HB 54/SFA to HB 54

ADOPTED SENATE SENATE AMENDMENT TO THE HOUSE AMENDMENT TO THE SENATE SUBSTITUTE TO HB 54 Amend the Senate substitute to HB 54 (HB 54/SCSFA), as amended by House Amendment (AM 33 2112) by amending AM 33 2112 as follows: By adding after line 26 the following: By inserting before "to provide" on line 7 the following: to amend Code Sections 31-7-3.5 and 43-34-15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to treatment of minors for gender dysphoria and penalty for violations and prohibition on certain therapies and procedures for treatment of gender dysphoria in minors, regulations, exceptions, and accountability, respectively, so as to prohibit certain medications; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to state government, so as to prohibit the expenditure of state funds or the use of certain facilities relative to gender-affirming care; to provide for construction; By inserting between lines 204 and 205 the following: SECTION 8A. Code Sections 31-7-3.5 and 43-34-15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to treatment of minors for gender dysphoria and penalty for violations and prohibition on certain therapies, and procedures for treatment of gender dysphoria in minors, regulations, exceptions, and accountability, respectively, are amended by inserting"or puberty blocking medications" after "therapies" in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of each Code section. SECTION 8B. Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to state government, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "50-1-14. (a) No state funds shall be expended for health benefits coverage that includes coverage for gender-affirming care as provided for in Code Section 45-18-4. (b) No healthcare facility owned or operated by the state and no physician or other healthcare provider employed by an agency or entity of this state shall provide gender-affirming care as provided for in Code Section 45-18-4. (c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as: (1) Prohibiting any individual, entity, or local government from purchasing separate coverage for gender-affirming care or health benefits coverage that includes gender-affirming care, provided that such coverage is paid for entirely using only funds not authorized or appropriated by the state; or (2) Restricting the ability of any nonstate health benefits coverage provider from offering coverage for gender-affirming care, or the ability of a local government to contract separately with such a provider for such coverage, provided that such coverage is paid for entirely using only funds not authorized or appropriated by the state."