House Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee, March 24, 2026 Video: https://vimeo.com/1176637735 (a timestamp t plays at https://vimeo.com/1176637735#t=s) Page: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-24/house-defense-and-veterans-affairs This is a machine transcript of the General Assembly's video, made by a speech-recognition model. It is not an official record and can mishear words, names, and numbers. Speakers are not identified. The video is the record: every timestamp links to the moment it plays. [0:06:07] All right, good afternoon, everybody. It is just a few minutes after 1:00, so I know everybody's got, uh, stuff to do and places to be, so we're gonna go ahead and get started. Uh, I would, uh ... Representative Griffin, can I call on you to, to open us up in a word of prayer, please? [0:06:21] Oh, [0:06:26] yes, sir. Okay. Most gracious Heaven of Lord, we want to thank you for this day, a day that you have given us to carry out the responsibilities of, of, uh, the voters and the citizens of this state. We ask you to bless this committee, that we'll make the right decisions in that respect. And thank you for everything that you've done for us. For Christ's sake, amen. [0:06:54] Great. Thank you, sir. All right. Uh, so we are gonna be, uh, taking a look at and take some further action on Senate Bill 555 that is sponsored by Senator Rick Williams. Uh, at this time I'm gonna call, uh, Chairman Rob Leverett, uh, forward to discuss the changes and additions that were made. [0:07:18] And then, uh, Chairman Leverett, if you could just confirm the, the LC that, uh, the members have here is 492826S. [0:07:28] Right. I believe that one was superseded, Mr. Chairman, by 461551S. [0:07:38] Okay. Say that again. [0:07:39] 461551S. [0:07:42] Okay. All right. Stand by. We've got that coming to you. [0:07:45] Okay. [0:07:48] This is, uh, this is ... We're gonna be working off of the one that, uh, Amber is passing out now. [0:08:20] Okay, so everyone should have LC461551S. All right. And we got one for Holcomb as well. Okay. All right. [0:08:39] Okay. Good deal. All right, uh, Chairman Leverett, if you could go ahead and, uh, cover, um, kind of the, uh, why we're here today, basically. [0:08:48] I will. [0:08:48] That would be great. [0:08:49] I will, Mr. Chairman, and thank you so much, and thank you members of the committee for your time today. This is being, uh, done as an accommodation to me. I'm, uh ... And I want to thank Senator Williams, hopefully my voice will hold out until the end of the committee meeting, um, who's allowing me to sort of hitch a ride on Senate Bill 555. So as you may recall, this is the bill that allows eligible non-veteran residents to actually be, to have occupancy at, uh, the War Veterans Nursing Home or the State War Veterans Home. Um, great piece of legislation, and I believe that was a department initiative and, uh, uh, Senator Williams sponsored it. [0:09:24] Um, I have added what is now part two of the bill, um, which starts on page four, and it is a, uh, related issue that has to do with government benefits or military benefits. And primarily, that, the, the additions I'm making are, uh, related to appeals of Medicaid determinations. That's actually the context in which m- the part I have added arose. So if, if someone is in a nursing home and s- seeks to apply for Medicaid, uh, oftentimes they can't make the application themselves, so they appoint an authorized representative, either because the person in the nursing home is not competent to do so, or they just physically have limitations where they can't prosecute the appeal. [0:10:11] And the department recently in these appeals has taken a position, which is completely correct legally, that if the patient then dies while the determination of Medicaid eligibility is being appealed, the appointment of the authorized representative terminates likewise. And so the, the natural kind of consequence of that is the family would have to get an administrator or an executor appointed for that, uh, the, the, the person who passed away who was a patient seeking Medicaid benefits. [0:10:42] Well, usually if they're seeking Medicaid it's 'cause they have very little money to start with, so the process of them getting an executor or administrator appointed imposes an additional financial burden on the family that they usually don't have the resources to carry. So that effectively defeats the appeal. So what we're doing in part two is basically providing that appointments under powers of attorney and advanced directives, that's section 2-1 and 2-4, that appointment does survive death, which is, um, not the, the s- usual rule, but there are precedents for extending an, a, an agency appointment beyond death. [0:11:17] For example, if in your advance directive you appoint an agent to take care of your, uh, disposition of your remains, that au- authority