Senator Unterman currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which is responsible for hearing legislation relating to healthcare and other social services. 

As usual, the members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee kept themselves busy during the 2011 Session by vetting legislation important to the health and well being of Georgians. Among the health bills ultimately enacted into law were some key items that are the culmination of many years of effort. 

• House Bill 214, sponsored by Representative Mickey Channell, establishes a stand-alone Department of Public Health. Representative Channell and others have long advocated giving Public Health its own department so that this vital area of public policy will get the full attention it deserves. 
• Another achievement arising from many years of work by lawmakers and advocates was the passage of Senate Bill 178, sponsored by Senator Johnny Grant. SB 178 provides for the regulation and licensing of assisted living communities and has been worked on by Senator Grant and others for the past 16 years. 
• In addition, legislation by Senator Buddy Carter, Senate Bill 36, establishes a prescription drug monitoring program in Georgia, a move that has long been advocated by law enforcement seeking to combat the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse.
• For the past several years, lawmakers have been working with advocates and the law enforcement community to address the problem of child prostitution in Georgia. This year, the Georgia General Assembly enacted House Bill 200, which increases penalties for human trafficking, especially in cases involving minors, and strengthens protections for victims. Representative Lindsey worked closely with the Attorney General and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in crafting HB 200, which received nearly unanimous support from legislators. 

Other enacted health bills include legislation on our system of care for mental illness and developmental disabilities, burn trauma centers, nursing education, and physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses.