---
title: HB 291. Health; certification of community health workers; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb291
cite_as: HB 291, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb291
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb291.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb291/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69959
date: 2026-03-27
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 791
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb291.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 291
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-03-06
last_action: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
sponsors:
- Darlene Taylor
- Katie Dempsey
- Sharon Cooper
- Karen Mathiak
- Lee Hawkins
- Karen Bennett
- Jason Anavitarte
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB291/2025
upstream_id: 1958355
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- community health workers
- health worker certification
- public health
- Department of Public Health
- healthcare workforce
---
# HB 291. Health; certification of community health workers; provide
## Text
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services offered the following
substitute to HB 291:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to
provide for the certification of community health workers; to provide for definitions; to
provide for the establishment of the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification
Committee; to provide for membership, powers, and duties of the committee; to provide for
committee abolishment and transfer of powers and duties to the Department of Public Health;
to provide for administrative support; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for
standards; to provide for the approval of training programs; to provide for application
procedures; to provide for requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for an
effective date conditioned on appropriations; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, is amended by revising
Chapter 31, which is reserved, as follows:
"CHAPTER 31
31-31-1.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) 'Certified community health worker' means an individual to whom the committee has
issued a certificate to serve as a certified community health worker based on standards
and requirements approved by the department.
(2) 'Commissioner' means the commissioner of public health.
(3) 'Committee' means the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee
established by Code Section 31-31-2.
(4) 'Community health worker' means a frontline public health worker who is a trusted
member of a community or has a demonstrated knowledge of a community and
individuals served and:
(A) Provides culturally appropriate health education, information, and outreach in
community based settings such as homes, schools, clinics, shelters, local businesses,
and community centers;
(B) Bridges or culturally mediates between individuals, communities, and health and
human services, including actively building individual and community capacity;
(C) Assures that community members access the services they need;
(D) Provides direct services, such as informal counseling, social support, care
coordination, and health screenings;
(E) Advocates for individual and community needs with an emphasis on healthcare
needs; and
(F) Provides any additional services that may emerge in the development of
community health worker practice.
(5) 'Core competencies' means the knowledge and skills a certified community health
worker is expected to demonstrate in order to carry out the mission and goals of the
profession. Such term includes, but is not limited to, communication skills; interpersonal
and relationship-building skills; service coordination and navigation skills;
capacity-building skills; patient advocacy skills; education and facilitation skills;
individual and community assessment skills; community outreach and engagement skills;
evaluation and research skills; and knowledge base.
(6) 'Department' means the Department of Public Health.
(7) 'Training program' means an education and training program that meets the
curriculum and training required for a community health worker to be eligible for
certification and that has been approved by the department based on standards and
requirements recommended by the committee. Reserved.
31-31-2.
(a) There is established the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee.
The commissioner shall appoint the 11 voting members of the committee as follows:
(1) One licensed physician with a specialization in primary care or family medicine;
(2) One licensed physician with a specialization in maternal and child health;
(3) One licensed physician with a specialization in geriatrics;
(4) One licensed social worker;
(5) Three representatives of community health worker employers, one of whom shall
represent hospitals, one of whom shall represent a federally qualified health center, and
one of whom shall represent a community based organization;
(6) One person with experience and training in public health policy, with special
consideration given to an active member of the Georgia Community Health Worker
Advocacy Coalition;
(7) Two practicing community health workers, provided that such persons are eligible
for certification as community health workers in this state and shall obtain such
certification within a time frame specified in bylaws adopted by the committee; and
(8) One active member of the Georgia Community Health Worker Advisory Board.
(b) The commissioner shall appoint two department representatives to serve as nonvoting
members of the committee.
(c) Any voting member of the committee shall serve a two-year term, and no such member
shall serve on the committee for more than two consecutive full terms. A member
appointed for less than a full term may serve two consecutive full terms, and a former
member shall be eligible again for appointment after a lapse of one or more years.
(d) If there is a vacancy on the committee, such position shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment. Members of the committee may be removed from office by
the commissioner under the same conditions for removal from office of members of
professional licensing boards provided in Code Section 43-1-17.
(e) Members shall serve without compensation, but they may be reimbursed by the
department, subject to fund availability, in the same manner as state officials and
employees for travel and other expenses actually incurred by them in carrying out their
duties as members of the committee.
(f) The committee shall be abolished June 30, 2030, and the powers and duties of the
committee shall transfer to the department upon such abolishment.
31-31-3.
(a) The committee shall meet at least quarterly and may meet at such other times at the call
of the chairperson or by a majority of the members as necessary to transact its business.
Such meetings may be conducted in person, by telephone, by virtual means, or any
combination thereof.
(b) The committee shall elect a chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary from among
its membership. Such officers shall serve for terms of two years.
(c) A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum and shall have
the authority to act upon any matter properly brought before the committee. The
committee shall follow all policies and procedures of Chapter 14 of Title 50, relating to
open and public meetings.
