ATLANTA – State Representative Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) was recently appointed to serve on the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Health Committee, and the NCSL Law and Criminal Justice Committee. Rep. Golick was appointed to serve on these committees by House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge).
“It is an honor to be appointed to two NCSL committees by Speaker Ralston,” said Rep. Golick. “Public health and public safety are both key issues, and I look forward to working with other elected officials to figure out the most effective measures for our taxpayers.”
Both Committees are two of NCSL’s 12 standing committees. These standing committees serve an important role in representing state interests in Washington, D.C. and in the facilitating policy innovation among the state and territorial legislatures. The committees also provide a unique forum for the discussion of major issues facing the states, which allows legislators to learn from the experiences of other states.
According to NCSL, its Health Committee is charged with educating Congress and federal agencies about state concerns regarding developments in federal health initiatives, programs and grants to states. The committee also serves as a forum for legislators and legislative staff to learn and share information regarding health programs and health policy initiatives in other states. Some of the issues this committee has tackled include Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicaid, health care cost containment, health care access, and public health and prevention.
The Law and Criminal Justice Committee addresses underlying principles for a balanced state-federal system and takes policy positions to preserve state sovereignty and set a high standard for preemption of state laws. The Committee’s broad jurisdiction includes federalism and preemption issues, constitution and constitutional law, civil rights and liability issues. The many state criminal justice issues under the Committee’s jurisdiction include capital punishment, corrections, crime victims, drug crime, juvenile justice, law enforcement, probation and parole and criminal sentencing.
Policies of the Law and Criminal Justice Committee include the federalism policy that states the overall philosophy of NCSL with regard to American federalism, and includes sections on preemption, grant conditions and mandates, sovereign immunity and criminal jurisdiction within the purview of the states. Other policies, some joint with other Standing Committees, include crime and justice, state identification, crime records and information, child support enforcement, faith-based initiatives, government regulations and takings under the Fifth Amendment, and recent policies that address medical malpractice and enforcement of civil immigration law.
Each appointment is for a two-year term concurrent with Rep. Golick’s service as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves legislators and staffs from the nation’s 50 states. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. It also advocates for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
For more information about NCSL and its Health Committee, please click here, and for information about NCSL’s Law and Criminal Justice Committee, please click here.
Representative Rich Golick represents the citizens of District 40, which includes portions of Cobb and Fulton counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1998, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Judiciary Non- Civil Committee, and the Vice-Chairman of the Rules Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Insurance, Judiciary, and Retirement committees.
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