HR1655: HR1655 House Study Committee on Diabetes Related Amputations; create

26 LC 46 1499 House Resolution 1655 By: Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Mathis of the 133rd, Greene of the 154th, Taylor of the 173rd, and Au of the 50th A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Diabetes Related Amputati ons; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, diabetes related amputations represent a significant and growing public health3 challenge, disproportionately impacting underserved and rural communities; and4 WHEREAS, many diabetes related amputations are preventable through early intervention,5 improved access to care, coordinated clinical pathways, and increased public awareness; and6 WHEREAS, Georgia continues to experience high rates of diabetes , peripheral artery7 disease, and diabetic foot complications, placing thousands of residents at risk of avoidable8 limb loss each year; and9 WHEREAS, a data-driven assessment is necessary to identify gaps in care, regional10 disparities, and opportunities to improve outcomes for Georgians living with diabetes; and11 WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to undertake a study to evaluat e diabetes related12 amputations to:13 H. R. 1655 - 1 - 26 LC 46 1499 (1) Analyze state-wide and regional data on diabetes related a mputations, including14 demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic trends;15 (2) Evaluate existing prevention strategies, access to care, a nd care coordination16 practices related to diabetic foot complications and peripheral artery disease;17 (3) Identify best clinical practices and models of care shown to reduce amputations;18 (4) Assess barriers to early diagnosis, treatment, and limb preservation services;19 (5) Engage with interdisciplinary stakeholders, including endocrinologists, podiatrists,20 vascular specialists, primary care providers, diabetes educators, public health experts, and21 individuals with lived experience;22 (6) Develop recommendations to improve patient outcomes, increase public awareness,23 enhance provider education, and strengthen care delivery systems; and24 (7) Propose policy considerations related to insurance coverage , equitable access to25 treatment, and incentives for quality care.26 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:27 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee28 on Diabetes Related Amputations.29 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of 13 members to be30 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Six members of the31 committee shall be members of the House of Representatives. Th e additional seven32 members of the committee shall be as follows: two individuals r epresenting Georgia's33 medical or public health schools; one endocrinologist; one member of the Department of34 Community Health or its board; one individual from Georgia's federally qualified health35 centers; and two diabetes patients. The Speaker shall designate a m e m b e r o f t h e36 committee as chairperson of the committee.37 H. R. 1655 - 2 - 26 LC 46 1499 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,38 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or39 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.40 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee41 shall hold no more than four such meetings and at such places and at such times as it may42 deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers,43 perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.44 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.45 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided46 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.47 (B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,48 or who are state employees shall receive no compensation for th eir services on the49 committee, but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the50 performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they51 are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.52 (C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state of ficials, or state53 employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that54 specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Offi cial Code of Georgia55 Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance a uthorized for state56 employees.57 (D) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member58 of the committee for more than four days unless additional days are authorized. Funds59 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds60 appropriated to the House of Representatives; except that funds for the reimbursement61 of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative memb ers, and for the62 reimbursement of the expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated63 to or otherwise available to their respective agencies.64 H. R. 1655 - 3 - 26 LC 46 1499 (6) Report.65 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that66 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the67 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to68 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.69 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for70 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)71 of this paragraph.72 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of73 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.74 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with75 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.76 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the77 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu78 thereof.79 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.80 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the final report from the House Stu dy Committee on81 Diabetes Related Amputations shall be made publicly available to promote transparency and82 inform future legislative and regulatory action aimed at reduci ng preventable amputations83 and improving diabetes care across Georgia.84 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution is intended to esta blish a data-driven85 foundation for improving diabetes outcomes and preventing avoid able limb loss for86 Georgians state wide.87 H. R. 1655 - 4 -