We have good news to share. Georgia Occupational Therapist Association (GOTA) has just received word from Tom Bauer, GOTA Lobbyist, that Governor Kemp has signed HB 268: The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.
We are grateful to announce that Rep. Bill Werkheiser of Glennville was selected to receive the GOTA Legislator of the Year. He worked closely with Tom Baur, who represents us at the Capitol. They made sure our bill was introduced, completed all of the steps necessary going through multiple House and Senate committee hearings, then eventually signed and was at the Governor’s office today to enjoy the bill signing.
Thank you to Chuck Wilmarth from AOTA Health Policy and State Affairs, Shaun Conway, External and Regulatory Affairs at National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. NBCOT, and Dan Lodgson from the Council of State Governments for guiding us from the compact’s early beginnings until completion.
Lastly, many thanks to you, GOTA Members and Georgia OT practitioners who answered our calls to action and took the time to call the Governor’s Office last week as well as emailed and called legislators this weekend. Your efforts made a huge difference! This is grassroots OT advocacy at its best.
