HR 685: House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development; create

House Resolution 685

By: Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Taylor of the 173rd, Jones of the 47th, Oliver of the 84th, and Ballard of the 147th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, the United States is experiencing a mental health crisis, and more than half of the U.S. population lives in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area; and

WHEREAS, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 19 percent from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations; and

WHEREAS, the need for qualified clinical mental health professionals is at a critical level, particularly in rural Georgia; and

WHEREAS, although undergraduate degrees in behavioral science, social work, sociology, or psychology can prepare students for graduate school, many students would prefer degrees that prepare them for immediate careers upon graduation; and

WHEREAS, providing qualified baccalaureate mental health professionals a path to licensure or certification would help alleviate the shortage of mental health professionals in the workforce in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, an increase in the number of qualified mental health professionals in Georgia will ensure greater accessibility to mental health services; and

WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to conduct a study to survey current undergraduate degrees and projected mental health careers available to college graduates, evaluate employment needs and opportunities, and recommend mental health workforce development initiatives.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.