survives death. So we're providing that. Then we're also in 2-2 and 2-3 saying that there is a guardian or conservator, which is someone who's been appointed by a probate court to take care of someone who is living but cannot look after themselves. That, uh, appointment also survives death, at least for the limited purpose of continuing any kind of appeal relating to Medicaid. [0:11:47] And then the final section, uh, just is in the Administrative Procedure Act, and that says anyone who's been appointed by one of these ways as an authorized representative can continue to serve as an authorized representative after the death of the principal. So it's just so that these appeals can be heard on the merit to not be dismissed on technical grounds. And they, they also That same rule would apply if it was an application for any public benefits or military benefits as well. So, um, i- this issue came to my attention by someone who practices in this area. [0:12:21] Uh, and there has been a de- a decision by administrative law judge, which again, I think is completely accurate and correct legally, that the, the authority terminates. But I think that just had a bad consequence for families who are trying to get rulings on Medicaid eligibility and are having them dismissed basically on technical grounds, and they can't get, get a substantive, um, ruling, ruling on the merits. Um, so that, that is the addition to that bill, Mr. Chairman, and I'm, um, uh, trying to do that fast because I'm trying to be, uh, respectful of your time at this very, uh, busy time of year. [0:12:54] But I'm glad to take any questions. [0:12:55] Absolutely. All right. Uh, Representative Scott, you've got a question? [0:12:59] Um, yes. Um, good afternoon and thank you, uh, Mr. Bill, but I still, I guess, have a lot of questions, um, in regards to this bill, bill when we're talking about non-ver- non-veterans. And I know we're talking maybe about the spouse of ve- of a veteran, a family member of a veteran, uh, uh, to that extent to someone that, uh, is able to, um, assist and help care for the veteran. [0:13:29] I guess my concern is the non-veteran, uh, when we have waiting lists already with 14,050, up, over the 14,000 people waiting to get into these homes, and now we are trying to make space for non-veterans. To me, it feels like our veterans will be left out, and we'll have non-veterans m- moving into a facility, uh, in which our veterans should be in. [0:14:04] And I guess I'm just puzzled about that, uh, the non-veteran status because it seems like it would take away from the veterans when we already have a veteran shortage. If we had a, had enough beds where all of our veterans can be placed and we did not have a waiting list, then I could understand a piece of legislation like this. But when we have a waiting list with veterans that are seeking a place to go and now we're trying to bring in non-veterans, uh, it just don't seem right. [0:14:38] It just, uh, it just add to the, fuel to the fire. So, uh, I'm just trying to figure out how would you, how would you be able to talk to a person's family that have been waiting on a bed for months and years to give a non-veteran a bed? How would you be able to explain that to a family, a veteran family? [0:15:09] Well, I'm, uh, I'm not really an expert on that part of the bill, but just as someone who's tried to familiarize myself with the language, there are provisions that say the war veterans retain first priority for admission, wait listing, and bed assignment. No eligible non-veteran resident may be admitted if the admission would displace or delay an otherwise admissible veteran when a veteran-appropriate bed is available. Um, there's also limits, I think, on admission of, of eligible, uh, non-veteran residents when the, based on the census and certain percentage of the census or if, or if the co-occupancy of the family member would reduce veteran bed availability. [0:15:46] And I would also add, it's not anybody who's not a veteran. It's, it's spouses or parents whose- [0:15:52] Yeah [0:15:52] ... child or children were war veterans and died. So it is limited, but I, I appreciate the concerns and I don't know if, Mr. Chairman, if other departments here wants to address those issues for us. [0:16:02] Well, we do have some representatives from the Department of Veteran Services. So what, what I would ask our members i- is if you have questions, and in keeping in mind, we've already passed this, the underlying bill out of committee. All right? Um, but what, what I would ask our members is if you, and I will allow some time for follow-up on that portion. If, if we, uh, I'll call the, um, staff forward. They can answer questions related to the underlying bill. Um, so if for the, for the time being, if we could just, um, focus any questions on the additions that, uh, Chairman Leverett is here to address, and then we can