sr66_As_introduced_LC_28_3268_2.html
07 LC 28 3268
Senate Resolution 66
By: Senators Staton of the 18th, Williams of the 19th, Johnson of the 1st, Shafer of the 48th, Chance of the 16th and others

A RESOLUTION


Creating the Senate Study Committee on the Shortage of Doctors and Nurses in Georgia; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Georgia is faced with a medical crisis in the staffing of hospitals and health care facilities in this state and a lack of physicians to care for its citizens; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to ensure that all Georgians have access to quality health care that cannot be met with the existing number of practicing nurses and doctors; and

WHEREAS, there are areas in this state where there are few, if any, physicians within easy accessibility of the citizens residing there; and

WHEREAS, many hospitals and other healthcare facilities are struggling to staff their facilities with nursing personnel to care adequately for the patients in such facilities and the nursing staffs are overworked and unable many times to meet the basic care needs of the patients; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to examine these issues to determine if legislative action is needed to ensure that there is an adequate number of doctors and nurses in this state.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study Committee on the Shortage of Doctors and Nurses in Georgia to be composed of seven members of the Senate to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall designate one of the members of the committee to serve as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation that the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event that the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2007. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2007.