reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 28 - TOURIST COURTS (§§ 31-28-1 — 31-28-7) › Section 31-28-4 - Administrative review of local government order

Any person substantially affected by any final order of the county board of health denying, suspending, revoking, or refusing to renew any permit provided under this chapter may secure review thereof by appeal to the department as provided in Article 1 of Chapter 5 of this title.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 28 - TOURIST COURTS (§§ 31-28-1 — 31-28-7) › Section 31-28-5 - Standards for health, sanitation, and safety

(a)
The Department of Public Health and county boards of health shall have the power to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to ensure the protection of the public health. Such rules and regulations shall prescribe reasonable standards for health, sanitation, and safety of tourist courts with regard to:
(1)
Location, drainage, and maintenance of grounds;
(2)
Size, ventilation, and maintenance of sleeping rooms, toilet and washrooms, and laundry rooms, where provided;
(3)
Installation of all electrical equipment and exposed electrical wiring;
(4)
Heating appliances and equipment, and installation thereof;
(5)
Water supply, plumbing fixtures and installations;
(6)
Sewage disposal;
(7)
Garbage and refuse disposal;
(8)
Control of vermin;
(9)
Accident prevention; and
(10)
Spacing of trailer coaches and lighting of trailer parks.
(b)
County boards of health are empowered to adopt and promulgate supplementary rules and regulations consistent with those adopted and promulgated by the department.
Amended by 2011 Ga. Laws 244,§ 6-3, eff. 7/1/2011.
Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 102,§ 1-4, eff. 7/1/2009.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 28 - TOURIST COURTS (§§ 31-28-1 — 31-28-7) › Section 31-28-6 - Inspection of premises

The Department of Public Health and the county boards of health and their duly authorized agents are authorized and empowered to enforce compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated under this chapter and, in connection therewith, to enter upon and inspect the premises of a tourist court at any reasonable time and in a reasonable manner, as provided in Article 2 of Chapter 5 of this title.
Amended by 2011 Ga. Laws 244,§ 6-3, eff. 7/1/2011.
Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 102,§ 1-4, eff. 7/1/2009.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 29 - COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS WHO CONTRACT TUBERCULOSIS OR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS (§§ 31-29-1 — 31-29-8) › Section 31-29-1 - Amount of compensation

Any employee of any state institution, agency, or department charged with the care, treatment, or diagnosis of persons infected with tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis who contracts tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis while employed by such institution, agency, or department may be carried on the payroll of such institution, agency, or department at one-half of his total compensation or $150.00 per month, whichever is less, for the duration of his disability due to tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis, not to exceed 350 weeks. In the event of death of the employee while receiving compensation under this Code section, such compensation shall immediately cease.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 29 - COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS WHO CONTRACT TUBERCULOSIS OR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS (§§ 31-29-1 — 31-29-8) › Section 31-29-2 - Physical examination required for compensation under Code Section 31-29-1

(a)
In order for any employee of any state institution, agency, or department to be eligible to receive compensation under Code Section
31-29-1
, he shall undergo a physical examination at the beginning of or during the course of his employment, which examination must show that he is free of tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis at the time of physical examination.
(b)
All physical examinations conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section shall be provided free of charge by the institution, agency, or department employing the person.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 29 - COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS WHO CONTRACT TUBERCULOSIS OR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS (§§ 31-29-1 — 31-29-8) › Section 31-29-3 - Periodic physical examinations of persons receiving compensation

Any institution, agency, or department having employees qualifying for compensation under Code Section
31-29-1
may require periodic physical examinations of such employees to determine if each such employee has recovered sufficiently to resume his duties without danger of spreading the infection. If an employee is found to have recovered sufficiently, he must forthwith return to his duties. In the event of failure to do so, he shall be removed from the payroll of the institution, agency, or department.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 29 - COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS WHO CONTRACT TUBERCULOSIS OR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS (§§ 31-29-1 — 31-29-8) › Section 31-29-4 - Effect of retirement under Chapter 2 of Title 47

