HR1579: HR1579 House Study Committee on Hospital/Homebound (HHB) Services and Medically Fragile Student Attendance; create

26 LC 49 2714 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 and1 Medically Fragile Student Attendance; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, all students in this state are entitled to equitable a nd timely access to3 instructional services that support academic progress, consiste nt attendance, and on-time4 graduation; and5 WHEREAS, students who qualify for hospital/homebound (HHB) services, including those6 who are medically fragile or experiencing significant physical or mental health challenges,7 often rely on such services as their primary means of accessing a public education during8 periods of medical need; and9 WHEREAS, delays in the initiation of HHB services and variations in service delivery across10 local school systems may result in lost instructional time, red uced credit accrual, and11 increased risk of chronic absenteeism; and12 WHEREAS, chronic absenteeism is a key indicator of academic performance and graduation13 outcomes and has been identified as a statewide priority for improvement; and14 H. R. 1579 - 1 - 26 LC 49 2714 WHEREAS, local school systems currently utilize differing staff ing models, funding15 approaches, and instructional methods to provide HHB services, and a review of such16 models, approaches, and methods may identify strategies to improve efficiency, access, and17 student success; and18 WHEREAS, students returning from HHB placement frequently requi re structured and19 coordinated reintegration into the traditional school setting i n order to maintain academic20 progress and support their long-term well-being; and21 WHEREAS, a comprehensive study of HHB services and medically fr agile student22 attendance will allow the House of Representatives to hear from educators, families, medical23 providers, the Department of Education, and other stakeholders and to develop informed24 recommendations for any needed legislative action; and25 WHEREAS, improving student attendance and supporting medically fragile students align26 with this state's commitment to educational opportunity and workforce readiness.27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:28 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee29 on Hospital/Homebound (HHB) Services and Medically Fragile Student Attendance.30 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the31 House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives32 with one of such number designated 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. 1579 - 2 - 26 LC 49 2714 (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 not legislators, state of ficials, or state44 employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that45 specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Offi cial Code of Georgia46 Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance a uthorized for state47 employees.48 (C) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member49 of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds50 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds51 appropriated to the House of Representatives; except that funds for the reimbursement52 of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative memb ers, and for the53 reimbursement of expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated to54 or otherwise available to their respective agencies.55 (6) Report.56 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that57 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the58 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to59 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.60 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for61 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)62 of this paragraph.63 H. R. 1579 - 3 - 26 LC 49 2714 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of64 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.65 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with66 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.67 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the68 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu69 thereof.70 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.71 H. R. 1579 - 4 -