---
title: O.C.G.A. § 38-3-163. Regulation of volunteer health practitioners during an emergency.
collection: code
id: 38-3-163
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 38-3-163 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-3-163
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-3-163.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-3-163/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t37-t39-(v28)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=c6b9c518_0#page=623
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-3.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-3-162.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/38-3-164.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MILITARY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS / EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT / UNIFORM EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER HEALTH PRACTITIONERS ACT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 38-3-163. Regulation of volunteer health practitioners during an emergency.

(a) For health services and veterinary services provided by volunteer health practitioners pursuant to this article while an emergency declaration is in effect, the Governor may waive, limit, restrict, or otherwise regulate:

(1) The duration of practice by such volunteer health practitioners with respect to such services;

(2) The geographical areas in which such volunteer health practitioners may practice with respect to such services;

(3) The types of volunteer health practitioners who may practice with respect to such services; and

(4) Any other matters necessary

to coordinate effectively the provision of health services or veterinary services during the emergency.

(b) An order issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section may take effect immediately, without prior notice or comment, and shall not be a rule within the meaning of Chapter 13 of Title 50, the ‘‘Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.’’

(c) A host entity that uses volunteer health practitioners to provide health services or veterinary services in this state shall:

(1) Consult and coordinate its activities with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, consistent with the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan, to provide for the efficient and effective use of volunteer health practitioners; and

(2) Comply with the laws of this state relating to the management of emergency health services or veterinary services.

## History

Code 1981, § 38-3-163, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 296, § 1/SB 230.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2016, ‘‘and Homeland Security’’ was inserted after ‘‘Georgia Emergency Management’’ in paragraph (c)(1).