If an employee of any state institution, agency, or department elects to retire under the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, if eligible to do so at the time it is ascertained that he has contracted tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis, the compensation authorized under Code Section
31-29-1
shall not be paid.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 29 - COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS WHO CONTRACT TUBERCULOSIS OR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS (§§ 31-29-1 — 31-29-8) › Section 31-29-5 - Contributions to retirement system where employee does not retire

In the event the employee is not eligible or does not elect to retire under the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, if eligible to do so after contracting tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis, the state institution, agency, or department by which he is employed shall continue to make contributions to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, based on the employee's total or reduced compensation, for the duration of his illness, not to exceed a maximum of 350 weeks. The employee may elect to continue his contributions to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia based on his total compensation or on the reduced compensation received from the institution, agency, or department. The retirement credits and benefits of an employee receiving compensation under Code Section
31-29-1
shall be based upon the compensation elected and contributed on by the employee.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 29 - COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS WHO CONTRACT TUBERCULOSIS OR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS (§§ 31-29-1 — 31-29-8) › Section 31-29-6 - Rights of employees under State Personnel Administration

Any employee of any state institution, agency, or department who qualifies under Code Section
31-29-1
shall be given credit for all salary adjustments and the same eligibility for step increases to which he or she would have been entitled under the rules of the State Personnel Board had he or she not contracted tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis and had he or she remained on the job full time in the same capacity and with the same status as he or she had previously attained.
Amended by 2012 Ga. Laws 630,§ 2-42, eff. 7/1/2012.
Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 155,§ 2, eff. 5/5/2009.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 29 - COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS WHO CONTRACT TUBERCULOSIS OR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS (§§ 31-29-1 — 31-29-8) › Section 31-29-7 - Rules and regulations of employing authority; exclusion from right to compensation of employees not subject to exposure

The superintendent or director having the legal authority to appoint employees of any state institution, agency, or department affected by Code Section
31-29-1
is authorized to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations not inconsistent with Code Sections
31-29-1
through
31-29-6
, to effectuate and carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter. Such superintendent or director may exclude from the coverage of Code Section
31-29-1
the employees of divisions or units of the institution, agency, or department who, in the opinion of the superintendent or director, have no occupational exposure to tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 29 - COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS WHO CONTRACT TUBERCULOSIS OR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS (§§ 31-29-1 — 31-29-8) › Section 31-29-8 - Specific inclusion of employees of certain institutions

It is declared to be the specific intent of Code Section
31-29-1
that the employees of the Central State Hospital, Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital, and Reidsville State Prison be covered by Code Sections
31-29-1
through
31-29-7
. This Code section shall not be construed to exclude the employees of any other state institution, agency, or department charged with the care, treatment, or diagnosis of persons infected with tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis who are subject to occupational exposure to tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-1 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] Definitions

As used in this chapter, the term:
(1)
"Agent Orange" means the herbicide composed primarily of trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.
(2)
"Veteran" means a person who was a resident of this state at the time of his induction into the armed forces of the United States of America or was a resident of this state on or after November 1, 1982, and who served in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos during the Vietnam Conflict.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-2 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] Submission of report to department

(a)
A physician who has primary responsibility for treating a veteran who believes he may have been exposed to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including but not limited to Agent Orange, while serving in the armed forces of the United States shall, at the request of the veteran, submit a report to the department on a form provided by the department. If there is no physician having primary responsibility for treating the veteran, the hospital treating the veteran shall, at the request of the veteran, submit the report to the department.
(b)
The form provided by the department to the physician shall request the following information:
(1)
Symptoms of the veteran which may be related to exposure to a chemical defoliant or herbicide or other causative agent, including Agent Orange;
(2)
Diagnosis of the veteran; and
(3)
Methods of treatment prescribed.
(c)
The department may require the veteran to provide such other information as determined by the commissioner.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-3 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] Report by department of information submitted under chapter; conduct of epidemiological studies by department

