Bill Text: GA HR1515 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Georgia Commission For Entrepreneurship Excellence; create

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-22 - House Committee Favorably Reported [HR1515 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HR1515-Comm_Sub.html

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10 LC 35 1836S

The House Committee on Economic Development and Tourism offers the following

substitute to HR 1515:

A RESOLUTION

To create the Georgia Action Team For Entrepreneurship Excellence; to provide for the membership, duties, and operation of the joint executive, House, and Senate team; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, a Georgia Action Team For Entrepreneurship Excellence is needed to create an inviting environment for entrepreneurs in this state and to make Georgia the #1 DESTINATION FOR ENTREPRENEURS in the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, in order to provide economic growth in Georgia, the state must become a world center for entrepreneurs; and

WHEREAS, entrepreneurs are attracted to areas where there is strong public support for the growth of science, innovation, technology, the arts, energy, and education, and these economic pillars create advancements that can keep Georgia competitive in the world-wide economic market; and

WHEREAS, Georgia loses massive potential return on its research and economic development investments to other states that have developed plans and infrastructures to support the growth of entrepreneurship; and

WHEREAS, this state cannot afford to ignore the need to attract entrepreneurs and new businesses to this state, for each year Georgia fails to implement effective initiatives, the state falls further behind the competition and loses its substantial educational and economic development investments; and

WHEREAS, to become a world economic leader, the government, entrepreneurs, and universities of this state must be united in a comprehensive effort to showcase the inventory of our state's incredible assets and brand the State of Georgia as a state with a reputation for welcoming entrepreneurs; and
WHEREAS, by attracting entrepreneurs to this state, Georgia would also attract international investors and angel and venture capital investors; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Action Team For Entrepreneurship Excellence should be established to make Georgia the #1 DESTINATION FOR ENTREPRENEURS in the United States of America.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Georgia Action Team For Entrepreneurship Excellence.
(a) The team shall consist of the following 27 voting members:

(1) President of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce;

(2) President of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce;

(3) President of the Georgia Research Alliance;

(4) Executive Director of the Georgia Council for the Arts;

(5) Chief executive officer of the Technology Association of Georgia;

(6) President of the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education;

(7) President of the Georgia Economic Developers Association;

(8) Editor of the Atlanta Business Chronicle;

(9) Editor of the southeastern edition of the Wall Street Journal;

(10) President of the Georgia Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning;

(11) Commissioner of economic development;

(12) Director of the Georgia Small Business Accelerator;

(13) President of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation;

(14) Chief economist for Standard & Poor's;

(15) Chief executive officer for the Kauffman Foundation;

(16) Executive director for OneGeorgia Authority;

(17) Director of the Savannah Small Business Accelerator;

(18) Director of the Georgia Angel Investment Network;

(19) Chairman of the Ariel Savannah Angel Partners;

(20) President of the Atlanta Technology Angels;

(21) Director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses;

(22) Two members appointed by the Governor who shall be experts in the area of angel or venture capital investment or successful entrepreneurs;

(23) Two members appointed by the President of the Senate who shall be experts in the area of angel or venture capital investment or successful entrepreneurs; and

(24) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be experts in the area of angel or venture capital investment or successful entrepreneurs.

(b) In addition, the team shall consist of the following 8 nonvoting advisory members:

(1) Chancellor of the University System of Georgia;

(2) Commissioner of technical and adult education;

(3) Director of Georgia 4-H;

(4) Director of the Georgia Future Farmers of America;

(5) State director of the Boy Scouts of America;

(6) State director of the Girl Scouts of America;

(7) Chairperson of the standing Senate Economic Development Committee; and

(8) Chairperson of the standing House of Representatives Committee on Economic Development and Tourism.

(c) The members appointed by the Governor shall serve initial terms to expire July 1, 2011. One member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve an initial term to expire July 1, 2012. Other appointed members shall serve an initial term to expire July 1, 2013. Following their initial terms, all appointed members shall serve for three-year terms. Initial terms shall commence immediately following appointment.
(d) Voting members may transact business and vote through a designated representative or proxy, provided that the appointment of such proxy is made in writing, signed by the member, and provides for the dates during which such proxy shall be authorized to serve.
(e) A quorum for purposes of transacting all business of the team shall be 15 members. Members may attend official meetings via electronic means.
(f) Vacancies in positions shall be filled in the same manner in which the original position was filled. Where a member is designated by appointment or election to a designated office, no member position shall be filled until the designated office is filled.
(g) A chairperson and vice chairperson shall be selected from among the members of the action team by majority vote of the members. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The term of the chairperson and vice chairperson shall be for one year beginning July 1 of each year; provided, however, that the initial terms of the chairperson and vice chairperson shall begin immediately upon appointment and shall expire on June 30, 2011. An initial meeting of the team shall be called no later than one week following the enactment of this resolution. The team shall meet no less than once every three months. One meeting each year shall be designated the "Governor's Summit on Entrepreneurship," and the Governor shall be invited to attend and address the team regarding issues, concerns, or recommendations related to entrepreneurs and economic development in Georgia. The team may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.
(h) At the initial meeting of the team, the chairperson shall assign members to the following subcommittees:

(1) The Subcommittee for Making Georgia the #1 Destination for Entrepreneurs which shall be a long-term and ongoing subcommittee that will continue to explore ideas for making Georgia more attractive to entrepreneurs;

(2) The Subcommittee for Liquidity which shall be a short-term subcommittee that, within 45 days of this resolution's adoption, will provide solutions, suggestions, and plans for resolving both short-term and long-term liquidity problems facing entrepreneurs in Georgia; and

(3) The Subcommittee for Branding which shall focus on branding Georgia as the #1 destination for entrepreneurs in the United States of America and on or before December 15, 2010, shall launch the brand of Georgia.

Initial plans and recommendations of the team shall be provided to the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representative no later than September 1, 2010.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the team shall undertake to recommend means by which an environment of entrepreneurial excellence can be created and how the state can showcase the inventory of its resources, assets, and opportunities for entrepreneurs. The team shall undertake a study of Georgia's applicable laws generally relating to science, innovation, technology, energy, and entrepreneurship and alternative forms of investment in these essential valuable resources. The team shall also study ways to make Georgia the world's #1 DESTINATION FOR ENTREPRENEURS in the United States of America. Throughout its existence, the team shall continue to work on issues relating to finding liquidity for entrepreneurs and branding Georgia as the state that supports and welcomes entrepreneurship. No per diem payments or reimbursements shall be made to any member of the team. The team shall make recommendations for changes in legislation and activities or functions of governmental agencies and provide copies of proposed recommendations and any relevant or supporting reports to the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives not later than November 1 each year. Such annual report shall also summarize the activities of the team for the preceding year.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the team shall stand abolished on July 1, 2015, unless further extended by the General Assembly.