MORE.

I ALWAYS TAKE VITAMINS AND EAT HEALTHY ANYWAY BUT I NEEDED TO GET THAT WEIGHT BACK SO I CAN FEEL BETTER AND ENERGIZED AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY AT THE CAPITOL, THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT, AND YOU KNOW, CHECKING ON ME, THEIR PRAYERS, AND BEING AROUND THEM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE A FAMILY.

WE'RE NOT ALWAYS ON THE SAME PAGE ALL THE TIME.

BUT WE ARE FAMILY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER, AND THAT HAS MEANT A WHOLE LOT TO ME.

THAT'S A BIG PART OF MY RECOVERY.

I'M FEELING GREAT.

I'M NOT GETTING SHORT OF BREATH RIGHT NOW.

>> WE ARE SO HAPPY FOR THAT.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, SENATOR THOMPSON, HOW HAS IT CHANGED YOU TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE.

ESPECIALLY COMING BACK DOWN HERE TO THE CAPITOL THIS YEAR.

>> MUCH LIKE HIM, THEY WEREN'T SURE I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT.

WHEN THEY FINALLY SHARED THAT WITH ME, I REALIZED I HAD A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

IT DOES FORCE YOU TO REFLECT BACK ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THINGS THAT MAYBE YOU FAILED IN LIFE, WHERE DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU MAKE THE MOST OF IT MOVING FORWARD.

AS A LEGISLATOR, ONE OF THE THINGS I STRIVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE I'M LISTENING MORE INTENTLY.

I STARTED THAT WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, WHILE I WAS LYING THERE, AND THE CARE GIVERS WERE COMING IN, EACH NIGHT I'D ASK THEM, LISTEN, I'M GOING TO CLOSE MY NIGHT OUT WITH PRAYER, IF YOU WOULD JUST HONOR ME WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY FOR YOU, AND THEY OPENED UP WITH SOME VERY PERSONAL THINGS.

AND SO NOT ONLY MY PRAYER LIFE GROW BUT MY OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW THEY MATTER, AND SO JUST THE AWARENESS OF PEOPLE BECAME VERY VERY ACUTE SINCE THEN.

>> NOW, YOU'VE ALREADY HAD ONE OF YOUR VACCINE SHOTS.

>> I HAVE.

>> BECAUSE YOU'RE A CARE GIVER.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU, TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS WITH YOU IN TERMS OF GETTING A VACCINE.

>> I HAVE TO WAIT, YOU KNOW, THE 90 DAYS, AND OF COURSE I'M A PARAMEDIC SO I WOULD BE FIRST IN LINE ANYWAY.

THE INTERESTING THING IS I WAS A WEEK AWAY FROM THEM APPROVING TO GET THE VACCINES, AND I GOT IT BEFORE, YOU KNOW, SO I'M 90 DAYS OUT ALMOST, BUT I THINK I'LL BE ELIGIBLE THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL.

YOU HAVE TO WAIT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AND JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THE VACCINE THAN HAVE COVID, TRUST ME, AND YOU KNOW, YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT IF YOU CAN GET IT, GO AHEAD AND GET IT AS SOON AS YOU CAN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A FEW SIDE EFFECTS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'D RATHER HAVE THOSE SIDE EFFECTS THAN COVID TO BE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST GONE.

IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

>> THE SESSION ENDS THE 31st, AND YOU'RE READY TO GET BACK TO BEING A PARAMEDIC, TOO.

>> YES, WE'RE GOING TO EASE THAT IN.

I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE SUPERVISORS TODAY, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD, BECAUSE I'M USED TO HELPING PEOPLE AND TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE, SO IT WAS VERY AWKWARD FOR ME, MY FIRST TIME BEING HOSPITALIZED, IT WAS A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME FOR ME.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS REAL QUICK BECAUSE WHILE WE HAVE YOU HERE SENATOR THOMPSON, ONE OF YOUR BILLS IS -- HAS GAINED A LOT OF ATTENTION BECAUSE THE SAME BILL IS BEING INTRODUCED AROUND THE NATION, AND YOU'RE CALLING IT THE HOME SCHOOL -- IT'S THE HOME SCHOOLING BILL, BUT IT'S -- SOME PEOPLE CALL IT THE TIM TEBOW BILL.