(a)
The department, in consultation and cooperation with a board certified medical toxicologist, shall compile and evaluate information submitted under this chapter into a report to be distributed annually to members of the General Assembly and to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service. The report shall contain current research findings on the effects of exposure to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange, and statistical information compiled from reports submitted by physicians or hospitals.
(b)
The department, in consultation and cooperation with a board certified medical toxicologist, shall conduct epidemiological studies on veterans who have cancer or other medical problems associated with exposure to a chemical defoliant or herbicide or any other causative agent, including Agent Orange, or who have children born with birth defects after the veterans' suspected exposure to a chemical defoliant or herbicide or any other causative agent, including Agent Orange. The department must obtain consent from each veteran to be studied under this subsection. The department shall compile and evaluate information obtained from these studies into a report to be distributed as provided by subsection (a) of this Code section.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-4 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] Disclosure of identity of subject of report; statistics as public information

The identity of a veteran about whom a report has been made under Code Section
31-30-2
or
31-30-3
may not be disclosed unless the veteran consents to the disclosure. Statistical information collected under this chapter is public information.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-5 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] Immunity of physician or hospital providing required information

A physician or a hospital subject to this chapter who complies with this chapter may not be held civilly or criminally liable for providing the information required by this chapter.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-6 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] Actions for release of information and individual medical records

The Attorney General may represent a class of individuals composed of veterans who may have been injured because of contact with chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange, in an action for release of information relating to exposure to such chemicals during military service and for release of individual medical records.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-7 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] Referral of veterans for medical and financial assistance; screening services to ascertain physical damage from exposure

(a)
The department and the health science centers and other medical facilities of the University System of Georgia shall institute a cooperative program to:
(1)
Refer veterans to appropriate state and federal agencies for the purpose of filing claims to remedy medical and financial problems caused by the veterans' exposure to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange; and
(2)
Provide veterans with fat tissue biopsies, genetic counseling, and genetic screening to determine if the veteran has suffered physical damage as a result of substantial exposure to chemical defoliants or herbicides or other causative agents, including Agent Orange.
(b)
The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to the administration of the programs authorized by this Code section.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-8 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] Discontinuance of referral and screening programs performed by federal government

If the commissioner determines that an agency of the federal government is performing the referral and screening functions required by Code Section
31-30-7
, the commissioner may discontinue any program required by this chapter or any duty required of a physician or hospital under this chapter.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 30 - REPORTS ON VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE (§§ 31-30-1 — 31-30-9) › Section 31-30-9 - [Effective 6/30/2025. See note.] When chapter effective

This chapter shall become effective when and to the extent that funds are appropriated and available to the Department of Public Health under an appropriation which specifically refers to this chapter and provides that it is intended for the implementation of this chapter.
Amended by 2011 Ga. Laws 244,§ 6-3, eff. 7/1/2011.
Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 102,§ 1-4, eff. 7/1/2009.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 31 - BOXING MATCH LICENSES (§ 31-31-1) › Section 31-31-1 - through 31-31-6 - [Reserved]

Reserved. Repealed by Ga. L. 1998, p. 1052, § 1, effective July 1, 1998.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 32 - GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE ACT (§§ 31-32-1 — 31-32-14) › Section 31-32-1 - Short title

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care Act."
Added by 2007 Ga. Laws 48,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2007.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 32 - GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE ACT (§§ 31-32-1 — 31-32-14) › Section 31-32-3 - Savings clause for existing living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to, affect, or invalidate a living will or durable power of attorney for health care executed prior to July 1, 2007, to which the provisions of former Chapter 32 or Chapter 36 of this title shall continue to apply, nor shall it affect any claim, right, or remedy that accrued prior to July 1, 2007.
Added by 2007 Ga. Laws 48,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2007.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 32 - GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE ACT (§§ 31-32-1 — 31-32-14) › Section 31-32-5 - Execution; use of form or other forms; witnesses; copies; amendment

