HR590: HR590 House Study Committee on Telecommunications Services and Programs for the Hearing and Visually Impaired; create

25 LC 55 9005 House Resolution 590 By: Representatives Dickey of the 134th, Parsons of the 44th, Martin of the 49th, Williams of the 37th, and Anderson of the 10th A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Telecommunications Services and Programs for the1 Hearing and Visually Impaired; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the Public Service Commission, by an Act of the General Assembly, approved3 April 11, 1990 (Ga. L. 1990, p. 1118), was directed to establish, implement, administer, and4 promote a state-wide single provider dual party relay service; and5 WHEREAS, further Acts of the General Assembly directed the Public Service Commission6 to provide an audible universal information access service, telecommunications equipment7 distribution program, and other hearing technology; and8 WHEREAS, the dual party relay service and other such programs have benefitted the deaf9 and hard of hearing community and the blind community in Georgia for decades; and10 WHEREAS, the advent of newer technology over the past 35 years has resulted in a11 significant reduction in the usage of the dual party relay service in particular; and12 W H E R E A S , t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y , i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f f i s c a l r e s p o nsibility and good13 governance, seeks the guidance of the deaf and hard of hearing community and the blind14 H. R. 590 - 1 - 25 LC 55 9005 community, as well as other stakeholders and concerned citizens , to determine whether15 legislation is needed to address the current and future need of such service and programs as16 well as the assistance needs of Georgians with auditory, speech, or visual impairments.17 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:18 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee19 on Telecommunications Services and Programs for the Hearing and Visually Impaired.20 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the21 House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of22 Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson23 of the committee.24 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,25 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or26 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.27 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee28 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or29 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and30 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.31 (5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive32 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Offic ial Code of Georgia33 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any34 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized.35 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds36 appropriated to the House of Representatives.37 (6) Report.38 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that39 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the40 H. R. 590 - 2 - 25 LC 55 9005 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to41 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.42 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for43 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)44 of this paragraph.45 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of46 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.47 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with48 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.49 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the50 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu51 thereof.52 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.53 H. R. 590 - 3 -