SB290: SB290 Health; certification of community health workers; provide

Community health workers are frontline workers who help connect people in their communities to health services, but Georgia currently has no formal certification process for them. This bill would add a new chapter to Georgia's health code (O.C.G.A. Title 31) creating the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee, an 11 voting member body appointed by the commissioner of public health, to set standards for training programs and for certifying individual workers. The bill spells out who can serve on the committee, how long members serve, and how the committee runs its meetings. It requires the Department of Public Health to approve training programs (at least 45 hours of coursework) and to certify workers who complete training, pass a background check, and meet other requirements. The committee would be abolished on June 30, 2029, with its duties shifting to the department. The whole law only takes effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it.

• Creates a new legal category, 'certified community health worker,' that can only be used by people certified through the new state process.
• Establishes an 11 member Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee appointed by the commissioner of public health to set training and certification standards.
• Requires training programs for community health workers to be approved by the committee and to include at least 45 hours of core competency training, 16 of which cover specific health topics.
• Requires applicants for certification to be 18 or older, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, pass a fingerprint based background check, and complete 2,000 hours of work experience plus approved training.
• Sets certificates and training program approvals to expire every two years unless renewed, and creates a complaint and discipline process for certified workers.
• Abolishes the committee on June 30, 2029 and transfers its powers to the Department of Public Health, with the whole act taking effect only if the legislature appropriates funding for it.

Community health workers currently employed or seeking this role, organizations and training programs that educate them, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and community based organizations that employ them, and the Department of Public Health and its new certification committee, which would administer the program.

If funded, Georgians who work as community health workers would need state certification to use that title, which could standardize training quality and create a clearer, statewide credential. Patients and employers could rely on a defined set of qualifications, though the change depends entirely on future budget appropriations.

• Code Section 31-31-1 defines key terms including 'community health worker,' 'core competencies,' and 'training program.'
• Code Section 31-31-2 establishes the 11 voting member Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee, appointed by the commissioner, with two-year terms and a sunset date of June 30, 2029.
• Code Section 31-31-3 sets committee meeting rules, quorum requirements, and its powers to recommend certification and training standards, review complaints, and discipline certified workers.
• Code Section 31-31-4 requires training programs to meet department standards, including 45 hours of core training with 16 hours on specific health topics, and sets a two-year renewal cycle for program approval.
• Code Section 31-31-5 sets certification requirements for individuals, including age, education, background check, and 2,000 hours of work experience, with transition rules for workers already active before July 1, 2026 or 2027.
• Section 2 makes the entire act contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating funds for it in a future appropriations act.

1. 2025-02-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-26Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)Primary sponsor

• community health workers
• health certification
• public health workforce
• Department of Public Health
• health training programs