>>> I'M NOW GOING TO ASK A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY UNIT BACK THERE UNDER RULE 4 OF THE HOUSE, ASK FROM THE CHAMBER, HE WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN ONCE HE COMPLIED WITH OUR TESTING POLICY.

>> GEORGIA HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON TELLS THE STATE PATROL TO REMOVE FELLOW REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CLARK FROM THE CHAMBER BECAUSE HE WON'T FOLLOW COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA.

CLARK COMPARED HIS REMOVAL TO WHEN 33 BLACK LAWMAKERS WERE EXPELLED FROM THE CHAMBER AFTER THE CIVIL WAR BECAUSE OF THEIR SKIN COLOR.

AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THAT REMARK IS ALSO CONTROVERSIAL.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE CLARK/RALSTON FEUD IN JUST A MOMENT >>> IN OTHER NEWS, THE BILL TO ALLOW SPORTS BETTING IS GAINING STEAM.

TWO LAWMAKERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT ISSUE WILL JOIN ME.

>>> AND THE PANDEMIC REVEALED THE NEED FOR MORE FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

WE'LL SEE WHAT CHANGES SOME WANT TO SEE OCCUR.

>>> BUT FIRST, CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS JOINS US FROM THE GOLD DOME.

BRENDA, THE GOVERNOR HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND THE QUESTION IS, ARE MORE GEORGIANS CLOSER TO GETTING VACCINATED?

>> THAT WAS THE BIG QUESTION TODAY, DONNA.

THE NUMBERS SPEAK VOLUMES IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AS GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP BROKE THEM DOWN TODAY WHEN HE SPOKE TO REPORTERS THIS MORNING ABOUT WHERE WE STAND IN THE NUMBER OF COVID CASES IN THE STATE AND THE VACCINE SUPPLY AVAILABLE IN THE STATE.

>> WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN INFORMED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT WE WILL RECEIVE ANY INCREASE IN OUR ALLOTMENT ABOVE THE 120,000 THAT WE'RE CURRENT GETTING, AND WE DO NOT EXPECT THAT TO CHANGE CERTAINLY FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THAT BEING SAID, OUR GOAL CONTINUES TO BE TWO-FOLDá-- ONE, TO UTILIZE OUR CURRENT ALLOTMENT AS QUICKLY AND AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

TWO, PLAN FOR THE INCREASED SUPPLY WHENEVER THAT DAY MAY COME.

DR. TOOMEY AND OUR ENTIRE TEAM CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WAYS THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE OUR EFFORTS TO QUICKLY PUT MORE SHOTS IN ARMS.

AS OF YESTERDAY'S 3:00 P.M. REPORT, HOSPITALIZATIONS STAND AT 4,879.

THAT IS THE LOWEST FIGURE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OVER THREE WEEKS.

OUR TEST POSITIVITY RATE HAS CONTINUED ITS DOWNWARD TREND TO 15.2%, WHICH IS DOWN FROM 19% EARLIER THIS MONTH.

>> WELL, IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES, YOU MUST LEAVE THE HOUSE.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHEN SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON ASKED REPRESENTATIVE DAVE CLARK TO LEAVE BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO FOLLOW COVID TESTING RULES.

SPEAKER RALSTON SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT TO ATTEND ANY MORE FUNERALS.

THIS IS HOW THINGS WENT DOWN.

>> WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THIS BODY WHO HAS DELIBERATELY FAILED AT ALL TO BE TESTED SINCE WE BEGAN SESSION.

CLEARLY IN VIOLATION OF OUR TESTING POLICY.

JEOPARDIZING THE HEALTH OF OTHER MEMBERS IN THIS CHAMBER.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT MEMBER, I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE AS DISCREET AS POSSIBLE, TO QUIETLY LEAVE THE CHAMBER UNLESS YOU PREFER IT OTHERWISE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CLARK DID LEAVE, BUT HE WAS NOT QUIET WHEN HE SPOKE TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE CHAMBERS ABOUT WHY HE REFUSES TO BE TESTED FOR COVID TWICE WEEKLY.