YOU CALL IT THE DEXTER MOSLEY BILL, TELL US WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> IN PREVIOUS YEARS I CALLED IT THE TIM TEBOW BILL WITH THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO PLAY SPORTS OR ACTIVITIES AT HIS SCHOOL IN FLORIDA.

THIS LAST YEAR, A WIDOW CAME TO ME, HER NAME IS MS. MOSLEY, AND DEXTER WAS NOT ONLY AN ATHLETE THAT PLAYED AT AUBURN BUT POURED HIS HEART INTO HOME SCHOOL AND BEING A MENTOR FOR PEOPLE AND CLUBS, AND SOME OF WHICH MAY NOT HAVE HAD A FATHER, AND THAT WAS HIS WHOLE HEART AND HIS LIFE.

AS HE POURED INTO THEM, AFTER HE LEFT AUBURN, THEY MOVED TO ATLANTA, CONTINUED TO POUR INTO HOME SCHOOLERS, AND KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND COACHING THEM AND MENTORING AND BEING A FATHER, HE CAME DOWN WITH A CONDITION THAT NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT.

HE RECEIVED A HEART TRANSPLANT, RECOVERED MIRACULOUSLY, RIGHT BACK TO WORK VERY SOON, AND FOR TWO YEARS HE CONTINUED TO POUR INTO PEOPLE WHILE HE WAS MANAGING MULTIPLE WAFFLE HOUSES AND TRAGICALLY, THE LORD CALLED HIM HOME AND LEAVING BEHIND A WIDOW AND SIX CHILDREN, SO THIS BILL REPRESENTS THE LEGACY THAT HAS POURED INTO PEOPLE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE.

>> AND IT WOULD ALLOW HOME SCHOOLERS TO GO TO THE SCHOOL NEAR THEM OR WITHIN THEIR COUNTY, THEIR DISTRICT AND PLAY.

>> NOT JUST PLAY, ARTS AND SO ON.

>> ALL KINDS OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

>> WE HAVE THE GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION ON BOARD.

>> WE'LL KEEP UP WITH IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE DOING WELL.

>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH TWO MORE LEGISLATORS ABOUT OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PANDEMIC DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE INABILITY TO SEE LOVED ONES AND LOSING PEOPLE CLOSE TO US.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, 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 THE STATE OF GEORGIA DURING 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 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.

>>> ON THE PBS VIDEO APP, YOUR ON DEMAND LIBRARY FOR THE BEST OF PBS.

>> BEING A DETECTIVE IS A JOB FOR A MAN.

>> YET YOU DO IT EVERY DAY, WILLIAM .

>>> WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS ON GPP, I'M DONNA LOWRY, TONIGHT ON THE SHOW, WE ARE REFLECTING BACK ON THE YEAR, WHETHER YOU CONTRACTED THE VIRUS OR NOT, THE PANDEMIC HIT HARD AS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS FOUND THEMSELVES SPATTED FROM LOVED ONES DURING THE QUARANTINE.

EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEONE EITHER HOSPITALIZED WITH THE VIRUS, OR WHO MAY HAVE DIED FROM IT, LAWMAKERS ARE NO DIFFERENT.

THEY TOO HAVE GRAPPLED WITH THE LOSSES OR ARE SIMPLY NOT SEEING SOMEONE.

HERE'S SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE YESTERDAY.

>> I'M HERE FOR A FRIEND OF MINE WHO SAID GOOD-BYE TO HIS MOTHER THROUGH A HOSPITAL WINDOW WHILE HE AND HIS FAMILY STOOD ON A HELAPAD OUTSIDE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SAY GOOD-BYE IN PERSON, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR A DAUGHTER WHOSE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HEARD WHO IT TRIES TO EXPLAIN TO MAMA WHY SHE CAN'T COME SEE HER, AND IT'S FOR ALL THOSE REASONS THAT I ASK YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS BILL.

>> NOW, JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ED SESSLER, AND DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE KAREN BENNETT OF STONE MOUNTAIN.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS,".

