---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-35-10. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 31-35-10
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-35-10 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-35-10
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-35-10.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-35-10/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=980
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.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-35.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
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 / VACCINATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS / BIOTERRORISM PROTECTION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-35-10. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Bioterrorism” means the intentional use, to cause or attempt to cause death, disease, or other biological malfunction in any living organism, of any of the following:

(A) Microorganism;

(B) Virus;

(C) Infectious substance; or

(D) Biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product.

(2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of public health.

(3) “Department” means the Department of Public Health.

(4) “Disaster location” means any geographical location where a bioterrorism attack, terrorist attack, catastrophic event, natural disaster, or emergency occurs.

(5) “Emergency responder” means any person employed as state or local law enforcement personnel, fire department personnel, corrections officers, or emergency medical personnel who may be deployed to a bioterrorism attack, terrorist attack, catastrophic event, natural disaster, or emergency.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-35-10, enacted by Ga. L. 2003, p. 569, § 4; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, §§ 1-4, 1-6/HB 228; Ga. L. 2011, p. 705, §§ 6-3, 6-5/HB 214.

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2011 amendment of this Code section, see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 147 (2011).