05
SB144/AP
Senate
Bill 144
By:
Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th, Schaefer of the 50th
and Pearson of the 51st
AS
PASSED
AN
ACT
To
amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state
government, so as to change the descriptions of certain state service delivery
regions; to create the Georgia Rural Development Council; to provide for its
duties and responsibilities; to provide for the composition of the council; to
provide for membership, officers, and terms of office; to provide for bylaws; to
provide for compensation; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Title
50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, is
amended by striking paragraphs (7) and (12) of subsection (a) of Code Section
50-4-7, relating to state service delivery regions, and inserting in lieu
thereof new paragraphs (7) and (12) to read as follows:
“(7)
State Service Delivery Region 7 shall be composed of Burke, Columbia, Glascock,
Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren,
Washington, and Wilkes counties;”
“(12)
State Service Delivery Region 12 shall be composed of Bryan, Bulloch, Camden,
Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven
counties.”
SECTION
2.
Said
title is further amended by striking Code Section 50-8-150, relating to the
creation of the State Advisory Committee on Rural Development, and inserting in
lieu thereof a new Code Section 50-8-150 to read as follows:
"50-8-150.
(a)
There is created the Georgia Rural Development Council. The council shall
advise the Governor on matters related to rural development and the preparation
of a biennial rural economic development plan and any other such matters
requested by the Governor. The council shall be composed of elected officials
of municipalities, elected officials of counties, members of the General
Assembly, and other persons knowledgeable about the community and economic
development of rural areas appointed by the Governor. In making appointments to
the council, the Governor shall ensure that members include representatives from
throughout rural Georgia.
(b)
Members of the council shall serve terms of office of two years and until their
successors are appointed by the Governor and qualified.
(c)
The officers of the council shall consist of the Governor, who shall serve as
the chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a secretary. Except for the
chairperson, the council shall elect officers at its July meeting or, if there
is no July meeting, at the next scheduled meeting. The vice chairperson and
secretary shall serve one-year terms until their replacements are selected and
qualified.
(d)
The council shall meet at least twice a year; however, the Governor may call
additional special meetings.
(e)
Membership on the council shall not preclude the member from holding other
public office. Each member of the council shall receive the same per diem
expense allowance as that received by members of the General Assembly for each
day a councilmember is in attendance at a meeting of the council, plus
reimbursement for actual transportation costs incurred while traveling by public
carrier or the mileage allowance authorized for certain state officials and
employees for the use of a personal automobile in connection with such
attendance. The above shall be paid in lieu of any other per diem, allowance,
or remuneration.
(f)
The council shall adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and conduct of
its
business."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.