>> REPRESENTATIVE, THOSE EMOTIONAL WORDS FROM THE SPEAKER CAME DURING A DEBATE OF YOUR BILL, HOUSE BILL 90 AND IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE, TELL US WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

>> WHAT HOUSE BILL 290 RECOGNIZES IS THAT THE ESSENTIAL FAMILY MEMBER, THE NEXT OF KIN, THE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF A PATIENT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE DELIVERY OF CARE, AND ONE THING WE HAVE LEARNED OEMP THE LAST OVER THE LAST YEAR IS THE ONE FAMILY MEMBER WHO KNOWS THE MEDICAL STATUS, NEEDS A PERSON TO HELP MAKE LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS MEDICALLY, THAT PERSON IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE MEDICAL DELIVERY TEAM.

AND THE IDEA THAT THAT PERSON SHOULD BE RENDERED TO LOOK AT THEIR LOVED ONE THROUGH THE LENS OF A PHONE IS JUST -- FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL FAR OF A CARE TEAM, THEY'RE NOT A VISITOR, THEY'RE THERE TO BE PART OF THE CORE MEDICAL DECISION MAKING AND HOUSE BILL 290 RECOGNIZES THAT.

UNDER THE CONDITION OF THE HOSPITAL OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY.

>> DID YOU HAVE A PERSONAL REASON.

>> WE GOT CALLS FROM OUR DISTRICTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, DOCTORS AND NURSES, OPPOSING US POLITICALLY, SAYING THESE CORE DECISION MAKERS, NEXT OF KIP NEED TO HAVE ACCESS, PHYSICAL ACCESS AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HOURS A DAY SO THAT DECISIONS CAN BE MADE.

IN MANY CASES THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MEDICAL STATUS THAN THE PATIENTS DO THEMSELVES, AND THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CARE THAT THIS PANDEMIC, KEEPING THEM OUT OF HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES IGNORED AND MOVING FORWARD WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT FOR PATIENTS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE BENNETT YOU ASKED TO BE EXCUSED FROM VOTING UNDER RULE 133, EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS, AND WHY YOU WANTED TO BE EXCUSED.

>> RULE 133 IS WHEN THERE'S A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

AND I WANTED TO BE EXCUSED BECAUSE I'M ALSO A PASTOR, AND I'VE GIVEN PASTORAL CARE AND CONSULTATIONS TO BOTH SIDES OF THAT ARGUMENT TO MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD TO BE ON THE OUTSIDEOVER A WINDOW TO A NURSING HOME, TO WATCH THEIR LOVED ONE OR TO SOMEONE WHO COULD NOT GO IN TO BE WITH THEIR FATHER DURING THEIR LAST MINUTES OF LIFE.

I HAVE BEEN THERE WITH FAMILIES IN THOSE SITUATIONS BUT I HAVE ALSO BEEN WITH THE FAMILY WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, RETURNED HOME, AND SHE BECAME SICK, AND THEN OTHERS GOT SICK AS WELL.

SO IT WAS A CONFLICT FOR ME BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES, AND I ASKED TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE VOTE.

>> YOU'RE ALSO A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IN ADDITION TO BEING A PASTOR.

>> I AM.

>> SO OPPONENTS OF THE BILL FROM THE MEDICAL AND NURSING INDUSTRY SAY IT WOULD FORCE FACILITIES TO ACCEPT AN INCREASED RISK OF SPREADING DISEASES LIKE COVID-19, LET'S HEAR FROM REPRESENTATIVE MARY ROBE, SHE TALKED ABOUT LOSING HER FATHER AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE HIM WHEN HE WAS SICK BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDS WHY.

SHE RUNS THROUGH A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NURSE SHE KNOWS.

>> EVERY TIME SHE HAS TO ENTER A ROOM TO TAKE CARE OF A PATIENT, SHE CHANGES HER GLOVES, SHE CHANGES HER OUTER PROTECTIVE GEAR, SHE CHANGES HER PROTECTIVE FACE SHIELD, SHE CHANGES HER FACE MASK, AND SHE ACTUALLY CHANGES HER FOOT COVERINGS.

WHEN SHE LEAVES THE ROOM, SHE REMOVED ALL OF THIS GEAR, AND SHE REPEATS THIS PROCESS BEFORE SHE ENTERS EVERY PATIENT ROOM.

SHE REPEATS THIS PROCESS OVER AND OVER, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND FOR 13 HOURS.

