ATLANTA (May 24, 2023) | Yesterday, Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced his appointees to the Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing, including Georgia state Senator Sonya Halpern (D – Atlanta).
“I am grateful to Lt. Governor Burt Jones for giving me the opportunity to serve on this study committee,” said Sen. Halpern. “Workforce and employment are among the top concerns for Georgia citizens. It is paramount that the state provides transparency and fairness in the occupational licensing process for the sake of people seeking to fill these high demand jobs in our state, while also protecting the health and safety of all Georgians. We know that nurturing a thriving and qualified workforce is necessary to sustain an inclusive growing economy. I am looking forward to working alongside my committee members to accomplish this and make Georgia a future forward blueprint for success.”
The Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing will consist of five legislative members, and was established pursuant to Senate Resolution 85, sponsored by Chairman, Sen. Walker, which passed with bipartisan support during the 2023 Legislative Session. Meeting dates for the committee have not yet been announced, but will be available to view on the Senate schedule here.
In addition to serving on the Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing, Senator Halpern was invited to serve on the Growing All Workforce Opportunities by Remaking the Scope of Licensing Commission (GA WORKS Licensing Commission) by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The GA WORKS Licensing Commission will be focused on meeting the needs of a growing state by reducing bureaucratic barriers to employment. The Commission, chaired by Secretary Raffensperger and including several legislative officials and industry leaders, held its first meeting on May 15, 2023 to adopt its mission statement and goals.
The full text of SR 85 can be found here.
More information about the GA WORKS Licensing Commission and future meetings can be found on the Secretary of State’s website here.
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Sen. Sonya Halpern serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. She represents Senate District 39 which includes neighborhoods across five cities in Fulton County. She can be reached at 404.463.1351 or at sonya.halpern@senate.ga.gov.