IN FACT, HE TOLD ME HE HAS NEVER BEEN TESTED.

>> IT'S DISCRIMINATING.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO MANDATE OUT SAYING WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

NEXT THEY CAN SAY THEY DON'T LIKE YOU BECAUSE OF THE SOCKS YOU HAVE ON, ANYTHING.

THIS HAS HAPPENED IN POLITICS.

PEOPLE COME DOWN HERE, I'M ALLOWED TO REPRESENT THEM.

I'M SITTING SIX FEET AWAY.

I'M NOT PUTTING PEOPLE IN DANGER.

>> NOT ONLY WAS REPRESENTATIVE CLARK ASKED TO LEAVE CHAMBERS, HE WAS LATER KICKED OUT OF THE HOUSE SPEAKER'S OFFICE.

AND THIS MOVE WAS SUPPORTED BY BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM HOUSE LEADERSHIP.

>> BRENDA, DESPITE ALL OF THAT DRAMA, THEY STILL HAD TIME TO FOCUS ON SOME LEGISLATION.

AND SO, BRENDA, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SPORTS BETTING.

>> OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

THAT DID HAPPEN.

REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS HAS BROKEN HIS BILL DOWN INTO THREE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS.

THERE ARE THREE BILLS, AND THE ONE HE IS HOPING WILL PASS IMMEDIATELY DOES NOT NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

AND THAT IS THE SPORTS BETTING BILL.

>> FOR THE SPORTS BETTING BILL, IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN ANOTHER GAME FOR THE LOTTERY.

>> CHRIS CLARK, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS SPORTS BETTING WILL BE GOOD FOR THE GEORGIA ECONOMY.

>> WHAT ABOUT CASINOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> THAT'S THE SECOND AND THIRD BILL.

THE SECOND BILL WILL BE DESTINATION RESORTS.

WE'VE TRIED THAT NOW FOR A FEW YEARS.

IT REQUIRES IT 120 VOTES IN THE HOUSE, WHICH IS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT AA YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.

THE THIRD ONE WOULD BE THE HARRY GEISINGER BILL, WHO WAS A REPRESENTATIVE HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND HE ALWAYS WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET HORSE RACING IN GEORGIA.

>> ONE HOUSE MEMBER WHO WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS BILL, ESPECIALLY THE INCLUSION OF CASINOS, IS REPRESENTATIVE WES CANTRELL.

>> I OPPOSE PERSONALLY ANY EXPANSION OF GAMBLING IN GEORGIA BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CASINOS AND THE TROUBLE THAT COMES WITH CASINOS.

>> TODAY HOUSE BILL 86 WAS ASSIGNED TO THE HOUSE ECONOMIC, DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM COMMITTEE.

WE ALSO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE STATE'S BUDGET.

THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE UP THE AMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET TOMORROW MORNING.

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN TERRY ENGLAND TELLS US THAT HE EXPECTS THE FULL HOUSE TO TAKE UP THE AMENDED BUDGET THURSDAY AND THAT COVERS STATE SPENDING THROUGH JUNE 30th.

LAST YEAR THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FIRST PASSED THE AMENDED BUDGET IN MID-FEBRUARY BEFORE THE FINAL PASSAGE IN MID-MARCH.

SO THE BUDGET PROCESS IS MOVING VERY QUICKLY THIS SESSION.

>>> AND IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOUR PEERS, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY WITH TWO VERY IMPORTANT GEORGIANS.

SENATOR JON OSSOFF BECAME THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE SENATE ELECTED SINCE 1980 AS WELL AS THE FIRST JEWISH MEMBER OF THE SENATE FROM GEORGIA AND THE FIRST JEWISH SENATOR FROM THE DEEP SOUTH SINCE 1879.

HE WAS RECOGNIZED TODAY BY REPRESENTATIVES MIKE WALENSKY.

