HB154: HB154 Emergency medical services; designate ambulance services as an essential service

26 LC 60 0344S The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services offered the following substitute to HB 154: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 general provisions relative to state government, so as to require the Governor to request that2 the United States Secretary of Transportation place this state in the Atlantic standard time3 zone; to provide for observance in this state of such standard time year round subject to4 approval of the Governor's request and until such time as the U nited States Congress5 authorizes the states to observe daylight saving time year round; to provide for a short title;6 to provide for legislative findings; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Sunshine Protection Act."10 SECTION 2.11 Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to general12 provisions relative to state government, is amended by repealin g Code Section 50-1-10,13 relating to daylight savings time year round and contingent implementation, and enacting a14 new Code Section 50-1-10 to read as follows:15 - 1 - 26 LC 60 0344S "50-1-10.16 (a) The General Assembly finds that:17 (1) The citizens of Georgia would benefit from increased eveni ng daylight for18 commerce, recreation, and family activities;19 (2) The twice-yearly change between standard time and daylight saving time disrupts20 sleep, commerce, transportation scheduling, and school schedules;21 (3) Congress has considered but has not enacted legislation authorizing states to observe22 daylight saving time year round; and23 (4) The State of Georgia should pursue lawful means to secure permanent daylight24 saving time while maintaining alignment with national economic and transportation25 systems.26 (b) As used in this Code section, the term 'state' includes all political subdivisions thereof.27 (c)(1) Not later than December 31, 2026, the Governor shall re quest that the United28 States Secretary of Transportation place this state in the Atlantic standard time zone.29 (2) Subject to the approval of such request by the United Stat es Secretary of30 Transportation and subsection (d) of this Code section, this state shall observe Atlantic31 standard time year round as the standard time of the entire state and shall be exempt from32 the advancement of clocks by one hour during designated periods, commonly known as33 daylight saving time, as provided for in 15 U.S.C. Section 260a.34 (d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if at any time the United35 States Congress amends 15 U.S.C. Section 260a to authorize states to observe daylight36 saving time year round, this state shall observe daylight savin g time year round in the37 eastern standard time zone as the standard time of this state.38 (2) If this state is placed in the Atlantic standard time zone pursuant to subsection (c) of39 this Code section prior to an authorization of the United States Congress as described in40 paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Governor shall request th at the United States41 Secretary of Transportation place this state in the eastern sta ndard time zone, and42 - 2 - 26 LC 60 0344S paragraph (1) of this subsection shall become effective only up on approval of such43 request."44 SECTION 3.45 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.46 - 3 -