ATLANTA – State Representative Barbara Sims (R-Augusta) was recently appointed to serve as the vice chair of the Georgia Medical Center Authority Overview Committee by House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). The appointment was made pursuant to O.C.G.A. §20-15-15.
“Several years ago I had the opportunity to author the bill that gave the Georgia Medical Center Authority the ability to participate in state bonds up to $300 million, so of course I continue to have a sense of responsibility to this issue,” said Rep. Sims. “I have already seen such a tremendous growth in research and development of life science companies in Georgia that the success of our state’s investment seems clear. As a member of this overview committee, I plan to help ensure this success continues.”
The Georgia Medical Center Authority Overview Committee periodically inquires into and reviews the operations of the Georgia Medical Center Authority. It also reviews and evaluates the success with which the authority is accomplishing its statutory duties and functions. During these reviews, the committee seeks to ensure that the Georgia Medical Center Authority is efficiently operated and exercises prudent, legal, and accountable expenditure of public funds.
The Georgia Medical Center Authority Overview Committee is a joint committee of the General Assembly. It is composed of three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House and three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. Committee members serve two-year terms concurrent with their terms as members of the General Assembly.
The committee is led by one chair person and one vice chairperson. The President of the Senate appoints the chairperson of the Committee, and the Speaker of the House appoints the vice chairperson of the committee.
The Georgia Medical Center Authority is a statewide authority established by the Georgia General Assembly to advance the life sciences industry based in the State of Georgia through the provision of research, development and manufacturing facilities and programs. The Georgia Medical Center Authority helps advance the life sciences industry state-wide by providing up to $300 million in revenue bonds for research, development, and manufacturing facilities, and by managing BioBusiness Centers, which serve as business accelerators for established, startup and post-incubator life sciences companies.
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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