ATLANTA – State Representative Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) was recently named the 2015 Legislator of the Year by the Georgia State Firefighters’ Association and the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. The award is given every year to the legislator who goes above and beyond in their role to support Georgia fire service.
“I am truly humbled and honored to be selected as the GSFA/GAFC Legislator of the Year, and I would like to thank the members of both organizations for this award,” said Rep. Waites. “These individuals act selflessly on our behalf every day, and for this reason, I take a tremendous amount of pride in working on behalf of those who sacrifice and put their lives at risk to protect and serve.”
The Georgia State Firefighters’ Association (GSFA) and the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs (GAFC) Legislator of the Year award is presented annually in conjunction with the Georgia Fire Service Conference. Rep. Waites will be honored at an awards ceremony during this year’s conference on September 19 in Jekyll Island, Ga.
“This year, I had the distinct honor and privilege of authoring and introducing House Bill 54, requesting a partnership with the Georgia Department of Revenue to allow individuals the option to donate portions of their income tax refund to a scholarship fund for the post-secondary education costs of the children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, prison guards, and Highway Emergency Response Operators of the Department of Transportation who were disabled or killed in the line of duty,” said Rep. Waites. “Authoring this legislation was a very small way for me to honor the families and heroes who have given the ultimate sacrifice. It was my hope that through HB 54, we could remove the financial burden of higher education costs for the dependent children of fallen heroes.”
During the 2015 legislative session, Rep. Waites also authored House Bill 650, which provided a new charter for the city of Atlanta to provide increased public safety access assessments within the city. HB 650 passed both the House and the Senate and was signed by Governor Deal on May 12 and became effective immediately upon his signature.
For more information about the Georgia State Firefighters’ Association and the Georgia Fire Service Conference, please click here, and for more information about the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, please click here.
For more information on HB 54, please click here, and for more information on HB 650, please click here.
Representative Keisha Waites represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves on the Interstate Cooperation, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety & Homeland Security, Special Rules, and Transportation committees.
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