HR 1579: House Study Committee on Hospital/Homebound (HHB) Services and Medically Fragile Student Attendance; create

House Resolution 1579

By: Representatives Santos of the 117th, Lupton of the 83rd, McQueen of the 61st, and Au of the 50th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Hospital/Homebound (HHB) Services and Medically Fragile Student Attendance; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, all students in this state are entitled to equitable and timely access to instructional services that support academic progress, consistent attendance, and on-time graduation; and

WHEREAS, students who qualify for hospital/homebound (HHB) services, including those who are medically fragile or experiencing significant physical or mental health challenges, often rely on such services as their primary means of accessing a public education during periods of medical need; and

WHEREAS, delays in the initiation of HHB services and variations in service delivery across local school systems may result in lost instructional time, reduced credit accrual, and increased risk of chronic absenteeism; and

WHEREAS, chronic absenteeism is a key indicator of academic performance and graduation outcomes and has been identified as a statewide priority for improvement; and

WHEREAS, local school systems currently utilize differing staffing models, funding approaches, and instructional methods to provide HHB services, and a review of such models, approaches, and methods may identify strategies to improve efficiency, access, and student success; and

WHEREAS, students returning from HHB placement frequently require structured and coordinated reintegration into the traditional school setting in order to maintain academic progress and support their long-term well-being; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive study of HHB services and medically fragile student attendance will allow the House of Representatives to hear from educators, families, medical providers, the Department of Education, and other stakeholders and to develop informed recommendations for any needed legislative action; and

WHEREAS, improving student attendance and supporting medically fragile students align with this state's commitment to educational opportunity and workforce readiness.

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

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Hospital/Homebound (HHB) Services and Medically Fragile Student Attendance.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives with one of such number designated as chairperson of the committee.

(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, expenses, 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; except that funds for the reimbursement of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative members, and for the reimbursement of expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective agencies.

(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.