Welcome to the 2016 Legislative Update! During the legislative session we will be reporting weekly on activities taking place at the Capitol with regards to mental health/co-occurring substance use. The session, which runs 40 legislative days, will last until approximately the third week of March. This is the second year of the 2-year session, meaning that bills which did not die in committee last year are still viable.

There have already been several bills dropped which impact mental health. The following is a summary of the bills in the House and Senate that Mental Health America of Georgia is monitoring:

 

This bill brings up the difficult subject of involuntary hospitalization for people with mental illness. The bill outlines procedures for involuntary commitment; in particular, it establishes the requirement for a Committee for Continued Involuntary Treatment Review at each hospital. As described in the bill, this committee would consist of physicians and possibly psychologists. This is a medical model which does not take into account the knowledge and recommendations of people with lived experience. The bill also addresses the right of the individual to receive written notice of his/her right to petition for a writ of habeas corpus [legal action by which people can seek relief from involuntary detention]. Also included in the language of the bill would be a period, not to exceed one year, where a person could be ordered into involuntary treatment. The bill does not indicate specific times or procedures for any reviews during this period of time.

This bill has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, but no date for a hearing has been scheduled.

This joint resolution requests the formation of a Study Committee on Mental Health Initiatives, Reform, Public Health, and Safety.  Mental Health America of Georgia is interested in determining what direction this study would take in addressing mental health concerns.

The resolution has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee; no date for a hearing has been scheduled.

This bill would require health care providers to periodically discuss with individuals whether they would like to designate a family member or other individual with whom the provider can discuss the individual's medical condition. The bill specifies that the signed authorization would include an expiration date, parameters for the type of health information to be discussed, and would make clear that the individual may revoke or modify the authorization at any time. This bill is intended to provide individuals with the opportunity to waive HIPAA protection for a specified person.

The bill has been referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee, but no date for a hearing has been scheduled.

This bill addresses the ongoing legislative conversation surrounding medical use of cannabis products in the state of Georgia. This legislation would increase who would be covered under the category of medical necessity, as well as the legal percentage of THC permitted in medical products. The bill is inclusive of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, among other specified conditions.

This bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, and the first hearing began on January 25 ^th, 2016, with presentations from stakeholders who support the passage of the bill. Future hearings have not yet been scheduled.

This bill is a House Resolution in conjunction with the Senate Resolution (SR 722) to establish a Study Committee on Mental Health Initiatives, Reform, Public Health, and Safety. As with the Senate resolution, Mental Health America of Georgia is interested in determining the direction of this committee.

The resolution has been referred to the House Special Rules Committee; no hearing has been scheduled.

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You can follow all of these as well as future bills at www.legis.ga.gov. This website also posts the schedule and agenda for committee meetings. If you plan to attend a committee meeting on a mental health/co-occurring substance use issue, please contact Ellyn Jeager ( [email protected] ) or Sarah Yoss ( [email protected] ).

Ellyn Jeager, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy
Sarah Yoss, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator

MHA of GA is a leader in the mental health advocacy community. You can learn more on our website, www.mhageorgia.org.