>> TODAY I STAND TO HONOR THE FIRST U.S.

SENATOR IN GEORGIA, JON OSSOFF.

LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, I HOPE, FOR THIS HISTORIC MOMENT FOR ME AND ALL OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN GEORGIA.

THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT HONOR TODAY FOR THE MAN REGARDED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYERS OF ALL TIME, HANK AARON, NICKNAMED THE HAMMER OR HAMMERING HANK.

AARON DIED FRIDAY OF NATURAL CAUSES AT THE AGE OF 86.

>>> WELL TODAY THE FLAG AT THE GEORGIA STATE CAPITOL FLEW AT HALF-STAFF BY THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTE ORDER.

AND HOUSE RESOLUTION BILL 33 WAS ADOPTED HONORING AARON.

>> I THINK SOMEONE WE SAW AS A SPORTS PERSON THAT I SEE HIM AS A GOLDEN LIVING LEGEND, AN ICON IN OUR STATE, IN OUR NATION.

>> FOR MOST OF US, WE DIDN'T SEE A BLACK MAN.

WE SAW A BALL PLAYER.

A BASEBALL GREAT WHO WAS QUIETLY BECOMING A LEGEND.

AND HE WAS A LEGEND WHO PLAYED FOR THE ATLANTA BRAVES, NOT THE NEW YORK YANKEES, NOT THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS, AND NOT THE CHICAGO CUBS, BUT HANK AARON WAS OURS.

>> INDEED HE WAS.

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR HANK AARON TOMORROW AT 1:00 P.M. AT FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH.

THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA.

REALLY NICE TRIBUTE.

>>> SO NOW JOINING US ARE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WES CANTRELL, A REPUBLICAN FROM WOODSTOCK, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILLY MITCHELL, A DEMOCRAT FROM STONE MOUNTAIN.

WELCOME.

REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL, YOU WERE ELECTED BY YOUR COLLEAGUES TO BE THE HOUSE MINORITY CAUCUS CHAIRMAN.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

GENTLEMEN, AFTER THAT REPORT, BEFORE WE GET ON TO SOME OTHER THINGS, I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SPEAKER ASKING REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CLARK TO LEAVE TODAY.

SO WE'LL START WITH YOU, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> SURE, DONNA, VERY UNFORTUNATELY TODAY, THE SPEAKER HAD REASONS FOR US TO KEEP OURSELVES SAFE, KEEP EACH OTHER STATE.

WE HAVE GREAT MECHANISMS DESIGNED BY GEORGIA TECH THERE AT THE CAPITOL AND I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO MUCH FOR ALL OF US TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER BY BEING TESTED TWICE A WEEK.

SO VERY UNFORTUNATE WHAT OCCURRED TODAY AND COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

>> I MEAN, HE NO LONGER HAS AN OFFICE DOWN THERE EITHER.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL.

>> I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH WES, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

NOT ONLY WAS IT TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE VOTED ON THE RULES.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A PROCESS BY WHICH WE VOTE AND THEN FOLLOW THE RULES IN WHICH THAT PASSED, IT WOULD BE TOTAL ANARCHY.

AND I WAS REAL DISAPPOINTED TO SEE HIM PUT THE SPEAKER IN THAT POSITION.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE.

HE DID TELL US WHAT THE PRESS SAID, HE HAS NEVER HAD THE COVID TEST, BUT HE DOES WEAR HIS MASK EVERY DAY.

>> IT'S A REAL SHAME THAT WEARING MASKS HAS BECOME A POLITICAL STATEMENT AS SUCH.

BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET BEYOND THIS ISSUE AND BEYOND THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BROUGHT US HERE.

>> FORTUNATELY, OTHER THINGS DID HAPPEN AT THE CAPITOL.

WE'LL TALK SPORTS BETTING NOW.

REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL, YOU HAVE A BILL YOU'RE CO-SPONSOR OF.

WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT FROM STEVENS EARLIER TODAY.

SO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS BECAUSE IT WILL INCLUDE PUTTING THE FUNDS THROUGH THE GEORGIA LOTTERY.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

LET ME JUST FIRST OF ALL SAY THAT Iá-- IF EVERYONE GAMBLED, AND PLAYING THE LOTTERY IS GAMBLING, IF EVERYBODY GAMBLED LIKE I DO, THE LOTTERY WOULD HAVE LONG BEEN OUT OF BUSINESS.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY A PROPONENT OF GAMBLING AS MUCH AS I AM A PROPONENT OF PROTECTING GEORGIANS.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS TODAY GEORGIANS ARE GAMBLING ONLINE.

THAT ISá-- THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS GOING TO BE THE CASE, THEN I WOULD RATHER SEE GEORGIANS REGULATE THAT.

I WOULD RATHER SEE GEORGIANS GET THE TAX REVENUE FROM THAT, AND I WOULD RATHER SEE GEORGIANS GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT IN AS MUCH AS THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT IN ANY EVENT.

CERTAINLY, IT GOES THROUGH THE GEORGIA LOTTERY COOPERATION, WHICH MANAGES IN SUCH A GREAT WAY OUR HOPE SCHOLARSHIP AND WHAT WE DO THERE.

I DON'T KNOW ANYONE, AT LEAST WHO WOULD RATIONALLY SAY WE SHOULD DO AWAY WITH GAMBLING THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP BASED ON THE GREAT GOOD IT'S DONE.

AND THE SAME ARGUMENTS AGAINST ONLINE BETTING WERE THE SAME ARGUMENTS THEY USED WHEN WE PROPOSEDá-- WHEN THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP WAS PROPOSED, THEY HAVE SHORT MEMORIES NOW.

THEY DON'T RECALL BEING AGAINST THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP NOW.

>> YOU KNOW, SO WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST IT AND ONE OF THEM IS RIGHT HERE, REPRESENTATIVE CANTRELL.

IS IT THE SAME ARGUMENT THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARINGá-- WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME WITH REGARDS TO THE LOTTERY?

>> NO, I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT.

THE ARGUMENT THAT I HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL SAID ITP TONIGHT, THEY'RE DOING IT ANYWAY, SO LET'S TAX IT.

IT'S NOT A COMPELLING ARGUMENT.

GEORGIANS ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS ANYWAY, SPEEDING, COMMITTING ROBBERY.

ARE WE GOING TO LEGALIZE THAT AND TAX IT?

I DON'T THINK IT'S A VERY COMPELLING ARGUMENT TO SAY THEY'RE DOING IT ANYWAY SO LET'S TAX IT.

ALSO, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT COLLEGIATE ATHLETES BEING INVOLVED IN THIS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 18-YEAR-OLDS AND 19-YEAR-OLD YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG LADIES WHO COULD BE COMPELLED TO FIX GAMES OR DO THINGS BECAUSE OF PRESSURE BROUGHT TO BEAR BY THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY.

IF IT WAS ONLY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, I WOULDN'T BE AS OPPOSED TO IT AS I AM.

BUT I THINK WHEN YOU BRING 18-YEAR-OLDS AND 19-YEAR-OLDS IN THE EQUATION AND RUN THE RISK OF THEM BEING SUBJECTED TO IMMENSE FINANCIAL TEMPTATION AT THAT YOUNG AGE, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SMART THING TO DO.

>> IT DOES INVOLVE THE COLLEGE ATHLETES, DOESN'T IT?

>> I WILL TELL YOU, REPRESENTATIVE CANTRELL, THAT MAY BE AN AMENDMENT WE CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN IF THAT OFFENDS YOU AS SUCH.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER IN THE STATES THAT HAVE ALLOWED THIS, INCLUDING LAS VEGAS, WHICH HAS HAD GAMBLING OF ALL SORTS, THAT IT HAS REALLY LED COLLEGIATE ATHLETES TO SOME CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

I JUST THINK THAT IT'S A STRETCH.

