[January 31, 2022] | We are in week three of the legislative session in Atlanta, and it is in full swing. I looked, and besides our meeting in the House Chamber at 10 in the am each day, there were 30 meetings of committees and subcommittees also held throughout the week to discuss issues that impact us.
The biggest news of the week came on Wednesday morning as Speaker David Ralston filed House Bill 1013. This bipartisan bill would bring monumental and comprehensive reforms to our state?s mental health care delivery system. This issue has affected so many in so many different ways, and it has been tough to address. Speaker Ralston took the bull by the horns on this one. HB 1013 incorporates many recommendations made by the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission, which was established by the General Assembly in 2019. This commission has worked tirelessly over the last three years to conduct a comprehensive review of the state?s behavioral health system and will continue to identify other areas that need to be overhauled. House Bill 1013 would increase patient access to care by expanding the list of practitioners who are able to see patients, expanding telemedicine options, and requiring insurers to cover certain mental health services, among other provisions. The bill would also ensure mental health parity for providers and patients so that mental health coverage is equal to physical health coverage. HB 1013 would strengthen the state?s mental health workforce development initiatives by providing service cancelable loans for mental health/medical professionals who work in pediatrics, psychiatry, mental health, and substance abuse care. Additionally, this legislation would expand the state?s transparency and accountability requirements for consumers, as well as enhance resources and tools for frontline responders and local communities. Mental health reform will likely be one of the most important issues we address this legislative session as nearly every family has been touched by mental health struggles, especially during the last two years, and House Bill 1013 would take the necessary first steps to address this dire issue. After being introduced, this legislation was assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee, and I will share additional details as the bill makes its way through the legislative process.
We also had a visit from newly elected Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens who joined us in the House Chamber on Monday. The 61st mayor of Atlanta was invited by the Speaker of the House to address the body and share some of his goals with us. During his remarks, Mayor Dickens laid out a few of his priorities, including recruiting 250 officers to the Atlanta Police Department, reducing violent crime and finding sustainable solutions that allow those experiencing homelessness to live with dignity. We legislators are also looking at a number of pieces of legislation that will hopefully help address the raging crime issue in Atlanta also.
I try in this article to pick one or two things I think our communities may be interested in. I know you may hear of many other issues from different sources. If you have questions, please reach out to me about these policies that interest you. You can contact me at the Capitol at 404-646-7153, and you can email me at rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov, or stop me in the grocery store.
As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative; look forward to hearing from you.