revisit that, that other topic, uh, here shortly. [0:16:39] All right? Um, I saw Representative Jackson, you have a question? [0:16:45] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, thank you for this bill. Uh, yes, I, I mean, uh, I certainly, uh, understand, uh, my, my dear friend, um, as it relates to her, her questions. Uh, my question is around on line, uh, 47. I could, I couldn't recall if we discussed this before, Mr. Chairman, but the 25%, how, how did we come up with that? Was that based on a market or- [0:17:12] Yes [0:17:12] ... how is that 25%? [0:17:14] Yeah, so what I'd like to do, Representative Jackson, is, um, if, if we could- [0:17:18] Okay [0:17:18] ... initially focus those questi- the questions on the- [0:17:21] Yeah [0:17:21] ... on the additions, and then we'll call the staff forward to, to get some, uh, clarity on some of those- [0:17:26] Okay [0:17:26] ... details. Does that sound- [0:17:26] All right. I yield. [0:17:27] Okay. All right. And then I believe, uh, Representative Griffin, you had a question? [0:17:34] Yes. Uh, let me ask one, uh, question first. We're talking about, uh, this is the underlying bill. Did we, we passed a, a bill earlier this year? [0:17:44] We did. [0:17:44] I don't know. I'm not sure if I was here. [0:17:47] You did. You passed- [0:17:48] Oh [0:17:48] ... 555 out, and it's, it got- [0:17:49] Okay [0:17:49] ... remitted back to you. [0:17:50] All right. [0:17:51] Remitted to you. [0:17:51] Well, look, let me tell you my concern with the bill, even if I passed it last time I voted on it. [0:18:02] We have two veteran's, two war veterans home. One is in Milledgeville, the largest of the two. The other one is down in, uh- and Augusta. And I have visited both of those, especially when I was in the Senate. And I live in Milledgeville. And I have some major concerns with the facility the way it is right now. Uh, as has... And I'm not sure if I'm getting to this or the underlying piece. [0:18:29] I think you're getting to the underlying piece. [0:18:31] All of it. [0:18:32] Um- [0:18:32] Okay [0:18:32] ... yeah, if we could, again- [0:18:33] All right [0:18:33] ... if we, we, um, we'll, we'll revisit that here shortly. [0:18:37] O- okay. [0:18:38] All right. [0:18:38] Well, I'll finish up at that time. [0:18:40] Okay. All right. Um, Representative Holcomb, did you have a question? [0:18:46] I do. Thank you. This looks vaguely familiar to me from Judiciary. [0:18:52] Yes, sir. [0:18:52] Am I right on that? [0:18:53] It is. [0:18:53] What, what was the number before? [0:18:54] 1475, I believe. [0:18:57] Okay. I, I just wanted to double-check. Thanks. [0:18:58] I, I did not mention that too, Mr. Chairman, that part two was rigorously vetted through the Judiciary, uh, Committee process, which as many of us know is somewhat transcended, uh, real time and approach legend. So it, it, I believe it's been scrubbed pretty well. [0:19:17] All right. Uh, Representative Davis, do you have a question? [0:19:20] Thank you, Chairman. I, you were saying that a friend brought this to your attention. Can you just give us a quick, uh, summary of what he brought to your attention? [0:19:28] Yes, Madam. He, what really wasn't a friend, it was somebody who, whose wife knew a constituent of mine, and she suggested he call. He's not even a constituent, but he, he practices a lot. He does Medicaid appeals for people. And, um, he had a case where someone had, had applied for Medicaid, been denied. They were in a nursing home, and they subsequently died. And so the authorized representative, um, a- according to him, I don't know if this is accurate, traditionally the department has not taken a position when the, when the patient died that the authorized representative's authority terminated, but they, they did in his case. [0:20:05] And I think they're, they're correct. So I'm not criticizing the department for arguing something that's not legal. They're squarely right on the law, but it just seemed to me to be a real bad policy outcome because what happened is someone who had an appeal pending lost on a technicality. They, they, the family didn't have money to afford to get, um... 'Cause the option would be, there is an option if that happens. You can get a administrator appointed if you don't have a will, or if you have a will, you can go to probate court and probate it and get an executor appointed. And the executor could serve as authorized representative. [0:20:35] But usually, if you're applying for Medicaid, you, you're not awash in cash to spend on lawyers. So it, it effectively defeated the appeal. And so, you know, the case may not have succeeded ultimately, but the point was they didn't get a, they didn't get a hearing on the merits of, of the appeal. And so that's what we're trying to preserve. And, and I think the department is, it, um, I don't know if I can say they support, but they, they certainly don't