Georgia-2009-SR513-Enrolled

10 LC 35 1624S (SCS)

Senate Resolution 513

By: Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Murphy of the 27th, Douglas of the 17th, Stoner of the 6th, Pearson of the 51st and others

Creating the Joint Georgia State Fire Services Study Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, several state agencies, councils, and departments play a key role in this state's fire safety system, and together, they help protect the citizens of the State of Georgia from dangerous fire hazards; and

WHEREAS, such fire service entities provide an essential government function for the safety and welfare of Georgia residents by administering and regulating safety codes and standards, implementing training programs, as well as providing important emergency rescue services; and

WHEREAS, the current system for administering such fire services spreads these functions over a variety of state agencies and departments which may limit communication between the entities, duplicate administrative services, and may not be the best utilization of this state's valuable and limited fire safety resources; and

WHEREAS, combining state fire services may help to eliminate confusion, create consistencies, and avoid delays in the administration of services, preserve state resources and funds, and better provide training and education for fire officials and the public.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Joint Georgia State Fire Services Study Committee to be composed of five members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and five members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a committee member from the House and the President of the Senate shall designate a committee member from the Senate who shall serve as cochairpersons of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the cochairpersons.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee 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. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and Senate. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2010. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2010.