(a)
Any person of sound mind who is emancipated or 18 years of age or older may execute a document which:
(1)
Appoints a health care agent;
(2)
Directs the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration when the declarant is in a terminal condition or state of permanent unconsciousness; or
(3)
Covers matters contained in both paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection.
Such document shall be in writing, signed by the declarant or by some other person in the declarant's presence and at the declarant's express direction, and witnessed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this Code section.
(b)
When a document substantially complying with Code Section
31-32-4
is executed in accordance with this Code section, it shall be treated as an advance directive for health care which complies with this Code section. No provision of this chapter shall be construed to bar a declarant from using any other form of advance directive for health care which complies with this Code section. A document covering any matter contained in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section which was executed in another state and is valid under the laws of the state where executed shall be treated as an advance directive for health care which complies with this Code section.
(c)
(1)
An advance directive for health care shall be attested and subscribed in the presence of the declarant by two witnesses who are of sound mind and at least 18 years of age, but such witnesses do not have to be together or present when the declarant signs the advance directive for health care.
(2)
Neither witness can be a person who:
(A)
Was selected to serve as the declarant's health care agent;
(B)
Will knowingly inherit anything from the declarant or otherwise knowingly gain a financial benefit from the declarant's death; or
(C)
Is directly involved in the declarant's health care.
(3)
Not more than one of the witnesses may be an employee, agent, or medical staff member of the health care facility in which the declarant is receiving health care.
(d)
A physician or health care provider who is directly involved in the declarant's health care may not serve as the declarant's health care agent.
(e)
A copy of an advance directive for health care executed in accordance with this Code section shall be valid and have the same meaning and effect as the original document.
(f)
An advance directive for health care may be amended at any time by a written document signed by the declarant or by some other person in the declarant's presence and at the declarant's express direction, and witnessed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this Code section.
Added by 2007 Ga. Laws 48,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2007.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 32 - GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE ACT (§§ 31-32-1 — 31-32-14) › Section 31-32-11 - Advance directive for health care's relationship to criminal and insurance laws

(a)
The making of an advance directive for health care containing a declarant's directions regarding the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration, shall not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide. If the declarant's death results from the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration in accordance with the terms of an advance directive for health care, the death shall not constitute a suicide or homicide for any purpose under any statute or other rule of law.
(b)
The making of an advance directive for health care shall not restrict, inhibit, or impair in any manner the sale, procurement, issuance, or enforceability of any policy of life insurance, annuity, or other contract that is conditioned on the life or death of the declarant nor shall it be deemed to modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance, annuity, or other contract that is conditioned on the life or death of the declarant, notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary. No policy of life insurance, annuity, or other contract that is conditioned on the life or death of the declarant shall be legally impaired or invalidated in any manner by the making of an advance directive for health care pursuant to this chapter or by the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration from an insured declarant, nor shall the making of such an advance directive for health care or the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration operate to deny any additional insurance benefits for accidental death of the declarant in any case in which the terminal condition of the declarant is the result of accident, notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary.
Added by 2007 Ga. Laws 48,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2007.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 32 - GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE ACT (§§ 31-32-1 — 31-32-14) › Section 31-32-12 - Restriction on requiring and preparing advance directives for health care

(a)
No physician, health care facility, or health care provider and no health care service plan, insurer issuing disability insurance, or self-insured employee welfare benefit plan shall require any person to execute an advance directive for health care as a condition for being insured for or receiving health care services.
(b)
A health care facility shall only be authorized to prepare or offer to prepare an advance directive for health care if specifically requested to do so by a person desiring to execute an advance directive for health care or, if such health care facility's offer is not coercive in nature and such person consents to such offer. For purposes of this subsection, the Department of Corrections shall not be deemed to be a health care facility.
Amended by 2022 Ga. Laws 836,§ 2-15, eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 52,§ 57, eff. 7/1/2017.
Added by 2007 Ga. Laws 48,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2007.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 32 - GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE ACT (§§ 31-32-1 — 31-32-14) › Section 31-32-13 - Penalties and legal sanctions for violations

