ATLANTA— House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today announced the appointment of State Representative Michael Harden (R-Toccoa) to the Georgia Workforce Investment Board. As a member of this board, Rep. Harden will work with Governor Sonny Perdue and other state leaders to create and implement policies that help increase employment in Georgia.
“In his first term as a member of the Georgia House, Rep. Harden made it a priority to help Georgians re-enter the job market by introducing House Bill 1389,” said Speaker David Ralston. “His approach to crafting policy that helps people return to the workforce makes him a natural fit for this board.”
The Georgia Workforce Investment Board was created by a 2006 executive order issued by Governor Sonny Perdue. The board is tasked with assisting the Governor in creating an integrated strategic plan for workforce development, which links policies and education programs to the economic needs of the state.
“I am honored Speaker Ralston appointed me to the Georgia Workforce Investment Board because creating jobs in northeast Georgia and putting Georgians back to work are more important than ever,” said Rep. Harden. “This past session, I introduced House Bill 1389, which would ensure that people receiving public financial assistance are able to pass employment required drug tests so that they can more easily return to work. I want to continue this type of common sense approach of putting people back to work and helping Georgians become job-ready.”
House Bill 1389 required recipients of unemployment benefits, state public assistance, and state administered federal assistance to submit to a random drug testing program at least once per year as a requirement of eligibility for benefits or assistance. The cost of the drug test would be paid for by the recipient or deducted from the recipient’s benefits or assistance. Any recipient who refuses a drug test or who fails the drug test would be denied benefits or assistance. The drug test program would not be required to receive public assistance related to medical care or for children receiving state administered assistance. Rep. Harden plans to reintroduce a similar bill next year.
The Speaker of the House is charged with appointing two members from the Georgia House of Representatives to the Workforce Investment Board. Rep. Harden will join Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn) as the other appointed House member serving on the Georgia Workforce Investment Board. Members of the board serve three year terms from the time of their appointment.
For more information on the Georgia Workforce Investment Board, please click here to view the 2006 executive order that created the board.
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Representative Michael Harden represents the citizens of District 28, which includes Banks and Stephens counties, and portions of Franklin County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2008, and currently serves on the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Higher Education, Motor Vehicles, and Transportation committees.