This preemption legislation establishes additional requirements on individuals (other than ex officio or nonvoting members) appointed to county or city boards, commissions or authorities that establish policy, spend public funds, levy taxes or impose or collect fees or charges.  In order to be eligible for such an appointment, the individual must be a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident or an alien having lawful status in the U.S.  The individual must also be a legal resident of Georgia, unless he or she resides in another state but owns an interest in business in Georgia or is employed in Georgia.  These qualifications do not apply to active duty members of the armed forces or an immediate family member of an active duty member of the armed forces.  The body making the appointment (i.e., the board of commissioners) is responsible for determining whether an individual meets these qualifications.

This is clean up legislation for HB 1004 from the 2016 legislative session.  All maps, plats, plans and condominium plans must now be submitted electronically to the clerk of superior court.  The remainder of the bill was worked out over the interim between counties, cities, surveyors, engineers, architects and the clerks, specifying the format for the submittal of plats and plans, required data for plats, which plats must be certified by land surveyors, and other certification required for plats.  Attempts to add language stating that maps not creating new roads or utilities do not need local approval prior to submittal to the clerk were unsuccessful. 

For the guidance document, click here. 

This legislation alters various provisions regarding private restrictive covenants on land, including dictating circumstances under which control of such development may transfer to the unit/lot owners for failures on the part of the developer (for example, failure to pay property taxes for two or more years). 

The text of this bill was added to SB 46. 

This legislation provides an additional $200 per month supplement to be paid by the county for superior court clerks who complete voluntary training with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and become a "certified superior court clerk".  Clerk's are mandated to complete this training to become a "certified superior court clerk" upon election under current law that has been in effect since 1998.  All training and reasonable travel expenses are currently the responsibility of the county.  Essentially this is a $200 per month salary increase for superior court clerks.