All persons shall be subject to the following sanctions in relation to advance directives for health care, in addition to all other sanctions applicable under any other law or rule of professional conduct:
(1)
Any person who, without the declarant's consent, willfully conceals, cancels, or alters an advance directive for health care or any amendment or revocation of the advance directive for health care or who falsifies or forges an advance directive for health care, amendment, or revocation shall be civilly liable and guilty of a misdemeanor;
(2)
Any person who falsifies or forges an advance directive for health care of another or who willfully conceals or withholds personal knowledge of an amendment or revocation of an advance directive for health care with the intent to cause a withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration contrary to the intent of the declarant and thereby, because of such act, directly causes life-sustaining procedures or the provision of nourishment or hydration to be withheld or withdrawn and death thereby to be hastened shall be subject to prosecution for criminal homicide as provided in Chapter 5 of Title 16;
(3)
Any person who requires or prevents execution of an advance directive for health care as a condition of ensuring or providing any type of health care services to an individual shall be civilly liable and guilty of a misdemeanor; and
(4)
Any person who willfully witnesses an advance directive for health care knowing at the time he or she is not eligible to witness such advance directive under subsection (c) of Code Section
31-32-5
or who coerces or attempts to coerce a person into making an advance directive for health care shall be civilly liable and guilty of a misdemeanor.
Added by 2007 Ga. Laws 48,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2007.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 32 - GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE ACT (§§ 31-32-1 — 31-32-14) › Section 31-32-14 - Effect of chapter on other legal rights and duties

(a)
Nothing in this chapter shall impair or supersede any legal right or legal responsibility which any person may have to effect the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration in any lawful manner.
(b)
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the process of dying as provided in this chapter. Furthermore, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve abortion.
(c)
This chapter shall create no presumption concerning the intention of an individual who has not executed an advance directive for health care to consent to the use or withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration in the event of a terminal condition or state of permanent unconsciousness.
(d)
Except to the extent provided in an advance directive for health care and subject to the health care agent's duty to exercise granted powers in such manner as the health care agent deems consistent with the intentions and desires of the declarant pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section
31-32-7
, a declarant's directions in an advance directive for health care regarding the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration shall be ineffective as long as there is a health care agent available and willing to make decisions for and on behalf of the declarant regarding the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or the withholding or withdrawal of the provision of nourishment or hydration when the declarant is in a terminal condition or state of permanent unconsciousness.
(e)
Unless an advance directive for health care provides otherwise, a health care agent who is known to a health care provider to be available and willing to make health care decisions for a declarant has priority over any other person, including any guardian, to act for the declarant in all matters covered by the advance directive for health care.
(f)
Nothing in this chapter shall affect the delegation of a parent's power to control the health care of a minor child.
(g)
With respect to mental health care, nothing in this chapter shall supersede the duties and responsibilities of a mental health care agent under Chapter 11 of Title 37 or the terms of a psychiatric advance directive executed by the declarant before, simultaneously with, or after the advance directive for health care under which the health care agent is acting.
Amended by 2022 Ga. Laws 836,§ 2-16, eff. 7/1/2022.
Added by 2007 Ga. Laws 48,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2007.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 33 - HEALTH RECORDS (§§ 31-33-1 — 31-33-8) › Section 31-33-1 - Definitions

As used in this chapter, the term:
(1)
"Patient" means any person who has received health care services from a provider.
(2)
"Provider" means all hospitals, including public, private, osteopathic, and tuberculosis hospitals; other special care units, including podiatric facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and kidney disease treatment centers, including freestanding hemodialysis units; intermediate care facilities; ambulatory surgical or obstetrical facilities; health maintenance organizations; and home health agencies. It shall also mean any person licensed to practice under Chapter 9, 11, 26, 34, 35, or 39 of Title 43.
(3)
"Record" means a patient's health record, including, but not limited to, evaluations, diagnoses, prognoses, laboratory reports, X-rays, prescriptions, and other technical information used in assessing the patient's condition, or the pertinent portion of the record relating to a specific condition or a summary of the record.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 33 - HEALTH RECORDS (§§ 31-33-1 — 31-33-8) › Section 31-33-3 - Costs of copying and mailing; patient's rights as to records; applicability to psychiatric, psychological, and other mental health records