I ALWAYS SAY WHERE YOU STAND ON ISSUES IS BASED ON WHERE YOU SIT.

AND I DO KNOW THERE ARE SOME BECAUSE OF SOME MORAL CONVICTION, LIKE THEY THINK THIS IS BAD LEGISLATION, IF IN FACT WE HAVE FOLKS DOING WRONG, THEN THE LAW HAS REMEDIES FOR THAT.

I THINK ONLINE GAMBLING IS THE MOST UNOBTRUSIVE FORM OF GAMBLING.

IT WOULD NOT AFFECT YOUR COMMUNITY PER SE BECAUSE YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IF YOUR NEIGHBOR WAS ONLINE GAMBLING.

THAT BE THE CASE I THINK IN A COUNTRY THAT IS TRULY FREEá-- I MEAN, TRULY FREE, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT TO PLAY NANNY AND DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOUR BILL IS DOING.

WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED IN IT.

WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY NOT.

JUST FOR EXAMPLE, I'M A MINISTER, SO TODAY I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH A YOUNG MAN WHO REACHED OUT TO ME DESPERATE BECAUSE HE'S BEEN MARRIED 15 YEARS, HAS 5 CHILDREN BUT HE HAS AN ADDICTION TO GAMBLING.

AND THE FINANCIAL STRESS THAT IT'S CREATED ON THEIR FAMILY AND THE HAVOC HIS WIFE JUST LEFT HIM AND TOOK TOOK FOUR OF THE FIVE CHILDREN WITH HER.

THESE ARE THE THINGS I DEAL WITH.

IT DOES DEPEND ON WHERE YOU SIT.

WE CAN SAY IT'S A VICTIMLESS CRIME, WHATEVER, IT DOESN'T HURT ANYBODY.

BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE SPENDING THEIR MILK MONEY AND THEIR MONEY FOR CLOTHES FOR THEIR KIDS ON GAMBLING ON GAMBLING BECAUSE THEY'RE ADDICTED, THAT'S A DIFFERENT MATTER.

MOST PEOPLE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY, LIKE MR. MITCHELL HERE, I'M SURE.

BUT THEN THERE'S THE 25% WHO IT'S MORE OF AN ADDICTION.

>> HE DID SAY WE WOULDN'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF HIM.

>> I TELL YOU, I'M SO GLAD THAT PERSON HAD SOMEONE LIKE YOU IN THEIR LIFE TO DEAL WITH THAT, BUT I THINK YOU PROVE MY POINT, THE REALITY IS WE DON'T HAVE IT IN GEORGIA NOW AND THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES ARE GOING ON.

FORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU IN THEIR LIVES TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES.

>> I WANT TO GET TO SOME OTHER ISSUES YOU BOTH ARE INTERESTED IN.

WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE CANTRELL, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, YOU'D LIKE TO SEE US GET RID OF IT.

YOU HAVE A BILLá-- >> ACTUALLY, I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

I WANT TO GET RID OF TIME CHANGE, THE SPRINGING FORWARD AND FALLING BACK.

PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THAT.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO IT.

I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO PICK ONE TIME AND STICK WITH IT.

BECAUSE WE'RE IN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ALREADY, ALMOST EIGHT MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, TO ME IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT TO BE IN DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME YEAR AROUND.

WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY AS A STATE TO DO THAT.

WE WOULD HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE CONGRESS.

THE CONGRESS HAS TO DO IT.

THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS IN THE CONGRESS RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD GIVE US THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.

FLORIDA WANTS TO DO IT, SOUTH CAROLINA WANTS TO DO IT, TENNESSEE.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE JUST GEORGIA.

IT WOULD BE BASICALLY THE BULK OF THE STATES IN THE SOUTHEAST THAT WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME PERMANENTLY.

>> BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL, I WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BILLá-- I THINK YOU FILED IT LAST YEAR AND IT DEALS WITH MAKING SURE ATHLETES GET AT LEAST SOME COMPENSATION FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THEY DO.

NOT GETTING PAID.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

>> THE REALITY IS WHEN THE NCAA WAS CREATED IN THE 1800s, WE COULD NOT HAVE CONTEMPLATED WE WOULD HAVE BILLION DOLLAR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS WHERE EVERYONE IS MAKING MILLIONS, THE COACHES, THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE ATHLETES.

IT IS EVEN PROHIBITED FOR ATHLETES TO WORK FULL TIME.

PLAYING IS THEIRá-- PLAYING THEIR SPORT IS FULL TIME AND THE NCAA REQUIRES THEM TO BE FULL-TIME STUDENTS.

I THINK WE'VE GONE PAST THE TIME TO WHERE WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF PER DIEM OR PAYMENT SO THAT THEY CAN DO THINGS THAT OTHER NORMAL STUDENTS CAN DO.

>> LIKE IF THEY SIGN A JERSEY, THEY GET SOME MONEY FOR IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

WELL, THERE ARE OTHER BILLS THAT YOU BOTH HAVE WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET TO SO WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING ON "LAWMAKERS."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, WHY SPORTS BETTER LEGISLATION SEEMS TO HAVE GAINED MOMENTUM UNDER THE DOME.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>>> GEORGIA HUMANITY, CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA.

TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>>> JOIN GPB AS WE CELEBRATE AMERICAN PORTRAIT.

>> I HAVE A GREAT TRADITION IN MY FAMILY.

WE GO TO "STAR WARS" MOVIES EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY COME OUT.

>> I'M HALF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HALF SOUTH ASIAN EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME RETHINKING MY CHOICE TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY.

>> WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, I HOPE TO GO BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

>> SHARE YOUR STORY AT GPB.ORG/AMERICANPORTRAIT.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

OVER 2.3 MILLION INDIVIDUALS LIFT WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN GEORGIA.

GEORGIA RANKS 47th OUT OF THE 50 STATES FOR ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

RIGHT NOW WITH REMOTE LEARNING AT SCHOOLS, RESTRICTED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS, WHAT DOES THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE LOOK LIKE IN GEORGIA THIS YEAR?

HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT IN THE STUDIO ARE REPUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE KATIE DEMPSEY OF ROME AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE SHELLY HUDSON OF SNELLVILLE.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO MENTAL HEALTH AFTER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST SEGMENT, SPORTS BETTING, YOU'RE A CO-SPONSOR OF THE SPORTS BETTING BILL AND CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER.

WHY DID YOU SIGN ON?

>> I SIGNED ON BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW LAST BUDGET WE HAD SEVERE CUTS TO EDUCATION AND PARTICULARLY MENTAL HEALTH.

SO WE DO NEED Aá-- AN INFLUX OF REVENUE TO REPLACE AWHAT WE'VE TAKEN AWAY.

I'M GLAD MY COLLEAGUE BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF ADDICTION BECAUSE IN REALITY, THE PERSON WHO CALLED HIM TODAY TO SAY THAT HE WAS ADDICTED TO GAMBLING, IF GAMBLING WASN'T THERE, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, HE WOULD HAVE PICKED ANOTHER DRUG OF CHOICE.

IT'S NOTá-- RESEARCH WILL TELL YOU IF YOU'RE AN ADDICT, IT'S NOT GAMBLING, SOMETHING ELSE WILL REPLACE IT.

TREATMENT FOR AN ADDICTION.

IF GAMBLING IS NOT THERE, IT MIGHT BE CIGARETTES.

IF IT'S NOT CIGARETTES, IT MIGHT BE COFFEE.

IT COULD BE SEX.

IT COULD BE ANYTHING.

BUT ADDICTION IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TREATED IN THE WHOLE AND JUST TAKING AWAY GAMBLING IS NOT GOING TO DO IT.

