Your Georgia Desk
From Senator Frank Ginn
Taking Care of Georgia Citizens
The eighth day of the 2015 legislative session saw a significant piece of legislation pass through the Georgia State Senate. I am proud to say that with unanimous consent, Senate Bill 1 passed the Senate and is now headed for consideration in the House. Specifically, the legislation seeks new guidelines for the coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in children up to six years old, including diagnostics and medically necessary treatments or therapies. Georgia will become the 36th state in the nation to require some form of autism insurance coverage if SB 1 receives final approval by the General Assembly and the Governor. I believe there is a huge payback to our citizens for the small cost of coverage. This early diagnosis and intervention can help a child to become a productive citizen instead of becoming a ward of the state.
In order to remain nationally and globally competitive, as well as maintain the safety of our roadways, Georgia must take immediate and significant steps to fund transportation investment. This week, our House counterparts unveiled legislation that will help fund future transportation infrastructure. Our economy is mobility driven—we have the busiest passenger airport in the world, as well as the fourth largest container port in the country. I plan to spend time analyzing this proposal, while also considering other legislative options. I would love to hear from my constituents about how you would like to address our transportation needs. Creating a responsible transportation plan is of utmost priority to lawmakers under the Gold Dome during the 2015 legislative session. What we do—perhaps more importantly, what we don’t do—will echo throughout our state for decades to come.
Some of you have contacted me about Governor Deal’s budget recommendations, in particular, eliminating coverage for approximately 11,500 school cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and other employees who work less than 30 hours per week. In response to the Governor’s proposal, the House passed their version of the amended FY 2015 budget last week; specifically including language supporting the idea of keeping health coverage for these valued staff members. These individuals play a vital role in the quality of our children’s education, and should be compensated for their important jobs. Bus drivers safely transport our children to and from school, and cafeteria workers feed our children. Our school systems could not operate without these employees.
I know many of these employees are working for the ability to access the State Health Benefit Plan. Most of our citizens don’t realize that the state subsidizes the cost of this coverage for all participants. Keeping these jobs attractive for employment is a priority of mine in the Senate. The benefits provided are a very important piece of that package, and will certainly be a point of discussion as the Senate works through the budget process.
I look forward to continuing this conversation with you throughout the 2015 Legislative Session. I encourage anyone with questions or comments to contact my office at any time. I will be happy to talk with you and address any concerns you may have. As always, it is an honor and a privilege to represent District 47 at the Georgia State Capitol.
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