ATLANTA — State Representative Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) today commented on the signing of House Bills 409 and 426 into law by Governor Nathan Deal. The new laws, both health-care related, were signed during a bill signing ceremony Tuesday at the State Capitol.
“Thank you to my friends in the House for their support of these pieces of legislation, and thank you to Governor Deal for his faith in them,” said Rep. Taylor. “We have done great work to further streamline the insurance industry with HB 409 and to incentivize non-profit health-care with HB 426. I am proud of these pieces of legislation and for the advancements that they will bring to Georgia.”
HB 409 states that no health insurance policies sold in Georgia can deny coverage as “experimental” for treatment using cadaver or non-human derived skin tissue. This is especially meaningful for the treatment of burns. HB 409 unanimously passed the House on March 13 before unanimously passing the Senate on April 2.
HB 426 provides for a two-year sales tax exemption for federally qualified nonprofit health centers and nonprofit volunteer health clinics. The exemption is effective from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. Additionally, the legislation requires that any clinic taking the exemption must submit certain data to the Department of Revenue. Finally, the bill provides for a five-year sales tax exemption for donating food and food ingredients to food banks, as well as a use tax exemption when food is donated in times of natural disasters.
For more information on HB 409, please click here.
For more information on HB 426, please click here.
Representative Darlene Taylor represents the citizens of District 173, which includes portions of Decatur, Grady, and Thomas counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2010, and currently serves as the Vice Chairman on the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, and the Secretary on the Governmental Affairs Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs and Insurance committees.
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