AND IT'S NOT GOING TO CREATE IT EITHER.

>> SOME PEOPLE ARE PREDISPOSED IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

>> SOME PEOPLE ARE PREDISPOSED.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, REPRESENTATIVE DEMPSEY.

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IN GEORGIA?

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT AT THIS POINT?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN CHALLENGING WITHOUT A DOUBT BECAUSE THE SAME WORK PEOPLE LIKE REPRESENTATIVE HUTCHISON DO IS ONE ON ONE BEING THERE, BEING THAT LISTENING EAR, BEING THAT CONCERNED, WATCHFUL EYE, WHETHER IT'S IN SCHOOL OR ADULTS IN THE WORKPLACE OR IN COUNSELING.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WE'VE COME THROUGH THIS LIKE IN SO MANY WAYS, COVID HAS CALLED FOR CREATIVITY, AND INNOVATION.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GREAT STEPS TAKEN, COORDINATED BY THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TO FIND WAYS TO CONNECT, TO HAVE ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT TO BE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FELLOW PEERS.

IT'S BEEN QUITE FASCINATING TO WATCH.

IT'S MORE THAN AN HOUR OF CONVERSATION, I WILL SAY, BUT BESIDES THE WARM LINES, THE ZOOM MEETINGS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE WHO NEEDED CONVERSATION AND NEEDED HUMANá-- CAN'T HAVE TOUCHá-- BUT THAT LISTENING EAR, IT'S BEEN THERE IN A VERY, VERY IMPACTFUL WAY.

>> WE'LL TALK A MOMENT ABOUT WHAT MORE WE CAN DO BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE HUTCHISON, ABOUT THE FACT YOUá-- YOU ACTUALLY TOLD OUR PRODUCER THAT YOU TREATED PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE EFFECTS OF HURRICANE KATRINA AND LASTING EFFECTS OF THAT AND HOW THEY'RE DEALING WITH IT.

DO YOU COMPARE THIS TO THAT KIND OF SITUATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'LL ORIGINALLY FROM NEW ORLEANS.

MINUTE TIRE FAMILY IS THE PEOPLE THAT I'M TREATING.

IN ADDITION TO WE HAVE A LOT OF TRANSPLANTS HERE FROM NEW ORLEANS.

IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE WHO LIVED THROUGH KATRINA, EVERYTHING HAPPENED EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER KATRINA OR HOW THEY ARE NOW VERSUS THEN.

AND I SUSPECT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME THING WITH COVID.

WHEN WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE BACK TO RELATIVE NORMALCY, I THINK EVERY CONVERSATION IS GOING TO BE WHAT HAPPENED, HOW I WAS BEFORE COVID AND AFTER.

AND I THINK EVERYONE IS A NEW PERSON.

AND WE HAVE TO REDEFINE WHO WE ARE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF GEORGIANS WHO NEED HELP WITH THAT.

>> YES.

LET'S UNPACK THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YOU CHAIR, REPRESENTATIVE DEMPSEY, THE HUMAN RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE.

>> I DO.

>> SO WHAT DOES THE PROPOSED BUDGET LOOK LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AT THIS POINT?

>> AT THIS POINT WE HAVE ONLY DEALT WITH THE AMENDED BUDGET.

>> RIGHT.

>> THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF MONEY TO MOVE AROUND IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET, BUT WE DID FIND, AND YOU WILL SEE IT THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET THE WAYS I'M TALKING ABOUT, THAT THEY USED THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT CAME INTO GEORGIA FROM OUR GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH COVID, USED THEM IN THE MOST WAYS THEY COULD STRETCH THEM I WOULD SAY.

THEY ALSO DIDN'T EVER SPEND WHAT THEY DIDN'T NEED.

THE ONE THING THAT PARTICULARLY I THINK IS THE STRONGEST THING THAT WE DID TO CHANGE THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, WHICH IS VERY GOOD TO BEGIN WITH.

