Policy Development
ACCG develops its legislative policies through an engaging consensus building process that seeks to involve broad participation from the association’s membership. The strength in the association’s collective efforts to clearly identify its legislative advocacy positions with federal and state lawmakers is vitally important. ACCG’s strong history of peer-to-peer interaction coupled with a unified policy process allows for critical information sharing to occur and the continued success of Georgia’s counties.
ACCG Policy Council
The ACCG Policy Council is chaired by the association’s 1st Vice President and is comprised of the ACCG Executive Committee as well as the policy committee chairs and vice chairs. The Policy Council provides direction to the ACCG Policy Team as they represent ACCG members with the state and federal government. The Policy Council is charged with establishing the proposed ACCG Policy Agenda and submitting it to the membership for consideration and a vote.
ACCG Policy Committees
The policy development process begins each spring when the ACCG president appoints chairs to lead each of the seven standing policy committees that include:
- Economic Development and Transportation
- General County Government
- Health and Human Services
- Natural Resources and the Environment
- Public Safety and the Courts
- Revenue and Finance
- Federal Committee
Committee membership is open to all elected and appointed county officials, and those interested may request assignments to the committees of their choice. All officials are welcome to attend the meetings and are both strongly encouraged and welcomed to provide their input into the groups’ deliberations. ACCG members that are engaged in various policy committees benefit from research and advisement from state and federal officials, private authorities (as appropriate), and shared experiences from their county colleagues from across the state.
The Policy Agenda
The Policy Agenda is a guide for the ACCG Policy Team in influencing legislative and administrative actions in the state and federal government on behalf of Georgia counties.
The ACCG Policy Agenda includes the ACCG Guiding Principles and the policy objectives proposed by the policy committees, recommended by the Policy Council and voted on by the membership. It also includes a designation of top priority policy objectives established by a vote of the membership.
The Policy Agenda is presented to the ACCG Membership for approval at the ACCG Business Session held before the legislative session in accordance with these procedures
Click here to view the current ACCG Policy Agenda.
Legislative Study Committees
Study Committees examine various issues and produce reports on any findings, recommendations, or legislative proposals the committee deems appropriate.