(a)
The party requesting the patient's records shall be responsible to the provider for the costs of copying and mailing the patient's record. A charge of up to $20.00 may be collected for search, retrieval, and other direct administrative costs related to compliance with the request under this chapter. A fee for certifying the medical records may also be charged not to exceed $7.50 for each record certified. The actual cost of postage incurred in mailing the requested records may also be charged. In addition, copying costs for a record which is in paper form shall not exceed $.75 per page for the first 20 pages of the patient's records which are copied; $.65 per page for pages 21 through 100; and $.50 for each page copied in excess of 100 pages. All of the fees allowed by this Code section may be adjusted annually in accordance with the medical component of the consumer price index. The Department of Community Health shall be responsible for calculating this annual adjustment, which will become effective on July 1 of each year. To the extent the request for medical records includes portions of records which are not in paper form, including but not limited to radiology films, models, or fetal monitoring strips, the provider shall be entitled to recover the full reasonable cost of such reproduction. Payment of such costs may be required by the provider prior to the records being furnished. This subsection shall not apply to records requested in order to make or complete an application for a disability benefits program.
(b)
The rights granted to a patient or other person under this chapter are in addition to any other rights such patient or person may have relating to access to a patient's records; however, nothing in this chapter shall be construed as granting to a patient or person any right of ownership in the records, as such records are owned by and are the property of the provider.
(c)
This Code section shall apply to psychiatric, psychological, and other mental health records of a patient.
Amended by 2016 Ga. Laws 475,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2015 Ga. Laws 156,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2001 Ga. Laws 355, § 2, eff. 7/1/2001.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 33 - HEALTH RECORDS (§§ 31-33-1 — 31-33-8) › Section 31-33-4 - Mental health records

The provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise provided in Code Sections
31-33-3
,
31-33-7
, and
31-33-8
, shall not apply to psychiatric, psychological, or other mental health records of a patient.
Amended by 2016 Ga. Laws 475,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 418,§ 18, eff. 7/1/2010.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 33 - HEALTH RECORDS (§§ 31-33-1 — 31-33-8) › Section 31-33-5 - Immunity from liability for releasing information

Any provider releasing information in good faith pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall not be civilly or criminally liable to the patient, guardian, parent, or any other person for such release.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 33 - HEALTH RECORDS (§§ 31-33-1 — 31-33-8) › Section 31-33-6 - Confidential communications

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as destroying or diminishing the privileged or confidential nature of any communication now or hereafter recognized by law.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 33 - HEALTH RECORDS (§§ 31-33-1 — 31-33-8) › Section 31-33-7 - Furnishing copies of psychological or psychiatric evaluation to law enforcement officer upon request

(a)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section
31-33-4
, if a law enforcement officer employed by a governmental entity is required to submit to a psychological or psychiatric examination for the purpose of assessing the law enforcement officer's fitness for duty, employment status, or assignment of duties, then, upon the written request of the law enforcement officer, the employer shall furnish to the law enforcement officer a complete copy of the evaluation or report.
(b)
Any employer or health care provider furnishing or making a report or evaluation in good faith pursuant to the provisions of this Code section shall not be civilly or criminally liable to the law enforcement officer or any other person for furnishing or making such report or evaluation.
(c)
If an employer reasonably determines that disclosure of the evaluation or report to the law enforcement officer will be detrimental to the mental health of the law enforcement officer, would present a risk of harm to other persons, would involve the disclosure of confidential information or would violate the privacy of a third party, then the employer may refuse to furnish the record of evaluation; provided, however, that upon such refusal the evaluation or report shall, upon written request by the law enforcement officer, be furnished by the employer to a psychiatrist or psychologist treating the law enforcement officer.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 33 - HEALTH RECORDS (§§ 31-33-1 — 31-33-8) › Section 31-33-8 - Electronic records; application to psychiatric, psychological, or other mental health records

