Press Release 8/9/13
Representative Andrew Welch (R-110)
Receives 2013 ACCG Legislative Service Award
Atlanta, GA (August 6, 2013) – ACCG, Georgia’s county association, has honored Rep. Andrew Welch (R-110) with a 2013 Legislative Service Award. Rep. Welch, whose district includes Henry, Butts, and Newton Counties, has been a member of the General Assembly since 2011. He serves as vice chairman of the Code Revision Committee and as a member of the Juvenile Justice, House Judiciary, and Regulated Industries Committees. ACCG recognized Rep. Welch at the Henry County Board of Commissioners meeting on August 6, 2013.
“Rep. Welch has long been a dedicated public servant who values the interests and concerns of his constituents,” said ACCG Executive Director Ross King. “His work in the General Assembly has exemplified great consideration for Georgia’s counties and its citizens.”
During the 2013 legislative session, Rep. Welch co-sponsored HB 674. HB 674 provides a formula for the creation of assistant district attorneys and public defenders for the juvenile court based on the number of juvenile court judges funded by the state. In addition to his involvement with HB 674, Rep. Welch was instrumental in helping to advance Georgia’s counties’ interests by offering an amendment to HB 276.
HB 276 began as renewing the fees for the state’s Hazardous Waste Trust Fund, which is intended to help county governments clean up leaking landfills and illegal dump sites. Rep. Welch’s successful amendment is aimed at fixing the problem by reducing the fees proportionately to the amount that is redirected from their intended purposes. The “fee-reduction” mechanism also applies to the Solid Waste Trust Fund – $1 per- tire fee meant to help counties clean up illegal tire dumps found throughout Georgia.
“ACCG commends Rep. Andy Welch for his efforts to restore trust fund fee proceeds for their intended purposes,” said ACCG Associate Legislative Director Todd Edwards. “When these fees are redirected, counties have to make up the difference in property taxes to pay for programs that Georgia citizens already thought they had paid. HB 276 will help fix Georgia’s broken fees process.”