HR 593: House Study Committee on Maternal, Prenatal, and Pediatric Care Access and Funding; create

House Resolution 593

By: Representatives Newton of the 127th, Taylor of the 173rd, Greene of the 154th, Hawkins of the 27th, and Williams of the 168th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Maternal, Prenatal, and Pediatric Care Access and Funding; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, maternal, prenatal, and pediatric care is critical to the health of mothers and the health and development of infants; and

WHEREAS, Georgia currently ranks forty-ninth in maternal deaths in the United States; and

WHEREAS, prenatal care can help prevent complications and inform pregnant women about steps they can take to protect their infant and ensure a healthy pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, significant variability in funding capacity of healthcare facilities and providers across regions of the state affects access to maternal, prenatal, and pediatric healthcare; and

WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to conduct a study to evaluate maternal, prenatal, and pediatric healthcare in this state, identify any barriers that may exist to access such healthcare, explore potential additional sources of funding to improve access, identify any workforce and infrastructure needs that may exist, and identify potential solutions.

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

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Maternal, Prenatal, and Pediatric Care Access and Funding.

(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. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee 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. No fewer than two meetings shall be conducted in a county with a rural hospital organization, as such term is defined in Code Section 31-8-9.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

(5) Allowances and funding. 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. 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, 2025.