(d) The committee shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To make recommendations to the department on the standards and requirements for
approval of training programs and a means for programs providing education and training
to community health workers prior to July 1, 2027, to become approved training
programs;
(2) To make recommendations to the department on the standards and requirements for
the certification of community health workers and a means for individuals employed or
engaged as community health workers prior to July 1, 2027, to become certified
community health workers;
(3) To make recommendations to the department on the standards and a means to assess
the mastery of core competencies necessary for an individual to become a certified
community health worker;
(4) To provide for an expedited means for a community health worker duly certified in
another jurisdiction to become a certified community health worker in this state;
(5) To make recommendations to the department on the establishment of tiered levels of
practice for certified community health workers and requirements for each established
level, including a level that qualifies a certified community health worker to act as an
educator or trainer in an approved training program;
(6) To establish a process for the receipt, review, approval, and denial of applications for
certification;
(7) To establish a process for the receipt and review of complaints related to the practice
of certified community health workers;
(8) To establish disciplinary procedures and actions, including revocation or denial of
a certificate issued, or a combination of the foregoing; and
(9) To perform such other functions and duties in order to protect public health, safety,
and welfare as may be required to carry out this chapter.
(e) The department shall provide reasonably necessary administrative support for
committee activities.
(f) The department shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provisions of this article, including recommendations from the committee.
31-31-4.
(a) All training programs in this state shall satisfy the requirements established by the
department. No entity shall hold itself out as providing training and education for certified
community health workers in this state unless its training program has been approved by
the committee.
(b) The department shall post on its website the requirements and the application form for
a training program to become approved and for the renewal of such approvals. Such
requirements shall include 45 hours of core competency training, of which 16 hours shall
include training on specific health topics.
(c) An applicant for an approved training program shall submit an application to the
committee demonstrating satisfaction of the requirements for a training program and pay
a fee set by the department; provided, however, that, if an applicant provided education and
training to community health workers prior to July 1, 2027, such applicant shall submit an
application to the committee demonstrating satisfaction of requirements for such program,
pay a fee set by the department, and provide a list of students who successfully completed
such program at any time from January 1, 2016, to July 1, 2027.
(d) An application is not complete until the committee has received all the required
materials. The committee shall notify the applicant within 15 calendar days after receipt
of an application whether such application is complete or incomplete and identify any
materials that are needed to complete such application. When the applicant fails to provide
the required documentation within 120 calendar days of notification, the committee may
administratively close such application or deny the application. An applicant whose
application is administratively closed or denied may reapply and submit a new application
and a new application fee.
(e) The approvals of training programs under this Code section shall be valid for up to two
years and shall expire biennially unless renewed. Suspension and revocation of approvals
shall be subject to the administrative procedures contained in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the
'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.'
31-31-5.
(a) The title 'certified community health worker' shall only be used by individuals who
have met the requirements and qualifications for certification as a community health
worker as established by the committee and have been duly certified by the committee. An
individual certified as a community health worker shall identify himself or herself as a
certified community health worker during any patient interactions and shall not utilize any
other titles that such individual is not certified or licensed to use.
(b) The department shall post on its website the requirements and the application form for
a community health worker to become certified and for the renewals of such certificates.
(c) An applicant for a certified community health worker shall submit an application to the
committee demonstrating satisfaction of the requirements for a certified community health
worker and pay a fee set by the department. A certified community health worker shall:
(1) Be 18 years of age or older;
(2) Possess a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent;
(3) Not be ineligible for certification on grounds established by the committee;
(4) Provide professional references, one of which shall be a current or former supervisor,
with direct knowledge of the applicant's work and ability in the core competencies for
community health workers;
(5)(A) Have received satisfactory results from criminal background checks. The
committee is authorized to conduct and receive criminal background checks, including,
but not limited to, by the submission of fingerprints or other identifying information to
the Federal Bureau of Investigation through the Georgia Crime Information Center. In
order to determine an applicant's suitability for certification as a community health
worker, the committee shall require the applicant to furnish the committee with a full
set of fingerprints or other identifying information as may be necessary to enable
criminal background checks to be conducted.
(B) The committee shall submit the fingerprints or other identifying information
furnished by an applicant to the Georgia Crime Information Center. The Georgia
Crime Information Center is authorized to submit such fingerprints or information to
the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal background check. The
Georgia Crime Information Center shall notify the committee in writing of its findings,
including, but not limited to, the inability to identify a criminal record. Any findings
received by the committee shall be used for the exclusive purpose of carrying out its
responsibilities under this Code section, shall not be public records, shall be
confidential, and shall not be disclosed to any other person or agency, except to any
person or agency which otherwise has a legal right to inspect such data. Any records
obtained in furtherance of this Code section shall be maintained by the committee
pursuant to laws regarding such records and the rules and regulations of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Crime Information Center as applicable.
