The Georgia Senate unanimously passed a bill today that would protect physician assistants who work in free health clinics.

Doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners who volunteer their services at these clinics are already covered under state provided liability protection.

Senator Lee Hawkins, sponsored the bill. He says protecing physician assistants from liability is costly.

"What we are doing is allowing the clinics to take the money that they would pay for that liability, and use that for producing or providing medications and health care, keeping the lights on and the doors open," said Hawkins.

There are 55 clinics across the state of Georgia that provide no cost care to more than 175,000 patients.

Tags: medical, Georgia Senate, gold dome, GPB lawmakers, liability coverage