HR1393: HR1393 House Study Committee on Rural Hospitals; create

26 LC 46 1322 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.1 WHEREAS, far too many Georgians lack access to healthcare services; and2 WHEREAS, hospitals in rural communities are needed to provide area residents with access3 to healthcare services; and4 WHEREAS, the state of Georgia has one of the highest rates of rural hospital closures over5 the last ten years; and6 WHEREAS, the number of hospitals in rural communities in this state has been declining for7 many years; and8 WHEREAS, without at least one hospital in a rural community, ar ea residents often must9 travel great distances to receive needed medical care; and10 WHEREAS, the presence of hospitals, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, administrative11 personnel, and other professionals in a rural community helps that community to thrive; and12 H. R. 1393 - 1 - 26 LC 46 1322 WHEREAS, Georgia needs hospitals in rural communities to meet t he needs of patients,13 particularly in obstetrical, cancer, mental health, surgical, emergency care, and other types14 of healthcare; and15 WHEREAS, rural hospitals face an ongoing financial crisis; and16 WHEREAS, rural hospitals have numerous needs that should be examined including but not17 limited to the need for more physicians and other medical profe ssionals as well as greater18 access to telemedicine and high speed internet connectivity; and19 WHEREAS, legislation addressing the needs of hospitals in rural communities should be20 recommended by a study committee and considered by the House of Representatives in the21 2027 legislative session.22 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:23 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee24 on Rural Hospitals.25 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of nine members to be26 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:27 (A) Five members of the House of Representatives of whom at least three shall have28 active professional backgrounds in healthcare settings and at least two shall be from the29 minority party. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member30 of the committee as chairperson of the committee;31 (B) One citizen representative who serves in an executive role in a rural hospital;32 (C) One citizen representative who practices medicine as a ful l-time employee of a33 rural hospital;34 H. R. 1393 - 2 - 26 LC 46 1322 (D) One citizen representative who does not practice medicine but provides other35 healthcare services in a rural hospital; and36 (E) One citizen representative who has expertise in healthcare costs and the operation37 of hospitals in a rural setting.38 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,39 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or40 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.41 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee42 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or43 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and44 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.45 (5) Allowances and funding.46 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided47 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.48 (B) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state of ficials, or state49 employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that50 specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Offi cial Code of Georgia51 Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance a uthorized for state52 employees.53 (C) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member54 of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds55 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds56 appropriated to the House of Representatives.57 (6) Report.58 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that59 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the60 H. R. 1393 - 3 - 26 LC 46 1322 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to61 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.62 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for63 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)64 of this paragraph.65 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of66 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.67 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with68 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.69 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the70 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu71 thereof.72 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.73 H. R. 1393 - 4 -