HR1473: HR1473 House Study Committee on Lupus; create

26 LC 46 1452 House Resolution 1473 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Hawkins of the 27th, Erwin of the 32nd, Scott of the 76th, and Davis of the 87th A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Lupus; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple systems in the body,2 often resulting in severe pain, fatigue, organ damage, and life-altering complications; and3 WHEREAS, the unpredictable and debilitating nature of lupus frequently impairs individuals'4 ability to maintain consistent employment, making disability be nefits a critical safety net;5 and6 WHEREAS, the current Social Security Disability Insurance and S upplemental Security7 Income approval processes often involve significant delays, exacerbating the financial and8 emotional strain on individuals living with lupus; and9 WHEREAS, individuals with lupus face unique challenges in documenting their condition10 due to the disease's complexity, variability, and often subjective symptoms, contributing to11 high rates of initial claim denials and prolonged appeals processes; and12 H. R. 1473 - 1 - 26 LC 46 1452 WHEREAS, timely access to disability benefits is essential for individuals with lupus to13 afford medical care, medications, and basic living expenses necessary for their survival and14 well-being; and15 WHEREAS, the science surrounding lupus and its impact on societ y is advancing and16 urgently needs to be better understood.17 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:18 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee19 on Lupus.20 (2) Members and officers.21 (A) The committee shall be composed of seven members.22 (B) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint four members of the23 House of Representatives who shall be members of the House Committee on Health.24 (C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall also appoint three nonlegislative25 members of the committee as follows:26 (i) The commissioner of public health or his or her designee.27 (ii) A representative of the Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness or28 such other person with expertise in the study of lupus; and29 (iii) A representative of the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America or30 such other person with expertise in the study of lupus.31 (D) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a legislative member32 of the committee as chairperson of the committee.33 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,34 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or35 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.36 H. R. 1473 - 2 - 26 LC 46 1452 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee37 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or38 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and39 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.40 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.41 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided42 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.43 (B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,44 or who are state employees shall receive no compensation for th eir services on the45 committee, but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the46 performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they47 are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.48 (C) 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 (D) 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; except that funds for the reimbursement57 of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative memb ers, and for the58 reimbursement of the expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated59 to or otherwise available to their respective agencies.60 (6) Report.61 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that62 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the63 H. R. 1473 - 3 - 26 LC 46 1452 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to64 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.65 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for66 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)67 of this paragraph.68 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of69 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 70 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with71 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.72 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the73 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu74 thereof.75 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.76 H. R. 1473 - 4 -