The Act extends the scope of privileged communications beyond the psychiatrist-patient relationship and provides for privileged communications between enumerated licensed mental health care professionals and their patients. The privilege of confidentiality extends to discussions between treating professionals to the extent such discussions involve the confidential communications of the patient.
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The Act expands the scope of the parties’ right to take depositions of witnesses in criminal matters when a defendant has been charged with an offense of child molestation, aggravated child molestation, or physical or sexual abuse of a child. The Act permits counsel for the defendant or
The Act allows physician’s assistants to prescribe certain controlled substances pursuant to authority delegated by their supervising physician. The Act establishes requirements for both the physician’s assistant and the supervising physician in prescribing controlled substances. Additionally, the Act provides that there shall be no
The Act provides that all persons who perform voluntary service for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games or for the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee will be considered employees of the organization for the purpose of workers’ compensation coverage.
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The Act covers three different topics: transfer of indictment, competency to stand trial, and felony discovery. The transfer of indictment section allows an indictment or accusation to be transferred from the county where it is pending to the county where the defendant was arrested, is held, or is present. The
The Act amends the Georgia Boat Safety Act by providing a new definition of the term “vessel. Additionally, the Act designates homicide by vessel in the first and second degree, feticide by vessel in the first and second degree, and serious injury by vessel as new crimes.
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The Act provides for criminal record checks of all persons who wish to become employed by nursing home facilities. It also provides that the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) is immune from liability for faulty reporting. Additionally, the Act immunizes nursing homes from liability for certain claims an employee or
The Act requires petroleum pipeline companies to notify property owners of their rights before initiating eminent domain proceedings. The petroleum pipeline companies also must comply with a two-step application and review process. The Act contains provisions for public notices and hearings. Landowners must be compensated by the petroleum pipeline companies
The Act extends the maximum duration of permits for withdrawal, diversion, or impoundment of surface waters and ground waters to fifty years. Permits for more than twenty-five years must be based on a water conservation and development plan. The Act also provides for administrative review of decisions under this title.
The Act allows officers, directors, committee members, and employees of an insurance company to engage in transactions with the insurance company if a written request is given to the Insurance Commissioner’s office and the request is not denied. The Act also changes the law relating to a
The Act amends Georgia’s outpatient commitment law, increases protection of involuntary commitment records, and expands the definitions of “health care provider” and “review organization.” The Act also expands the confidentiality provisions that apply to review organizations.
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The Act removes the Georgia Real Estate Commission (Commission) as administrator of the Georgia Land Sales Act (GLSA) and repeals the provision relating to fees and expenses, enforcement and sanctioning authority, and immunity of the Commission. The Act vests enforcement of the GLSA in the Attorney General or the district
The Act permits the use of preexisting conditions exclusions in group disability income insurance policies. Specifically, the Act provides a definition of preexisting condition and prohibits the use in group disability income insurance policies of any definition that is more restrictive than the statutory standard. The Act requires policies that
The Act prohibits the raising of prices on any goods or services necessary to preserve, protect, or sustain the life, health, or safety of persons or their property during a declared state of emergency. The Act allows certain exceptions for the increased cost of such goods or services to the
The Act reforms habeas corpus procedure for death penalty cases. The Act imposes time limits for both the filing of a Request for Judicial Assistance with the Council of Superior Court Judges and for the assignment of such cases to a judge. Additionally, the Act limits discovery except upon a
The Act creates judicial in rem tax foreclosure proceedings to avoid the inefficiency and lengthiness of nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings, which commonly result in nonmarketable and uninsurable titles to real property. The Act provides procedures and standards for the filing of a petition for foreclosure, a petition hearing, notice provisions, foreclosure
