Streamlined
hospital regulations to make it easier to open hospitals and
healthcare facilities in rural Georgia and allow for a new
Morehouse School of Medicine teaching hospital - and funded a
new UGA medical school and Georgia Southern dental school to
focus on graduating more medical professionals.
Reformed
adoption laws, streamlining the process to encourage and make
adoption easier.
Provided
additional support and respite services to foster families who
provide care for Georgia’s most vulnerable children
Passed tax
incentives for Georgians to contribute to non-profit
organizations that support foster care children and young people
aging out of foster care
Increased the
Income Tax Dependent Child deduction from $3000 to $4000
Increased the
age of insurance coverage for children with autism from age six
to age 20 and raised the yearly coverage amount.
Created
statewide literacy program with standards, established regional
literacy coaches and supplements for training lead literacy
teachers
Expanded
healthcare coverage (Medicaid) for low-income mothers for 12
months postpartum to reduce maternal mortality rate
Added “dating
violence” to the list of eligible persons for a temporary
restraining order
Increased
funding for safe houses for domestic violence victimsSupported
IVF state protections so parents can grow their families
Fought against
sex trafficking by increasing penalties for perpetrators;
requiring hotels and convenience stores to post trafficking
hotline information; opening supportive housing and counseling
for victims
Raised public
school teacher salaries to highest in the 16-state southeast to
attract and retain great educators for our children. Equals
$9500 increase over 5 years
Raised Pre-K
teacher and asst. teacher salaries; reduced class sizes from 22
to 20 students; increased transportation funding 500% to
expand accessibility; improved quality; and increased number of
classes
Required
insurance companies cover cervical and breast cancer screening
Took first step
in protecting girls sports from male competitors so our
daughters can compete safely and fairly
Supported the
strongest sexual harassment policy in the nation for a state
legislature
Created an
on-going maternal mortality commission to research and recommend
policies to protect new mothers. Established "visiting nurses”
program for at-risk mothers and newborns
Supported
legislation to double paid parental leave (to six weeks) for
state employees, including teachers, to support families and
newborn babies
Established 17
years as minimum age for marriage, provided a 17-year-old and
the intended spouse participates in premarital counseling,
the age difference is no more than four years, and a court
determines it is in the best interest of the minor.
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