Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB884: Public Health, Department of; establish grant program for perinatal facilities to increase availability of obstetric care in low access maternity care areas and deserts
Status: In committee, April 4, 2025
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to establish a grant program for perinatal facilities to increase the availability of obstetric care in low access to maternity care areas and maternity care deserts; to provide for definitions; to provide for appropriations and funding; to provide for reporting; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to establish a grant program for perinatal facilities to increase the availability of obstetric care in low access to maternity care areas and maternity care deserts; to provide for definitions; to provide for appropriations and funding; to provide for reporting; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to establish a grant program for perinatal facilities to increase the availability of obstetric care in low access to maternity care areas and maternity care deserts; to provide for definitions; to provide for appropriations and funding; to provide for reporting; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows: "ARTICLE 31-2A-70. As used in this article, the term: (1) 'Department' means the Department of Public Health. H. B. LC 52 0822 (2) 'Low access to maternity care area' means a county in this state that has limited access to maternity care services, as evidenced by having only one hospital or birth center offering obstetric care, fewer than 60 obstetric providers per 10,000 births, or percent or more reproductive aged women without health insurance. (3) 'Maternity care desert' means a county in this state that has …