Building Georgia’s Workforce While Taking Care of Our Veterans
Friends,
For Georgia to continue to grow at the pace it has been, efforts to make our state business friendly must be matched with training and other opportunities to build a 21st century workforce.
That’s why I was so glad to see the Governor sign several bills over the past week to build and retain a great workforce in our state.
HB 163, sponsored by Representatives Lauren McDonald, J. Collins, Carl Gilliard, Alan Powell, Carter Barrett, and Soo Hong, seeks to fill a need for medical examiners by forgiving a portion of student loans for those going to work for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. We need top talent in this important law enforcement field around the state, and I know programs like this will help fill that gap.
SB 246, carried in the House by Representative Matthew Gambill of Cartersville, will help address the shortage of qualified nursing instructors which will lead to an increase in the nursing workforce. By providing for the repayment of up to $100,000 in student loans for those that serve as faculty, it will encourage talented men and women in Georgia’s nursing fields to give back by entering the teaching profession to train Georgia’s next generation of nurses.
Representative Chuck Martin of Alpharetta, along with co-sponsors Rick Jasperse of Jasper and Matt Reeves of Duluth, introduced HB 155, which further streamlines occupational licensing for those moving to Georgia. An initiative the General Assembly and Governor have taken on in recent years, legislation like this simplifies the licensing process for new Georgians while protecting the ability of Georgia’s elected leaders to continue to keep licensing rules in place.
In order to provide transparency and parity for Georgia’s high school students, Representative Clay Pirkle of Ashburn introduced HB 607, which updates the ACT score requirement for Zell Miller Scholars in order to provide parity whether a student takes the SAT or the ACT.
SB 3, introduced by Senator John Albers of Roswell and carried by Representative Scott Hilton of Peachtree Corners in the House, requires the state of Georgia to frequently assess a number of educational and experience requirements for state employment. This change will ensure that these standards meet an appropriate need, without creating unnecessary hurdles or red tape for otherwise qualified Georgians.
In order to assist students pursuing careers in high demand fields, Senator Matt Brass of Newnan introduced SB 86. Carried by Representative Rick Townsend of Brunswick, this legislation will create a pilot program allowing students dual enrolled in high school and college to access HOPE funds for eligible career, technical, and agricultural education courses.
As Georgia’s economy continues to grow, I look forward to supporting legislation like these new laws that ensure that Georgians are prepared to enter new high demand fields that will allow them to make a great living, and continue to make Georgia the greatest state in the country in which to live, work, and raise a family.
Always remember that should you have questions about my work as your Representative or as Speaker of the House, you can always reach out to me at 404.656.5020, Jon.Burns@house.ga.gov, or on Facebook at www.FB.com/JonBurnsGA. If you wish to sign up for my weekly emailed newsletter, visit https://www.friendsofjonburns.com/home to sign up.