ATLANTA – State Representative Barbara Sims (R-Augusta) was recently appointed to serve as the Chair of the Science and Technology Strategic Initiative Joint Study Commission by House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). The appointment was made pursuant to Senate Resolution 68.
“It is vital for Georgia to develop a strategic vision that will bring quality jobs to Georgia,” said Rep. Sims. “As the home of Georgia Health Sciences University and Georgia Tech, our state proudly hosts some of the top science and technology schools in the world. The commission will look at those existing assets and find ways to optimize their potential for bringing jobs to our state and growing our economy.”
The Science and Technology Strategic Initiative Joint Study Commission is a 12 member panel created by the General Assembly this year to investigate how Georgia can create economic growth through the Science and Technology industries. It has already begun its work by beginning a series of statewide hearings to gather input from science and technology professionals. The hearings will focus on ways for Georgia to strengthen its existing tech sector businesses, bring new tech businesses to the state, and increase the number of Georgia students in the science, technology, and engineering fields.
The commission’s first two hearings were held in Atlanta on July 20 and August 16. The next hearing will be held in Savannah on September 26. A hearing is scheduled to take place in Augusta some time in early November.
Additionally, the Science and Technology Strategic Initiative Joint Study Commission must inventory Georgia’s existing assets in the science and technology sectors to determine current strengths and capabilities. The commission will also conduct a review of state and national policies to determine best practices and lessons learned for public policy that successfully encourages advancement of science and technology.
According to the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), Georgia lost 12,395 tech jobs between 2008 and 2009. Despite these losses, many employers are finding it difficult to fill available tech positions due to a shortage of qualified candidates. The results of the commission’s hearings will be used to create legislative recommendations aimed at solving these issues. These recommendations will be submitted to the General Assembly before the 2012 legislative session begins next January.
The Science and Technology Strategic Initiative Joint Study Commission is composed of 12 members. As required by SR 68, members include one member of the Senate Science and Technology Committee and one member of the Senate Economic Development Committee appointed by the chairperson of the respective committee; one member of the House Committee on Science and Technology and one member of the House Committee on Economic Development appointed by the chairperson of the respective committee; three individuals from the private sector with a background in science and technology, with one such member each being appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the commissioner of Economic Development or his or her designee; the Georgia Technology Authority Chief Information Officer or his or her designee; the State School Superintendent or his or her designee; the chairperson of the Board of Regents or his or her designee; and the chairperson of the State Board of Technical and Adult Education or his or her designee.
The commission is led by two co-chairs, one of which is appointed by the Speaker of the House and the other is appointed by the President of the Senate. Rep. Sims was first appointed to the commission by Chairman Ron Stephens, Chair of the House Committee on Economic Development. Speaker Ralston then chose Rep. Sims as his co-chair appointment for the commission. Other than the co-chairs provided for in SR 68, the commission shall provide for its own organization.
For more information about SR 68, please click here.
Representative Barbara Sims represents the citizens of District 119, which includes portions of Columbia and Richmond counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006, and is currently the Vice Chairman of the Small Business Development & Jobs Creation Committee and the Secretary of the Economic Development & Tourism Committee. She also serves as a member of the Appropriations, Health & Human Services, and Transportation committees.
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