oppose this, 'cause they like to help people, too. Uh, and this lets them help people instead of having to make an argument which is legal, which they're obligated to do as, as the attorneys are, which is legally sound but doesn't always reach a result I think that we would feel was the most just. [0:21:17] Thank you for the question. [0:21:18] All right. Representative Kahane, do you have a question? [0:21:19] Yes. Um, I love the first part because it's compassionate and sensible. I love that part. And I didn't realize there was such a big power problem. Um, this will actually help a lot of Georgians, so thank you for bringing part two. [0:21:33] Thank you. Um, I, I do think it's, it's, it's good policy. [0:21:40] All right. Are there any other questions from the committee regarding the additions made? All right, not seeing any. What I'd like to do, Carey, if you could step forward and, and at the table, and, um, for the members of the committee, um, uh, when we, when we passed, um, Senate Bill 555 initially, um, I don't believe we actually, um, had someone from the department that was available. So, uh, we're gonna provide an opportunity to any questions you have relating to the underlying bill. Uh, now is the, the time to ask those. [0:22:12] Mr.- [0:22:12] And so- [0:22:14] Mr.- [0:22:14] Yeah, I'm sorry. Let, uh, just one second. [0:22:17] Yeah, go on. [0:22:18] Me. [0:22:19] Can you have him very quickly go over the original bill just a little bit, bring me back up to, like I said, what he found out subsequently? Is that okay? [0:22:30] No, what w- what we're, what we're doing now is we are now, um, gonna have, uh, uh, Carey from the Department of Veteran Services available for any questions related to the underlying bill, the original 555 that, um, that does expand eligibility for our war veteran homes. All right? So any questions related to, to that, now would be the time. And I'll, I will, uh, just kind of allow Carey to kind of give an overview of what, what they're re- what generated, um, initiated their request and, and what they envision with that. [0:23:00] So. [0:23:01] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That was my request. And hopefully this, it, I mean, once I read this, it, it'll open up question, answer some of your question, but I, I honestly believe this would be beneficial twofold. So, uh, a little background. To be re- reimbursed by the VA for veterans who are hospitalized, we need to be at 90% occupancy inside the war home. We're currently funded for 75% occupancy, occupancy based on state funding, 185 beds out of the 248. We've not requested additional patient funding from the state because we need to re- renovate facilities first to make them ADA compliant, and we still have 16 beds to fill from increased state funding from last year. [0:23:41] To finish them, to, to finish them, they must be ADA compliant. We'll, and we'll need, still have 16 beds to fill from increased funding from last year. To finish the ADA renovation for the Wood building is approximately 3.5 million, and we'll reduce our beds from 177 to 99. Due to space requirements and to expand the bathrooms in the Vincent building would take almost 7 million, and we'll reduce their patient capacity from 48 to 36. [0:24:05] Uh, veteran spouses or Gold Star families would be a separate funding stream, private pay, Medicaid, third party insurance, and it would not cost the state anything, allowing us to get closer to the 90% occupancy where vets are allowed to take priority and will get a bed when needed. Ve- again, I must reiterate, the veterans will always have priority over a non-veteran spouse, anything of that nature. Uh- [0:24:28] And that's in the bill. [0:24:29] And that's in the bill. Yes, sir. That is actually in the bill. Uh, they also predominantly across the 22 states make up about ... A poll taken across 22 states, uh, are open to veteran spouses and Gold Star families. They also predominantly across 22 make up about 5 to 10% of the total population. Uh, but just, uh, again, uh, by doing this, it'll allow us to get, uh, 90% occupancy and allow those non-veteran, their spouses, to live with their veterans in the latter days of their lives as well. [0:25:01] Put the benefit to the veteran. [0:25:02] The benefit to the veteran. Yes, sir. [0:25:05] All right, uh, Representative Scott, I think you hit the button first. Then I'm coming to you, R- Representative Griffin. [0:25:11] O- okay. Um, you said that w- we still have 16 bills, beds to fill at this present time, and we have a waiting list, so, um, how is that we have beds to fill, but we have a waiting list? [0:25:28] Yes, ma'am. So in order to be, uh, admitted into one of our homes, uh, you must be approved for skilled nursing care, also known as ADA, ADL, activity of daily living, approved by the VA, and that takes a process as well. So the waiting list is still exis- it's