(C) By applying for a license under this article, an applicant consents to the
performance of criminal background checks as provided for in this paragraph. The
applicant shall be responsible for any fees associated with the performance of such
background checks;
(6) Submit proof of successful completion of an approved training program and 2,000
hours of employment as a community health worker within ten years of the date of
application; and
(7) Satisfy any other requirements established by rules and regulations promulgated by
the department.
(d) An applicant may satisfy the requirement provided in paragraph (6) of subsection (c)
of this Code section if such applicant submits an application prior to July 1, 2028, and
proof of:
(1) Successful completion of an education and training program for community health
workers completed between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2027, and 2,000 hours of
employment as a community health worker within ten years of the date of application as
established by the committee; or
(2) At least 4,000 hours of employment as a community health worker within ten years
of the date of application and an attestation from an employer that such applicant
performed duties that included core competencies and is competent to perform activities
as a certified community health worker as established by the committee.
(e) An application for a certified community health worker is not complete until the
committee has received all the required materials. The committee shall notify the applicant
within 15 calendar days after receipt of an application whether such application is complete
or incomplete and identify any materials that are needed to complete such application.
When the applicant fails to provide the required documentation within 120 calendar days
of notification, the committee may administratively close such application or deny the
application. An applicant whose application is administratively closed or denied may
reapply and submit a new application and a new application fee.
(f) Certificates issued pursuant to this Code section shall be valid for up to two years and
shall expire biennially unless renewed. Suspension and revocation of certificates shall be
subject to the administrative procedures contained in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia
Administrative Procedure Act.'"
SECTION 2.
(a) This Act shall become effective only if funds are specifically appropriated for the
purposes of this Act in an appropriations Act enacted by the General Assembly.
(b) If funds are so appropriated, then this Act shall become effective on the later of:
(1) The date on which such appropriations Act becomes effective; or
(2) The beginning date of the fiscal year for which such appropriations are made.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia Senate substitute for HB 291 would create a statewide certification system for community health workers, including a new state committee to set training and licensing standards.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia currently has no official state certification for community health workers, the frontline workers who connect underserved communities to health services. This bill adds a new chapter to Georgia law creating the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee, an 11 member group appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health, made up of doctors, a social worker, employer representatives, a policy expert, and practicing community health workers.
The committee would recommend standards for approving training programs and certifying individuals as community health workers, and the Department of Public Health would carry out those standards and issue certificates. Applicants would need to be 18 or older, have a high school diploma, pass a criminal background check, and complete an approved training program plus 2,000 hours of work experience, with alternate paths for people already working in the field before mid-2027. The committee would be abolished in 2030, with its duties shifting to the department. The law only takes effect once the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it.
### What it does
- Creates the Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee, an 11 voting member body appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health, to recommend certification and training standards.
- Requires the Department of Public Health to approve training programs, which must include 45 hours of core competency training, 16 of which cover specific health topics.
- Sets certification requirements for community health workers, including age, education, background checks, and 2,000 hours of relevant work experience.
- Restricts use of the title 'certified community health worker' to people who have actually earned that certification.
- Sets certificates and training program approvals to expire every two years unless renewed, with disciplinary and appeal procedures under Georgia's Administrative Procedure Act.
- Automatically abolishes the committee on June 30, 2030 and transfers its powers to the Department of Public Health, and ties the whole law's effective date to a future state budget appropriation.
### Who it affects
Community health workers currently employed without formal certification, people seeking to enter the profession, organizations and training programs that educate them, employers such as hospitals and federally qualified health centers, and the Department of Public Health, which would administer the new certification system.
### Why it matters
If funded, Georgians who work as community health workers would gain an official state credential, which could affect job eligibility and pay, while patients would gain a way to verify that someone using the title has met state training and background check standards. Training providers would need state approval to keep operating.
### Key provisions
- Code Section 31-31-1 defines key terms including 'certified community health worker,' 'community health worker,' and 'core competencies.'
- Code Section 31-31-2 establishes the 11 member Georgia Community Health Worker Certification Committee and sets two-year terms, with the committee abolished June 30, 2030.
- Code Section 31-31-3 gives the committee power to recommend certification and training standards, handle complaints, and impose discipline, subject to Georgia's open meetings law.
- Code Section 31-31-4 requires training programs to be approved by the committee and includes a 45-hour core competency curriculum requirement.
- Code Section 31-31-5 sets individual certification requirements, including background checks through the Georgia Crime Information Center and 2,000 hours of work experience, with alternate paths for people working before July 1, 2027 or 2028.
- Section 2 makes the entire Act effective only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it.
## Status
- Status: Engrossed (2025-03-06)
- Last action: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (2026-03-27)
- Sponsors: Darlene Taylor, Katie Dempsey, Sharon Cooper, Karen Mathiak, Lee Hawkins, Karen Bennett, Jason Anavitarte
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69959
> The history, votes, and amendments (791 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb291.md?full=1