10-1-395. Authority and duties of Attorney General; Consumer Advisory Board; relations with other regulatory agencies.

The Attorney General shall have the necessary powers and authority to carry out the duties vested in him or her pursuant to this title. Any authority, power, or duty vested in the Attorney General by any provision of this title and Code Section 46-5-27 may be exercised, discharged, or performed by any employee of the office of the Attorney General acting in the Attorney General’s name and by his or her delegated authority. The Attorney General shall be responsible for the official acts of such persons who act in his or her name and by his or her authority.#

1. (1)

   A Consumer Advisory Board is created whose duty it shall be to advise and make recommendations to the Attorney General. The board shall consist of 15 members. Appointments of members of this board made after July 1, 2015, shall be made by the Attorney General; however, the Attorney General shall not be an appointee. One member shall be appointed from each congressional district and the remaining members shall be appointed from the state at large. At least four members shall be attorneys representing consumers’ interests and two of these consumers’ attorneys shall represent Georgia Indigent Legal Services or any other legal aid society. At least four members shall be representatives of the business community, two of which are recommended by the Georgia Retail Association and two recommended for appointment by the Business Council of Georgia, Inc.#

2. (2)

   All members appointed to the board by the Attorney General shall be appointed for terms of three years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy during the term of any member by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise, the appointment of a successor by the Attorney General shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of such member.#

3. (3)

   The board shall elect its chairman and shall meet not less than once every four calendar months at a time and place specified in writing by the Attorney General. The board may also meet from time to time upon its own motion as deemed necessary by a majority of the members thereof for the purpose of conducting routine or special business. Each member of the board shall serve without pay but shall receive standard state per diem for expenses and receive standard travel allowance while attending meetings and while in the discharge of his or her responsibilities.#

4. (4)

   The board shall assist the Attorney General in an advisory capacity in carrying out the duties and functions of the office concerning:#

   1. (A)

      Policy matters relating to consumer interests; and#

   2. (B)

      The effectiveness of the state consumer programs and operations.#

5. (5)

   The board shall make recommendations concerning:#

   1. (A)

      The improvement of state consumer programs and operations;#

   2. (B)

      The elimination of duplication of effort;#

   3. (C)

      The coordination of state consumer programs and operations with other local and private programs related to consumer interests;#

   4. (D)

      Legislation needed in the area of consumer protection; and#

   5. (E)

      Avoidance of unnecessary burdens on business, if any, resulting from the administration of this part.#

The Attorney General shall receive all complaints under this part and shall refer all complaints or inquiries concerning conduct specifically approved or prohibited by the Department of Agriculture, Commissioner of Insurance, Public Service Commission, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Banking and Finance, or other appropriate agency or official of this state to that agency or official for initial investigation and corrective action other than litigation.#

Any official of this state receiving a complaint or inquiry as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section shall advise the Attorney General of his or her action with respect to the complaint or inquiry.#

All officials and agencies of this state having responsibility under this part are authorized and directed to consult and assist one another in maintaining compliance with this part.#

In the event a person holding a professional license as defined in Chapter 4 of Title 26 or in Title 43 shall be determined by the Attorney General to be operating a business or profession intentionally, persistently, and notoriously in a manner contrary to this part, the Secretary of State, at the instruction of the Attorney General, shall begin proceedings to revoke such professional license.#

The Attorney General shall not be authorized to exercise any powers granted in this part against a person regulated by an agency or department listed in subsection (c), subsection (d), or subsection (e) of this Code section with regard to conduct specifically approved or prohibited by such agency or department if such agency or department certifies to the Attorney General that the exercise of such powers would not be in the public interest.#

Nothing contained in this part shall be construed as repealing, limiting, or otherwise affecting the existing powers of the various regulatory agencies of the State of Georgia except that all agencies of this state, in making determinations as to whether actions or proposed actions of persons subject to their jurisdiction and control are in the public interest, shall consider the situation in the light of the policies expressed by this part.#