(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, any provider may, in its sole discretion, create, maintain, transmit, receive, and store records in an electronic format within the meaning of Code Section
10-12-2
and may, in its sole discretion, temporarily or permanently convert records into an electronic format.
(b)
A provider shall not be required to maintain separate tangible copies of electronically stored records.
(c)
The other provisions of this chapter shall apply to electronic records to the same extent as those provisions apply to tangible records.
(d)
This Code section is subject to all applicable federal laws governing the security and confidentiality of a patient's personal health information.
(e)
A tangible copy of a record reproduced from an electronically stored record shall be considered an original for purposes of providing copies to patients or other authorized parties and for introduction of the records into evidence in administrative or court proceedings.
(f)
Except as provided otherwise under federal law, upon receiving a request for a copy of a record from a patient or an authorized person under Code Section
31-33-3
, a provider shall provide copies of the record in either tangible or electronically stored form.
(g)
Subsections (a), (b), (d) and (e) of this Code section shall apply to psychiatric, psychological, or other mental health records of a patient.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 418,§ 19, eff. 7/1/2010.
Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 141,§ 4, eff. 7/1/2009.
Added by 2005 Ga. Laws 120,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2005.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 34 - MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR RURAL ASSISTANCE (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-20) › Article 1 - PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES FOR RURAL AREAS ASSISTANCE ACT (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-9) › Section 31-34-1 - Short title

This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Physicians, Dentists, Physician Assistants, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses for Rural Areas Assistance Act."
Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 299,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 176,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 429,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2010.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 34 - MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR RURAL ASSISTANCE (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-20) › Article 1 - PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES FOR RURAL AREAS ASSISTANCE ACT (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-9) › Section 31-34-2 - Purpose and intent of article

It is the purpose of this article to increase the number of physicians, dentists, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses in underserved rural areas of Georgia by making loans to physicians, dentists, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses who have completed their medical or health care education and to dental students and allowing such loans to be repaid by such physicians, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and dental students agreeing to practice medicine or provide health care services in such rural areas and by making grants to hospitals and, as determined by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, other health care entities, local governments, and civic organizations in underserved rural areas of Georgia that agree to provide matching funds to the grant, with the intent to enhance recruitment efforts in bringing physicians, dentists, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses to such areas. It is the intent of the General Assembly that if funds are available to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce to make loans, grants, or scholarships under this article or under other applicable state law, the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce shall give priority to loans and scholarships under Part 6 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 and to loans under Code Section
31-34-4
.
Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 385,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2019 Ga. Laws 50,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 299,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 176,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2011 Ga. Laws 113,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2011.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 429,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2010.
Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 8,§ 31, eff. 4/14/2009.
Amended by 2006 Ga. Laws 468,§ 2B, eff. 7/1/2006.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 34 - MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR RURAL ASSISTANCE (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-20) › Article 1 - PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES FOR RURAL AREAS ASSISTANCE ACT (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-9) › Section 31-34-3 - Administration by Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce

This article shall be administered by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, and, as used in this article, the word "board" means the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce created in Code Section
49-10-1
.
Amended by 2019 Ga. Laws 50,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 299,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2011 Ga. Laws 113,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2011.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 429,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2010.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 34 - MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR RURAL ASSISTANCE (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-20) › Article 1 - PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES FOR RURAL AREAS ASSISTANCE ACT (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-9) › Section 31-34-4.1 - Grants to hospitals and other entities; use of funds; rules and regulations authorized

