Rep. Schofield sponsors new staffing bill in Georgia House

The new bill, introduced by State Rep. Kim Schofield in the Georgia House, aims to improve staffing standards for food and nutrition services in long-term care facilities, according to the Georgia State House.

The bill, introduced as HB11 on Monday, Jan. 13 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Health; sufficient staff for carrying out food and nutrition services at a long-term care facility; provide’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to require long-term care facilities to employ adequate staff for food and nutrition services. It mandates the hiring of a licensed dietitian on either a full-time, part-time, or consultant basis. If a full-time dietitian is not employed, the facility must appoint a director of food and nutrition services who meets specific credential qualifications, such as being a certified dietary manager or food service manager, holding a degree in food service management, or having relevant experience. The director must receive regular consultations from a licensed dietitian. Additionally, the bill requires sufficient support staff to ensure the safe and effective execution of food services. The department is tasked with establishing rules and regulations to facilitate these provisions, effective immediately upon enactment. Conflicting laws are repealed.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Sandra Scott (Democrat-76th), Rep. Derrick Jackson (Democrat-68th), and Rep. Viola Davis (Democrat-87th).

Since the beginning of the session, Schofield has proposed another two bills.

Schofield graduated from Fisher College in 1982 with an AS and again in 2005 from Beulah Heights University with a BA.

Schofield, a Democrat, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 63rd House District, replacing previous state representative Debra Bazemore.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.