As the March 1 deadline to file bills quickly approaches, I have continued to examine the issues that burden my constituents across Newton, Jasper and Dade counties. Here is a list of the legislation I have filed since last week:
Senate Bill 397 is a proposal that extends the period of time in which a petition to create a museum and cultural district shall be filed from five years after the Presidential declaration establishing the disaster area, to 15 years after the declaration has been issued for the impacted area.
Under Senate Bill 398, any prosecuting attorney, prior to or upon issuing an arrest warrant or information of indictment, may refer a case to a diversion program instead of proceeding with prosecution. The defendant would be assigned to diversion a program for a period of time not exceeding two years. Additionally, a prosecuting attorney may impose conditions on the behavior of the defendant that assures the safety and well-being of the community, as well as that of the accused or defendant. This program allows defendants to become eligible to receive rehabilitative services instead of being incarcerated as a first course of action. These conditions require the defendant to remain free of any criminal behavior during the duration of the diversion program.
Senate Bill 417 is a proposal that creates the Primary Care Transparency Act. The proposal requires health carriers to annually report their total health care expenses and total primary care expenses to the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration by March 1. The state agency is required to report this information to the General Assembly no later than March 31.
Senate Bill 422 repeals and replaces the current provisions of state law relating to the assignment for benefit of creditors. The bill states that no creditor shall obtain priority of payment out of the assets assigned on judgment rendered after the filing of a complaint if the assignment is set aside and voided. Additionally, any preferred or unpreferred creditor may be made a plaintiff or defendant at any time. When an assignment is labeled as fraudulent or void, it is not necessary to prove that the assignee has knowledge of such fraud or notice to render the assignment void.
Finally, I have also filed Senate Bill 435. Under this proposal, hospitals and the Department of Health and Senior Services shall not be required to comply with the current infection data reporting requirements applied to hospitals if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also requires the submission of such data.
As the session continues, I am determined to carry these important bills across the finish line. I will continue to stand up for the issues that matter most to the residents across the 32nd Senatorial District. As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to email me at bill. [email protected].
