Georgia § 31-2A-35 - Grants.

§ 31-2A-35. Grants.

Grants shall be awarded annually on a competitive basis to direct client service providers who display competent experience in providing any of the services included in Code Section 31-2A-34 pursuant to guidelines and criteria established pursuant to this article. The department shall, with input from the agency, determine the maximum grant amount to be awarded to each direct client service provider, and such grant amount shall not exceed 85 percent of the annual revenue for the prior year of any provider. The grant agreement entered into between the agency and a direct client service provider shall stipulate that the grant shall be used to provide any or all pregnancy support services at the discretion of the service provider pursuant to Code Section 31-2A-34 . The agreement shall further stipulate that a direct client service provider shall not perform, promote, or act as a referral for an abortion, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (9) of subsection (a) of Code Section 31-2A-36 , and that grant funds shall not be used to promote or be otherwise expended for political or religious purposes, including, but not limited to, counseling or written material. Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit any direct client service provider from promoting or expending nongrant funds for a political or religious purpose. (Code 1981, § 31-2A-35 , enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 214, § 2/SB 308; Ga. L. 2017, p. 764, § 2-5/SB 193.) The 2017 amendment, effective July 1, 2017, inserted "any of" in the middle of subsection (a); and, in subsection (c), in the first sentence, inserted "any or all" and inserted "at the discretion of the service provider", and added the third sentence. Editor's notes. - Ga. L. 2017, p. 764, § 1-1/SB 193, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: "The General Assembly finds that: "(1) Untreated chlamydial infection has been linked to problems during pregnancy, including preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, and low birth weight. The newborn may also become infected during delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal. Exposed newborns can develop eye and lung infections; and "(2) Untreated gonococcal infection in pregnancy has been linked to miscarriages, premature birth and low birth weight, premature rupture of membranes, and chorioamnionitis. Gonorrhea can also infect an infant during delivery as the infant passes through the birth canal. If untreated, infants can develop eye infections."