---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-2. Department of Public Health created; transfer of powers, functions, and duties; commissioner; divisions.
collection: code
id: 31-2A-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-2A-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-2A-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-2A-2/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=101
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-2. Department of Public Health created; transfer of powers, functions, and duties; commissioner; divisions.

(a) There is created a Department of Public Health. The powers, functions, and duties of the Division of Public Health and the Office of Health Improvement of the Department of Community Health as they existed on June 30, 2011, unless otherwise provided in this Act, are transferred to the Department of Public Health effective July 1, 2011.

(b) There is created the position of commissioner of public health. The commissioner shall be the chief administrative officer of the department and be both appointed and removed by the Governor. Subject to the general policy established by the board, the commissioner shall supervise, direct, account for, organize, plan, administer, and execute the functions vested in the department.

(c) There shall be created in the department such divisions as may be found necessary for its effective operation. The commissioner shall have the power to allocate and reallocate functions among the divisions within the department.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-2A-2, enacted by Ga. L. 2011, p. 705, § 3-1/HB 214.

## Law Reviews

For article, “Health: Department of Public Health,” see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 147 (2011).