Georgia House of Representatives
House Media Services Office
ATLANTA— State Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans) recently announced that he will continue to push for passage of “Ava’s Law,” an autism insurance reform bill, in the 2014 legislative session. House Bill 309, otherwise known as “Ava’s Law,” was first introduced by Rep. Harbin in the 2013 legislative session.
Continue reading “Rep. Ben Harbin to Continue Push for Autism Insurance Reform Bill in 2014”
ATLANTA— State Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans) received the Conservative All-Stars of the Georgia General Assembly ACU Conservative Award from the American Conservative Union (ACU) at the NCSL Legislative Summit on Tuesday, August 13, 2013.
Continue reading “Rep. Ben Harbin Receives American Conservative Union Conservative Award”
ATLANTA— House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today announced the appointment of state Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans) to serve on the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Labor and Economic Development Committee. As the presiding officer of the Georgia House of Representatives, Speaker Ralston is charged with selecting members to represent Georgia within NCSL.
Continue reading “Rep. Ben Harbin Appointed to NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee”
ATLANTA – House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) recently appointed State Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans) to serve as the Co-Chairman of the Georgia Technology Authority Oversight Committee. The appointment was made pursuant to O.C.G.A 50-25-15.
ATLANTA – State Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans) announced today the introduction of House Bill 951, legislation that would ensure that proceeds earned from the sale of general obligation bonds are spent only for their specifically designated purpose.
“The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the taxpayers have oversight of these funds,” said Rep. Harbin. “When the General Assembly approved bonds, we, along with our constituents, expect the funds from those bonds to be spent for a very specific purpose. HB 951 provides a more transparent state government by ensuring that bond revenue is spent only for the exact purpose for which it was approved.”
Currently agencies may redirect bond funds from one project to another to meet the agency’s needs. These transfers are only allowed with the approval of the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission as well as the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. However approval from the General Assembly, which appropriates these funds, is currently not required.
HB 951 increases transparency and accountability for these general obligation bond proceeds by requiring that the funds shall not be redirected without approval from the General Assembly.
For more information on HB 951, please click here.
Representative Ben Harbin represents the citizens of District 118, which includes portions of Columbia County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1994, and currently serves on the Appropriations, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Insurance, Intragovernmental Coordination, and Ways & Means committees.
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