| HR 98 - Pharmaceutical industry and govt; act to avert Y2K problems |
First Reader Summary
A RESOLUTION urging the pharmaceutical industry and departments
and agencies of state and federal government to take promptly
certain actions to avert certain potential effects of Year 2000
computer compliance problems; and for other purposes.
| House |
Action |
Senate |
| 1/27/99 |
Read 1st Time |
|
| 1/28/99 |
Read 2nd Time |
|
HR 98 LC 25 1193
A RESOLUTION
1- 1 Urging the pharmaceutical industry and departments and
1- 2 agencies of state and federal government to take promptly
1- 3 certain actions to avert certain potential effects of Year
1- 4 2000 computer compliance problems; and for other purposes.
1- 5 WHEREAS, the pharmaceutical industry and state and federal
1- 6 governments are highly dependent upon the proper functioning
1- 7 of computers and computer programs in the development,
1- 8 production, storage, and delivery of pharmaceutical products
1- 9 to patients who are citizens of this state; and
1-10 WHEREAS, in the early years of computer programs, computer
1-11 memory was at a premium due to limitations on physical
1-12 capacity, and in order to save precious memory space,
1-13 software developers adopted what became the uniform industry
1-14 convention of identifying years by two digits; and
1-15 WHEREAS, subsequent programs continued the convention for
1-16 many reasons, some of which include the need for
1-17 compatibility, to meet standards based on the two digit
1-18 convention, and the anticipation that the computer product
1-19 would be replaced or upgraded long before the year 2000; and
1-20 WHEREAS, this market-driven programming standard, which may
1-21 be found in a wide variety of software, computers, and other
1-22 electronic devices, results in a present or future inability
1-23 to accurately store, process, provide, or receive data
1-24 relating to a date beyond the year 1999, commonly known as
1-25 the "Y2K" problem; and
1-26 WHEREAS, such inability, if not promptly eliminated,
1-27 repaired, or otherwise accounted for, has the potential to
1-28 cause serious disruption to the timely delivery of
1-29 life-sustaining and other crucial pharmaceuticals to
1-30 patients in this state and thereby cause harm to the lives
1-31 of the people of this state; and
1-32 WHEREAS, it is the desire of the House of Representatives
1-33 that the pharmaceutical industry along with potentially
1-34 affected departments and agencies of the executive branch of
1-35 state government and federal government take necessary and
1-36 appropriate measures within their power and authority and
-1-
2- 1 with all deliberate speed to avert such damage and harm to
2- 2 the health and welfare of the citizens of this state.
2- 3 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
2- 4 REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body urge the
2- 5 pharmaceutical industry, including drug manufacturers,
2- 6 distributors, and suppliers, along with all appropriate
2- 7 state and federal departments and agencies, to take such
2- 8 necessary and appropriate measures as will ensure that
2- 9 adequate inventories, consisting of not less than 90-day
2-10 supplies, of lifesaving and other crucial pharmaceuticals
2-11 are available to patients who are citizens of this state as
2-12 of December 1, 1999, in anticipation of Y2K related
2-13 shortages.
2-14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Clerk of the House of
2-15 Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit
2-16 appropriate copies of this resolution to His Excellency
2-17 Governor Roy E. Barnes and members of Georgia's
2-18 congressional delegation.
-2-
Clerk of the House
Robert E. Rivers, Jr., Clerk
Last Updated on 02/24/99