HR 1393: House Study Committee on Rural Hospitals; create

House Resolution 1393

By: Representatives Myles of the 126th, Hugley of the 141st, Williams of the 168th, Buckner of the 137th, Greene of the 154th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Rural Hospitals; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, far too many Georgians lack access to healthcare services; and

WHEREAS, hospitals in rural communities are needed to provide area residents with access to healthcare services; and

WHEREAS, the state of Georgia has one of the highest rates of rural hospital closures over the last ten years; and

WHEREAS, the number of hospitals in rural communities in this state has been declining for many years; and

WHEREAS, without at least one hospital in a rural community, area residents often must travel great distances to receive needed medical care; and

WHEREAS, the presence of hospitals, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, administrative personnel, and other professionals in a rural community helps that community to thrive; and

WHEREAS, Georgia needs hospitals in rural communities to meet the needs of patients, particularly in obstetrical, cancer, mental health, surgical, emergency care, and other types of healthcare; and

WHEREAS, rural hospitals face an ongoing financial crisis; and

WHEREAS, rural hospitals have numerous needs that should be examined including but not limited to the need for more physicians and other medical professionals as well as greater access to telemedicine and high speed internet connectivity; and

WHEREAS, legislation addressing the needs of hospitals in rural communities should be recommended by a study committee and considered by the House of Representatives in the 2027 legislative session.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Rural Hospitals.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of nine members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:

(A) Five members of the House of Representatives of whom at least three shall have active professional backgrounds in healthcare settings and at least two shall be from the minority party. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee;

(B) One citizen representative who serves in an executive role in a rural hospital;

(C) One citizen representative who practices medicine as a full-time employee of a rural hospital;

(D) One citizen representative who does not practice medicine but provides other healthcare services in a rural hospital; and

(E) One citizen representative who has expertise in healthcare costs and the operation of hospitals in a rural setting.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding.

(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

(B) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state employees.

(C) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.