still there, and we have veterans going through the process to get approval from the VA in order to be admitted to our home. But again, I, I cannot reiterate more, if those on the list are veterans, they would definitely have priority before a non-veteran or spouse, Gold Star family. [0:26:00] But, but to, to clarify, i- if, if there is a waiting list, it's not a waiting list that is being, um, as a result of availability in the home. It's a, it's more of an issue of being pre, uh, uh, approved by the VA, correct? [0:26:15] Correct. That is correct, sir. [0:26:16] Okay. [0:26:16] That's correct. [0:26:16] All right. [0:26:17] Okay. A, a follow-up to that? [0:26:18] Yes. Yes, ma'am. [0:26:20] So, uh, so therefore the VA have the issue and the concern, but not, uh, with the paperwork because we have thousands of people on a waiting list, and you're telling me we have empty beds. [0:26:40] Then the VA are the ones that are holding up the process of people being admitted into the homes where that you could get your 90% occupancy. [0:26:51] Ma'am, I, I, I cannot speak on behalf of the VA as far as the ... I can't say definitely they are the reason for the hold-up, but I do know it takes a, a process. Me, I ever worked with the VA, nothing is done overnight, especially the paperwork-wise. [0:27:05] That's putting it mildly, huh? [0:27:06] Yeah, and that's putting it mildly. [0:27:09] All right. Representative Griffin. [0:27:13] Thank you, sir. I, I, I'm just having some concerns here. [0:27:18] Yes, sir. [0:27:18] Uh, and [0:27:22] what I'd like for you to pass on to, um, to, uh, the commissioner, you know, any time a piece of legislation like this from the War Veterans Home, as long as I'm in the legislature, should yield me the respect to, to weigh in on it before it's, uh, it's, it's introduced because with me living in Milledgeville, uh, and the, the, the, I call them the, the citizen advocate, that's not what it's called. [0:27:59] Uh, you know, the m- the war veterans wife. What are they? [0:28:03] The- [0:28:04] Uh, that meets once a month or something like that. I'm the one that's got the answer to a lot of these things, so I need to pretty much understand that. And I agree with my colleague, and I don't understand right now the real purpose of having to have that when there is a backlog. And, and I don't know the process, but the process should not be at the point where we have a occupancy of, how many did you say? [0:28:35] 10, uh, 10%. [0:28:37] 10. [0:28:37] You know, it's just, with the number of people that we have that's, that's on the waiting list. So, uh, I don't know. I'm just having some concerns over here about how I'm going to, to vote on this. Thank you. [0:28:50] Yeah. And Rep- [0:28:51] All right. Uh, Representative Cannon, you have a question? [0:28:54] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What are, what are the fiscal impacts to, I guess, your department as a result of not meeting the, the threshold- [0:29:04] The threshold of the 90% [0:29:04] ... for VA? What's the im- fiscal impact to the department? [0:29:08] Yes, sir. So here it is right here. Um, as right now, as far as, uh, without meeting the 90% occupancy, if we tried to get, we've tried to meet in order to get the VA full reimbursement, uh, the V- it's costing the state closely $250,000 because what happens is every empty bed that we have, it has to be, uh, paid by s- you know, someone has to p- uh, pay funds for that empty bed. So the- [0:29:39] F- follow up? [0:29:40] Yes, sir. [0:29:41] That is a reimbursement from the feds to the state? [0:29:43] To the state. Yes, sir. [0:29:44] Okay. And that happens annually? [0:29:48] Uh, correctly. Yes, sir. [0:29:49] Okay. [0:29:50] Yes, sir. [0:29:50] Where's that money ... Last question, Mr. Chairman. How is that money spent by the department? [0:29:56] It's, it's spent with- and it goes back into the home itself, sir, on, uh, projects, things of that nature. [0:30:03] Okay. Okay. Okay, I got it. Thank you. [0:30:06] Yes, sir. And, and if I can go back to, um, Representative Griffin- [0:30:10] Well, we, let, let me- [0:30:12] Oh, I'm sorry [0:30:12] ... let me just, we've got a number of questions. I want to make sure everybody has an opportunity. Who is 11? Is that you, Representative Gisler? Go ahead. [0:30:20] Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so after we passed this originally, I, I'm sure like you guys, I received a bunch of emails about it. Um, so I want to make sure I understand the, the 90%, uh, threshold. It, so there's 248 total beds. It's 90% of that 248, so 223 need to be filled to hit that threshold. Is that correct? [0:30:42] Y- yes, sir. [0:30:45] Okay. [0:30:46] Yes, sir. [0:30:46] Um, but only 185 are funded by the state. Is that right? Is that what you said? [0:30:52] Yes, sir. That is correct. Yes, sir. [0:30:54] Okay. [0:30:54] Because, and that's because we're