HB1167: HB1167 Sleep Health Awareness Week; second week in March of each year; designate

26 LC 65 0026 House Bill 1167 By: Representatives Dawson of the 65th, Hawkins of the 27th, Greene of the 154th, Kelley of the 16th, Glaize of the 67th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 and Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code1 of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and observances and general provisions relative2 to the Department of Public Health, respectively, so as to desi gnate the second week in3 March of each year as "Sleep Health Awareness Week" in Georgia; to encourage the4 Department of Public Health to integrate sleep hygiene educatio n; to provide for the5 Department of Public Health to voluntarily exchange information regarding sleep hygiene6 education; to provide for legislative findings and declarations; to provide for related matters;7 to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 The General Assembly finds that:11 (1) Sleep is a fundamental pillar of health, as essential to h uman life and well-being as 12 proper nutrition and physical activity;13 (2) Quality sleep is necessary for the body to repair itself, for the brain to process 14 information, and for the maintenance of long-term mental and physical health;15 H. B. 1167 - 1 - 26 LC 65 0026 (3) Chronic lack of sleep is linked to a higher risk of serious health conditions, including 16 heart disease, diabetes, and a weakened immune system; and17 (4) Increasing public awareness about the importance of restora tive sleep can improve 18 the safety, productivity, and overall quality of life for all citizens of Georgia.19 SECTION 2.20 Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and21 observances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:22 "1-4-28.23 (a) The second week of March of each year, commencing on the second Sunday of such24 month to coincide with the historic onset of daylight savings time, is designated as 'Sleep25 Health Awareness Week' in Georgia.26 (b) This designation serves to promote public awareness regard ing the physiological27 effects of circadian disruption and the documented statistical increase in adverse28 cardiovascular events associated with the annual loss of sleep." 29 SECTION 3.30 Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to31 general provisions relative to the Department of Public Health, is amended by adding a new32 Code section to read as follows: 33 "31-2A-21.34 (a) The department is encouraged to integrate sleep hygiene education into existing public35 health frameworks as a foundational component of chronic disease prevention and mental36 health wellness.37 (b) Pursuant to Code Section 1-4-28, during Sleep Health Aware ness Week, the38 department may facilitate the voluntary exchange of information and best practices in the39 following strategic areas:40 H. B. 1167 - 2 - 26 LC 65 0026 (1) Neurocognitive development: disseminating research on the impact of sleep on41 adolescent learning, memory consolidation, and academic performance;42 ( 2 ) C l i n i c a l p r a c t i c e a n d h e a l t h c a r e s y s t e m s : e n c o u r a g i n g t h e awareness of sleep43 hygiene in primary care and the study of evidence based shift s cheduling to reduce44 diagnostic errors and promote sleep hygiene for healthcare prov iders with demanding45 schedules;46 (3) Workforce and economic policy: highlighting the correlation between sleep hygiene47 and workplace safety, employee productivity, and the mitigation of sleep related48 economic losses;49 (4) Public safety and transportation: promoting awareness of the cognitive impairments50 associated with drowsy driving;51 (5) Chronic disease prevention: providing information on the causal relationship between52 insufficient sleep and the prevalence of obesity, oncological risk, and neurodegenerative53 disorders;54 (6) Mental health and suicide prevention: promoting awareness of the clinical link55 between sleep disruption and acute emotional dysregulation, emphasizing sleep hygiene56 as a modifiable risk factor in suicide prevention frameworks and psychiatric stability; and57 (7) Maternal and infant health: disseminating evidence based g uidelines regarding the58 critical role of safe sleep hygiene in reducing the incidence o f Sudden Infant Death59 Syndrome and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, emphasizing enviro nmental risk60 mitigation and the integration of caregiver sleep education int o neonatal and postnatal61 care frameworks."62 SECTION 4.63 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.64 H. B. 1167 - 3 -