ATLANTA – State Representative Earnest Smith (D-Augusta) will celebrate the 21st Anniversary of Georgia’s Pre-K program this week by visiting Georgia Health Sciences University Child Care Center as part of “Georgia Pre-K Week.” During his visit, Rep. Smith will read to a group of 4-year-old pre-kindergarten students and witness the learning that takes place each day thanks to Georgia’s Pre-K Program.
Rep. Howard to Provide Support for Affordable Care Act Enrollment
ATLANTA – State Representative Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta) along with Representatives Gloria Frazier (D-Hephzibah) and Earnest Smith (D-Augusta) will join the Augusta Community Health Centers on October 12, 2013 to provide hands-on assistance to members of the Augusta community who will be enrolling in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Beginning October 1, 2013, anyone without health insurance will be able to enroll in the ACA.
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Legislation Introduced to Increase Transparency in Augusta-Richmond County
ATLANTA – State Representatives Quincy Murphy (D-Augusta), Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta), Earnest Smith (D-Augusta) and Gloria Frazier (D-Hephzibah) announced today the introduction of House Bill 1235, also known as the “Augusta-Richmond County Transparency in Government Act.” This legislation would require the Augusta-Richmond County Commission to cooperate with the state auditor in his mission to ensure proper use of taxpayer dollars at the local level.
“As state legislators, we must ensure government is held accountable,” said Rep. Murphy. “HB 1235 does this by ensuring the Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government maintains all proper records and provides taxpayers with access to those records.”
HB 1235 would require all Augusta-Richmond County departments, agencies, and private contractors, who are responsible for $500,000 or more in public funds, to have a forensic accounting audit at least every four years. Upon completion, the audit would be available to the commission and public. Failure to comply with the mandatory audit would result in the removal of the head of the agency or termination of contract for the delinquent private entity.
The representatives were led to sponsor HB 1235 after receiving a letter from the State Auditor, Russell W. Hinton, which stated that the Department of Audits and Accounts had not yet received the annual audit report from the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Commissioners.
“While I am sure that the Board of Commissioners will submit the necessary paperwork before their required deadline, this letter served as an opportunity for us to review our current laws governing local oversight,” said Rep. Howard, Chairman of the Augusta-Richmond County Delegation. “We found that we lack the tools necessary to ensure compliance with oversight policies. HB 1235 fixes that, so that we may assure taxpayers that their hard-earned money is put to proper use.”
For more information on HB 1235, please click here.
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