By: Sen. Cecil Staton
ATLANTA (January 30, 2009) – Georgia lawmakers hit the ground running after last week’s budget hearing recess. Senate members met for chamber sessions and standing committee meetings every day this week. As chairman of the Senate Science & Technology Committee I held our second meeting Tuesday to discuss the future goals of technology in Georgia. We met with the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), who spoke to us about their research on Georgia’s standing with respect to technology jobs and related industries. Georgia ranks 10th in the nation with high tech employment rates and TAG studies have shown software and IT services make up the majority of high- tech jobs in our state.
I believe a comprehensive long-term focus in this area will significantly increase the number of higher paying jobs in Georgia at a time when we desperately need to invigorate our state’s economy with jobs and opportunities. I share TAG‘s goal of transforming Georgia into a top five state for technology and science by making Georgia an attractive location for technological entrepreneurships and start-ups. It is no secret that entrepreneurial companies with their cutting-edge innovation are driving the technology industry advancements our country is known for throughout the world. I will work diligently during these challenging times to ensure that when the economy is up and running again, our state will be at the forefront in technological education, funding, investments and entrepreneurship opportunities. I will always believe a healthy economy depends on the success of entrepreneurs and small businesses, not government spending and taxing.
For Georgia to be a leader in science and technology we have to be forward thinking about where the industry is heading and have the foresight to deal with any issues before they get out of control. I have introduced two very important pieces of legislation that address technology waste and abuse. I am proud to say that our Science and Technology Committee favorably reported Senate Resolution 83 which I sponsored. SR 83 would create the Senate Study Committee on Green Information Technology which would be charged with researching and gathering data on ways to improve collecting, recycling, and reusing electronic products as well as potential energy conservation programs and initiatives. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 30-40 million electronic devices are nearing “end-of-life” management in the next few years, and Georgia needs to take initiative to ensure our state has the knowledge and means to handle these potentially hazardous materials with safe and environmentally-friendly means.
I also introduced this week Senate Bill 59, placing stronger restrictions on internet and electronic mail fraud. The bill would prohibit a person from using computers to send commercial e-mail messages with the intent to deceive or mislead recipients with fraudulent claims in the header message or email body and would give prosecutors the right to enforce criminal or civil charges against the violators. It is about time that Georgia laws catch up with the advent of internet crimes and this bill will go a long way to protect citizens against this relatively new but extremely dangerous form of online fraud. The bill has been referred to the Science and Technology Committee and will be taken up for debate at a future meeting
Remember to contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area.
Sen. Cecil Staton serves as Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee. He represents the 18th Senate District which includes portions of Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones and Monroe counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.5039 or via e-mail at cecil.staton@senate.state.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 30, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber,Director
Matt Colvin Communications Associate
matthew.colvin@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028