The twenty-first legislative day was a little busier with Committee activities. The concern about making more budget cuts was rampant, and several leaders of the Appropriations Committees expressed their thought that the clean up of the Noble crematorium would cost a significant amount of additional dollars.

The Governor's staff and Consumer's Insurance Advocate shared a bill relating to verification of benefits and precertification of certain procedures around the clock. The Governor then announced the introduction of this SB 476 in an afternoon press conference. He is attempting to make it easier for providers to acquire health plan approval of procedures and to limit retroactive audits of claims.

FLOOR ACTION

The House dealt with 15 bills, but many continue to be pieces of local legislation.

HB 1156 redefines a foreign corporation and affects how banks and their subsidiaries register here. It requires registration of financial institutions from any other state, while previously only banks from the bordering states were deemed foreign. HB 1238 passed and changed the rules allowing medical bills coming into evidence in trials. HB 1155 dealt with rehab suppliers and their charges in workers compensation cases and HB 1104 repealed the sunset provisions in regard to clerk's fees.

The Senate passed five bills. SB 323 dealt with collections and disbursements by the Department of Revenue.

COMMITTEE ACTION

House Insurance committee passed out Rep. Channell's mandate for colorectal cancer screening.

The House Human Development and Aging. Committee held a hearing on the optometrists HB 1199 dealing with the ongoing battle about wider prescribing practices.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee quickly passed a substitute for HB 498, the mental health reorganization bill and passed HB 652 dealing with nurse workforce issues. It also passed SB 145 prohibiting the free provision of phlebotomists to physicians by clinical labs.

The House Judiciary Committee was active. It passed HB 1253 concerning letters of credit; HB 991 relating to workers compensation; SB 346 easing service of process in foreign countries; and HB 1116, by substitute, clarifying the discretion of trial judges to allow additional evidence or witnesses after pretrial orders under strict circumstances. It also passed HB 1224 at DHR's request relating to child support awards.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Community Health heard testimony from Russ Toal of the Cancer Coalition and numerous community groups about the big budget. The subcommittee remains very interested in the rural hospital issues and there were renewed pleas for relief from large increases in malpractice insurance premiums. It was as yet unclear how the subcommittee would react to the additional budget cuts the Governor is requesting. The Cancer Coalition detailed its additional cancer state aid and proposed new screening activities.

NEW INTRODUCED LEGISLATION

HB 1452 by Rep Shaw allows automobile insurers to file and use new rates under certain circumstances.

HB 1455 by the Republican leadership proposes to exempt from the Employment Security law services performed by the owner of a Subchapter S corporation.

HB 1460 by Rep Byrd creates a specialty license plate for the Thank Mom and Dad fund.

HB 1461 by Rep Royal allows the carry forward of state income tax credits for qualified research expenditures.

HB 1462, also by Was and Means vice Chair Royal, allows a new sales tax exemption for certain biotechnology business research, product development, and manufacturing. His HB 1463 allows an income tax credit for high tech business investments. And HB 1464 provides a similar credit for technology upgrades for qualified manufacturing companies.

HB 1467 by Rep. Byrd (he also had a busy day) raises the threshold for dealers paying sales and use tax.

HB 1479 by Rep Hardin require certain security precautions by hotels and motel, motels, inns, and apartment hotels.

HB 1481, led by Rep Snow from Walker County, proposes to create new criminal standards for the disposition of dead bodies, obviously addressing the abuses of the crematorium in Noble, Georgia.

SB 468 by Sen. James -proposes alterations to the standards for ambulance licenses.

SB 469 by Sens. Marable, Starr, Mullis and others is one Senate proposal dealing with funeral home licenses and their policing of the crematoriums they use.

SB 470 by Sens. Hill, Thomas, Tate, Butler and Dr. Thomas proposes to establish the Seniors prescription Drug Benefit Program within DCH that several of the pharmaceutical companies pushing.

SB 472 by Sens. Butler, Thomas and Dr. Thomas allows self administration of asthma medication by minor children at school.

SB 474 by Sen. Mullis and others also deals with new criminal offenses in improperly dealing with dead bodies.