ATLANTA — State Representative Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) announced today that House Bills 198, 288, 443, 567, and 568 were signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal. Gov. Deal signed these bills, which were all sponsored by Rep. Dempsey, at a bill signing ceremony held at the State Capitol on Tuesday, May 5, 2015.
“It was an honor to stand with advocates for each of these measures as we witnessed Governor Deal sign these bills into law,” said Rep. Dempsey. “I would like to thank the Governor for his leadership and for signing these crucial pieces of legislation. These diverse laws strive to benefit and improve the lives of all Georgians by enacting lifesaving policies within our school systems, better coordination of behavioral healthcare, more accurate child support services, and by honoring the service and skills of our veterans. ”
HB 198, also known as the Jason Flatt Act-Georgia, requires all certificated public school personnel to receive annual training in suicide awareness and prevention. HB 198 also requires each local school system to adopt a policy to address procedures relating to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. HB 198 unanimously passed the House on February 19 and passed the Senate on March 24 by a vote of 45-1.
HB 288 adds two members, appointed by the governor, to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. The Behavioral Health Coordinating Council is charged with identifying overlapping services regarding funding and policy issues in the behavioral health system. HB 288 passed the House on March 11 by a vote of 161-7 and passed the Senate on April 2 by a vote of 46-4.
HB 443 permits employers to create policies that provide preferential hiring, promoting, or retention to veterans of the United States armed forces. HB 443 unanimously passed the House on March 13 and passed the Senate on March 27 by a vote of 51-1.
HB 567 allows a contempt proceeding for enforcement of a child support order to be brought in a court other than the court that issued the order. This measure will specifically allow child support orders to be brought to court in the county where the person owing the duty of support may be found or is employed. HB 567 unanimously passed the House on March 13 and unanimously passed the Senate on April 2.
HB 568 requires paternity testing in all new child support cases in Georgia involving children who are born out of wedlock where paternity has not been established. Under HB 568, any alleged father that is proven to not be the biological father will be relieved from the duty to pay child support. HB 568 unanimously passed the House on March 13 and unanimously passed the Senate on April 2.
For more information on the legislation sponsored by Rep. Dempsey, please click here.
Representative Katie Dempsey represents the citizens of District 13, which includes portions of Floyd County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006, and currently serves as the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources. She also serves on the Rules, Economic Development and Tourism, Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications, Health and Human Services, and Higher Education committees.
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