at 75% occupancy. [0:31:00] Because, because the, this, yeah, I've seen these emails have come in. They're telling me there's 1,500 people on a waiting list, but you're saying those are the people waiting to be approved by the VA to be in, to allowed in the home. [0:31:12] That, that, that, that's correct, sir. [0:31:14] Okay. So really by, by passing this legislation, we can fill some of those beds to get closer to that 223 number without, without being at the mercy of this backlog for the VA approval. [0:31:28] That is correct, sir. [0:31:29] Okay. [0:31:30] And it also provides a f- funding stream because it's private pay. [0:31:33] It's private pay, Medicare, Medicaid- [0:31:35] Okay [0:31:35] ... and so forth. Yes, sir. [0:31:37] All right, I appreciate that. Thank you. [0:31:38] No, thank you, sir. [0:31:39] All right. Uh, Representative Davis? [0:31:41] Thank you, Chairman. Um, I received a number of emails too, and I've worked for the VA. [0:31:48] Yes, ma'am. [0:31:49] And I can tell you now that having the wives of, to be there with their husband is a positive- [0:31:55] Yes, ma'am [0:31:56] ... because they help with, uh, looking after the veteran and so forth and really, uh, the emotional support is excellent. [0:32:04] Yes, ma'am. [0:32:04] Um, what I'm concerned with is the fact that we have a process, like you say, the ADL process- [0:32:12] Yes, ma'am [0:32:12] ... that is holding up veterans that are in a backlog from filling a bed that you need in order to reach your 90% threshold. I am very interested in what this process is- [0:32:27] Yes, ma'am [0:32:27] ... because if it is so slow that you can't work through over 1,000 people in a backlog, we have a problem that needs to be fixed immediately. [0:32:40] Yes, ma'am. I, I've made note of that, Representative Davis. [0:32:44] All right. Representative Griffin, last question. [0:32:46] Uh, well, one of the things I don't understand, if we have that backlog, and I know that there's appropriation to add additional rooms, uh, beds. So I mean, why we want to, uh, add additional beds when we can't meet the, the, the, the, the, the requirement at this point in time? Can you answer that? [0:33:12] Um, I am not in position to answer that, sir, but I c- I will definitely follow up, sir. [0:33:18] Well, I think it's important, Mr. Chairman, to note, if I understand the gentleman's testimony, he's saying that the backlog is not so much because we don't have room, it's because there's a process that people have to go through that's in the control of the federal VA, not in control of your department. [0:33:31] That's correct. [0:33:31] And that takes a while to get them approved so they can be admitted. [0:33:34] That's correct. [0:33:35] This will allow people to be admitted, uh, uh, that, with limitations- [0:33:39] Yes, sir [0:33:39] ... favoring the war veteran so that you can try to fill some of that, uh, in, um, funding stream- [0:33:46] Understood [0:33:46] ... as well as provide a service to a veteran, and they can have a say also. [0:33:49] Yep. Yes, sir. That's correct. [0:33:51] Okay. Any other... All right. Y- you have another question? All right. One, last one. Here we go. [0:33:56] All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so are we sure that there are no federal prohibitions on allowing non-veteran residents to fill those beds to meet that 90% threshold? Is this really gonna help solve that problem? [0:34:13] Well, sir, I, I could just refer to US Code 38, uh, US, US Code 38, which allows non-veterans and, uh, non-veterans and ghost of parents to be admitted to the home. So the, by the federal- [0:34:28] Okay. But, but you believe that counts towards the 90% threshold? [0:34:31] Yes, sir. [0:34:32] Okay. [0:34:32] Yes, sir. [0:34:33] Okay. Thank you. [0:34:34] Thank you, sir. [0:34:34] Mr. Chairman, there, there are limits in the bill itself, uh, 'cause it, it says co-occupancy will not reduce veteran bed availability below occupancy targets set by rules adopted by the Veterans Service Board. So they, the, that, that's a local, that's a state agency, but the idea is they would set targets so that they don't, so they're still serving primarily war veterans. [0:34:53] All right. Okay. All right. We are now in the, in the position to take action, and is there a motion to do pass LC46-1551S, which is, which is the committee sub? We have- [0:35:13] Motion to pass [0:35:14] ... motion to pass. We, was there a second? We have a second. All those in favor say aye. [0:35:19] Aye. [0:35:20] All those opposed? [0:35:21] No. [0:35:22] All right. So we've, uh, we've got three no votes. It, it, motion passes and moves back onto rules. Thank you. Um, there being no more business before the committee, we stand adjourned. [0:35:35] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you- [0:35:36] Thank you, s- thank you, Mr. Chairman [0:35:37] ... [0:35:45] for your time.