HB 755 Session 17-18

On January 25, 2018 Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon (D-58) introduced House Bill 755 (HB 755) which would require the Department of Community Health (DCH) to conduct a three-year pilot program providing preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug assistance or services to people who test negative for HIV, but who have risk factors that expose them to HIV. The program would be conducted in counties which the CDC finds at risk of outbreaks of HIV either because of a high rate of opioid-related use or otherwise. During this pilot program, DCH would collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of the program in preventing the spread of HIV, and, if effective, could lead to the expansion of the program throughout the state. Rep. Cannon continues to be a champion for Georgians living with and at risk of HIV. Given that Georgia's rates of HIV continually surpass most other U.S. states, this bill could be an important start to curbing the epidemic. Find the text of HB 755, co-sponsored by Rep. Lee Hawkins (R27), here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20172018/HB/755 .