Weekly Newsletter April 1 2024

GCOA's Senior Issues Newsletter

Senior Issues Weekly Newsletter April 1, 2024

2024 Legislative Session:
Days 39-40 and Sine Die

In this Issue:

Days 39-40

HCBS Funding

MDTs

(Deferred to 2025) MAID

Bills of Interest

Save the Dates

Photos courtesy of GCOA and Georgia House Photos

Legislative Day 40, Thursday, March 29th, marked the end of the convening of the second session of the 157th Georgia General Assembly! GCOA staff was at the Capitol upwards of midnight as legislators presented, debated, and voted on the final bills of the year. At approximately 1am, the House and the Senate each declared "Sine Die" followed by the tradition of the throwing of their papers in the air to signify that their work is done.

CO-AGE is happy to announce that the bill concerning the 2024 CO-AGE priority, Multidisciplinary Teams, HB 1123, has made it through all the steps to be considered to become law! Now it just needs the Governor's signature. Thank you to both Representative Carter Barrett and Senator John Kennedy for carrying the bill and to all who helped advocate to get it passed! The FY 2025 budget is also awaiting to be signed into law. We are delighted that the bill concerning the 2023 CO-AGE priority Teledentistry, HB 441, made it through the legislative process successfully, giving underserved older adults greater access to dental care. A few of the bills that we have been supporting and watching are heading to the Governor's desk as well. As GCOA and CO-AGE close out another legislative session, we are grateful for the strides that were made under the Gold Dome this year to further our mission of improving the lives of older Georgians.

Want to know more about the 2024 Legislative Session? Schedule a session of Engage with CO-AGE!

Headliner

Keep reading for more details on the 2024 CO-AGE priorities.

This is the final weekly CO-AGE update of 2024. The newsletter will now return to a monthly schedule.

Join the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly (CO-AGE) or renew your membership HERE.

View highlights of Senior Week at the Capitol 2024!

HCBS Funding

Georgia General Assembly Passes FY 2025 Budget

After several meetings of the Joint House and Senate Appropriations Conference Committee on Sine Die, both Chambers came to a consensus on the FY 2025 budget, HB 916. Both the House and Senate recommended an increase of $550,000 in the state budget for Non-Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). The Governor has 40 days to sign the budget before it automatically becomes law. The $550,000 will reduce the current HCBS Waitlist by approximately 300 individuals.

Read and Print the issue fact sheet here

MDTs

MDT Bill Passed in the Senate and Now Heading to the Governor for Signature

On Tuesday, Legislative Day 39, HB 1123 was presented by Senator John F. Kennedy during the Senate Floor Session. It was passed by the Senate in a close to unanimous vote and is now on its way to the Governor to be signed into law! This bill will require the establishment of a statewide Adult Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Multidisciplinary Teams Coordinator Program under the Prosecuting Attorney's Council (PAC) while also establishing an Elder Justice Coalition. Read the full bill HERE.

Read and print the issue fact sheet here

MAID

CO-AGE Medical Aid in Dying Education Continues

The Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) issue was selected as a priority by CO-AGE in July. However, due to the complexity of the issue, members of the CO-AGE workgroup found it important to defer pursuit of legislative action until the 2025 General Assembly session. Instead, members launched a community educational campaign in order for advocates to better understand the issue, have the opportunity to ask questions, and engage in meaningful discourse before approaching the legislature for a request for a Study Committee in 2025.If your group is interested in scheduling an info session about MAID, contact us at nikaela.frederick@gcoa.ga.gov.

Read the issue summary here