HB 290 WOULD NOW ALSO REQUIRE HER TO MONITOR THE TIME A PATIENT REPRESENTATIVE IS IN THE ROOM WITH THESE PATIENTS.

IS THAT REALISTIC.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE TO MONITOR WHO COMES IN AND WHO DOESN'T.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, HOUSE BILL 290 DOESN'T AFFECT VISITORS, IT AFFECTS THESE CORE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, THE ONE NEXT OF KIN DECISION MAKER.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MY SON, 22-YEAR-OLD YOUNG MAN WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH COLLEGE, WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH FACILITIES, HE HAS ACCESS TO EVERY PATIENT IN THE FACILITY AND GOES THROUGH MANY OF THE SAME PROCEDURES, WEARS MASKS, CHECKS HIS TEMPERATURE, WHY IS IT ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WHO'S A CORE MEMBER OF THE DECISION MAKING TEAM FOR THE PATIENT, IF THEY FOLLOW THE SAME PROCEDURES MY 22-YEAR-OLD SON FOLLOWS, WHY CAN'T THEY HAVE THE SAME KIND OF ACCESS, BECAUSE THEY'RE CORE AND ESSENTIAL TO THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE.

THEY'RE MAKING THE DECISIONS WITH A DOCTOR.

IF THEY FOLLOW THE SAME PROCEDURES AND JUMP THROUGHOUT WHATEVER HOOT THE HOSPITAL OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY HAS, WHY CAN'T THEY HAVE THE ACCESS THAT A YOUNG EMPLOYEE WHO'S DELIVERING MEALS TO PATIENS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BENNETT, YOU DIDN'T VOTE.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS SAYING TO ME ABOUT THIS?

>> MY CONSTITUENTS ARE GLAD THERE ARE PROTECTIONS FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ALSO REALIZE THAT HOW THIS COVID-19 VIRUS CAN BE TRANSMITTED EASILY, EVEN IN THE COMPANY OF A LOVED ONE, AND SO WITH MOUSE BILL 290, ALTHOUGH THERE IS ONE CORE CARE GIVER, THE PATIENT WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT CARE GIVER ON ANY GIVEN DAY AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

I HAVE HEARD BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY, HOWEVER, THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS UNDERSTAND WHY THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE THERE.

>> YEAH.

AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH, AND YOU AMENDED THE BILL FROM THE BEGINNING, DIDN'T YOU?

>> WE HAVE MADE ELEVEN VISIONS OF THE BILL TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY QUESTION BROUGHT TO US BY THE HOSPITALS.

THEY'RE STILL NOT HAPPY.

IT'S AN ISSUE OF CONTROL.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH ALL SIDES, TAKEN INPUT FROM EVERYBODY THROUGH THE ELEVEN REVISIONS TO NARROW IT DOWN TO THE CORE FUNCTION, TO MAKE SURE THE CORE ESSENTIAL DECISION MAKER IS THERE AT THE BEDSIDE WITH THE PATIENT AT LEAST ONE HOUR PER DAY SO NO ONE HAS TO DIE WATCHING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH THE LENS OF AN iPHONE.

>> IT GOES THROUGH THE SENATE, WHAT DO YOU FEEL THE CHANCES ARE?

>> I THINK THE SENATORS RECOGNIZE THE SAME TYPES OF THINGS.

WE HAVE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SAYING MY EMPLOYER CAN'T KNOW I'M E-MAILING YOU, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT BILL, THEY HAVE SEEN DOZENS AND DOZENS OF FAMILIES WRESTLE WITH THIS.

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THEMSELVES RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A KEY DECISION MAKER AT BEDSIDE.

WE HAVE TRIED TO LEAD WITH OUR EARS, NOT WITH OUR MOUTH ON THIS, AND I THINK THE BILL IS SOMETHING THE SENATOR CAN SUPPORT AND THE GOVERNOR CAN SIGN.

>> WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR THAT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING IN.

THIS IS REALLY A TOUGH ONE.

YOU SEEM TO TAKE ON THE TOUGH ONES, SO YOU BOTH ARE REALLY DOING, YOU KNOW, GREAT WORK DOWN THERE AT THE CAPITOL, AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS," TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 30.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.