(a)
After providing priority consideration to granting loans pursuant to Code Section
31-34-4
, the board is authorized to make grants to hospitals and, as determined by the board, other health care entities, local governments, and civic organizations in underserved rural areas of Georgia, provided that any such hospital, health care entity, local government, or civic organization matches such grant in an amount not less than such grant. Such grants shall be for the purpose of enhancing recruitment efforts in bringing physicians, dentists, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses to such areas.
(b)
Acceptable expenditures of grant funds by a hospital or other health care entity, local government, or civic organization include, but are not limited to, medical or health care education loan repayment, salary supplements for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses, and additional support staff for a physician's, dentist's, physician assistant's, or advanced practice registered nurse's office. Grant funds shall not be used for hiring or paying a recruiting firm or individual recruiter.
(c)
The board is authorized to give priority over other grant applicants to applicant hospitals and other health care entities, local governments, and civic organizations in rural areas of this state experiencing shortages or distribution problems of certain specialties as determined by the board pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board in accordance with this article.
(d)
The board may adopt and prescribe such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or appropriate to administer and carry out the grant program provided for in this article. Such rules and regulations shall provide for the criteria that must be met by an applicant and the penalties that shall be incurred for failure to comply with the grant requirements.
Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 299,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 176,§ 4, eff. 7/1/2017.
Added by 2010 Ga. Laws 429,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2010.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 34 - MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR RURAL ASSISTANCE (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-20) › Article 1 - PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES FOR RURAL AREAS ASSISTANCE ACT (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-9) › Section 31-34-6 - Contract between applicant and state agreeing to terms and conditions of loan; breach of contract; service cancelable contracts

(a)
(1)
Before being granted a service cancelable loan provided for in this article, each applicant therefor shall enter into a contract with the State of Georgia agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the loan is granted, which contract shall include such terms and conditions as will carry out the purposes and intent of this article. The chairperson of the board and the executive director of the board, acting for and on behalf of the State of Georgia, shall execute the contract for the board. The contract shall also be properly executed by the applicant. The board is vested with full and complete authority to bring an action in its own name against any recipient of a loan under the provisions of this article for the performance of the contract and to collect any amount that may be due under the contract.
(2)
Any recipient of a loan under the provisions of this article who breaches the contract for such loan by either failing to begin or failing to complete the rural practice service obligation under the contract shall be immediately liable to the board for twice the total uncredited amount of all loans contracted for with the recipient, such uncredited amount to be prorated on a monthly basis respecting the recipient's actual service rendered and the total service obligation. For compelling reasons provided for in rules or regulations of the board, the board may agree to and accept a lesser measure of damages for the breach of a contract.
(b)
(1)
Before receiving a grant under this article, each approved applicant hospital or other health care entity, local government, or civic organization shall enter into a service cancelable contract with the State of Georgia agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the grant is made, which contract shall include such terms and conditions as will carry out the purposes and intent of this article. The chairperson of the board and the executive director of the board, acting for and on behalf of the State of Georgia, shall execute the contract for the board. The contract shall also be properly executed by the applicant. The board is vested with full and complete authority to bring an action in its own name against any recipient of a grant under the provisions of this article for the performance of the contract and to collect any amount that may be due under the contract.
(2)
Any recipient of a grant under the provisions of this article who breaches the contract for such grant shall be liable for the measure of damages specified in the contract for the breach of such contract.
Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 299,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 429,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2010.
2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 31 - HEALTH (§§ 31-1-1 — 31-54-4) › Chapter 34 - MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR RURAL ASSISTANCE (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-20) › Article 1 - PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES FOR RURAL AREAS ASSISTANCE ACT (§§ 31-34-1 — 31-34-9) › Section 31-34-7 - Cancellation of contract

(a)
The board shall have the authority to cancel the contract of any recipient of a loan under this article for cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such authority shall not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised. Upon such cancellation, the total uncredited amount paid to the recipient shall at once become due and payable to the board in cash, and interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum shall accrue on such total uncredited amount from the date of cancellation to the date of payment.
(b)
The board shall have the authority to cancel the contract of any recipient of a grant under this article for cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such authority shall not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised. Upon such cancellation, the grant recipient shall not be eligible to receive further grant funds pursuant to this article.
Amended by 2018 Ga. Laws 299,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 429,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2010.