A bill to make the Fulton County health department work more closely with the state system passed the Georgia House and is expected to be taken up by the Senate in the coming weeks.

“Infectious diseases do not respect county lines,” said Jan Jones, R-Milton. “It is important that we get this capital city and county more in line with the rest of the state.”

Fulton County commissioners supported the proposal, which would make the county health director a state employee, but would leave lower-level workers employed by the county.

The bill comes after a series of issues with the health department, including financial mismanagement.

To read more about the proposal, click here.