It is the intention of the General Assembly that this article be construed consistently with Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, and so as to authorize the Department of Community Health, within the appropriations provided to it, to administer the state plan in a manner so as to receive the maximum amount of federal financial participation available in expenditures made under the state plan.
(Ga. L. 1977, p. 384, § 16; Ga. L. 1999, p. 296, § 24.)
OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Limited use of state funds to pay for abortions to assure maximum federal financial participation.
- State funds may not be expended for any abortions except those in pregnancies wherein the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, especially given the fact that it is the intention of the General Assembly that Ga. L. 1977, p. 384, § 1 et seq. (see O.C.G.A. § 49-4-140 et seq.) be construed so as to accomplish maximum federal financial participation. If the state plan were to be administered so as to assure payment for abortions other than those where the life of the mother would be threatened if the fetus were carried to term, no federal funds would be available for that purpose. 1977 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 77-64.