This is an informal rundown of the legislative happenings. This update is from the most recent legislative days – 02/14/23, or Day 18.
HB 76 – Rep. Alan Powell
LINK: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/63640
WHAT IT DOES:
- Addresses the code section pertaining to the educational requirements for professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists
- Updates code section to include requiring the above to be certified by Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, instead of listing specific number of courses outlined by institutions (for the purposes of obtaining licenses to practice in Georgia)
- This would be the new standard for both education and clinical hours.
CONCERNS: This appears to be a revision of what is already in place and instead simplifies where Georgia aligns accreditation. You could make the argument that it’s unnecessary to do this and that it’s overreaching in regulation, but it isn’t ‘new’ regulation and voting against it wouldn’t eliminate regulation.
PASSED: 173-0
HB 176 – Rep. Stan Gunter
LINK: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/63843
WHAT IT DOES:
- Increases monthly court reporter travel allowances
- 1 county circuit: increase from $80 → $160
- 2 county circuit: increase from $140 → $240
- 3 county circuit: increase from $200 → $400
- 4 county circuit: increase from $260 → $520
- 5 county circuit: increase from $320 → $640
- 6 county circuit: increase from $380 → $760
CONCERNS: I don’t recall this being updated in recent years, so I’m sure it’s been a while since they’ve seen an increase while we’ve simultaneously increased everything else in the world.
PASSED: 172-0