WE REFLECTED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS BUT THEN WE DID ADD THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT NEW OPPORTUNITY, WHICH WILL BE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTER FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DO NOT HAVE.

AND THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COMPONENT.

THOSE WHO ARE I.D.D.

PLUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL POPULATION THAT NEEDS SPECIAL CARE.

>> I KNOW COMMISSIONER JUDY FITZGERALD HAS ASKED FOR MORE MONEY TO AT LEAST EXAMINE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> AS I SAID, IT WILL INCLUDE TEN BEDS.

THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TEN BEDS THAT FOCUS THAT WAY WITH A SPECIALIST TO BE THERE TO DEAL WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

WE DID NOTá-- WE WENT BEYOND THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST.

WE PUT THE MONEY IN.

WELL, ACTUALLY IT'S NOT NEW MONEY, IT'S FEDERAL SAVINGS THAT THEY ALREADY HAD.

IT'S $1.7 MILLION TO GO AHEAD AND START THIS.

WE DO NOT NEED TO WAIT.

THERE'S AN URGENT NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

TRULY, I'VE HAD MANY OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES CALL AND WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PLACEMENTS FOR SOMEONE WITH JUST SPECIFICALLY THESE ISSUES.

AND IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND A PLACE TO GET THAT HELP.

>> THESE ARE ISSUES THAT JUST CAME UP DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

>> WELL, THEY HAVE BEEN THERE BUT THEY HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN EXACERBATED BY IT.

>> YEAH.

REPRESENTATIVE HUTCHISON, IS THIS ANOTHER ENOUGH?

IS THEREá-- I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING.

>> IT'S SOMETHING.

>> BUT IS IT ENOUGH?

>> LIKE REPRESENTATIVE DEMPSEY SAID, WE DIDN'T HAVE TEN BEDS BEFORE SO, YES, IT'S GREAT.

IS IT ENOUGH?

NO.

IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF OUR WAIVER PROGRAMS FOR THE I.D.D.

COMMUNITY, THERE'S A VERY LONG WAITING LIST.

SO WE CAN SPEND ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE WERE GIVEN TO ADDRESS THAT POPULATION, AND THAT IS SEPARATE FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO JUST HAVE MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE BOTH.

SO WE HAVE LOTS OF NEEDS.

WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I CAN SAY THAT OUR DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION AND THEY HAVE A GREAT PLAN AND THEY HAVE A GREAT INTENTION.

WE NEED FUNDING TO FUND THEIR INTENTIONS AND IDEAS THEY WANT TO IMPLEMENT.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU THINKING IN THE BIG BUDGET?

>> I'M SURE THERE WILL BE.

WE WILL NOT LOOK ATá-- WE HAVE SUCH AN INTENSE FOCUS TO MOVE THIS BUDGET QUICKLY, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF COVID AND HOW IT COULD IMPACT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, THAT WE NEED THE AMENDED BUDGET OUT AND THOSE DOLLARS IN THE HANDS IN THE AGENCIES THAT NEED THEM RIGHT AWAY TO FINISH OUT THE YEAR.

THERE WILL BE TIMEá-- AND WE WILL BEGIN TO FOCUS ON THE BIG BUDGET NOW.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU ANOTHER GROUP THAT IS CERTAINLY BEEN GREATLY IMPACTED ARE OUR CHILDREN, GEORGIA'S CHILDREN.

THEY'RE CERTAINLY STRUGGLING AND THEIR PARENTS, SOME ARE STILL NOT IN SCHOOL AND THE WATCHFUL EYES THAT ARE THERE IN SCHOOL, THE INTERACTION.

THERE'S A LOT OF TRAUMA INVOLVED RIGHT NOW FOR GEORGIA'S CHILDREN.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT SOME MORE.

IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME THINGS YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT TOO.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

WE'LL TRY TO GET YOU BACK IN.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

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