---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-44-1. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 31-44-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-44-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-44-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-44-1.md
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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=1042
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
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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
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / RENAL DISEASE FACILITIES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-44-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Community Health.

(2) “Department” means the Department of Community Health.

(3) “Dialysis” means a process by which dissolved substances are removed from a patient’s body by diffusion, osmosis, and convection (ultrafiltration) from one fluid compartment to another across a semipermeable membrane.

(4) “Dialysis technician” means an individual who is not a registered nurse or physician and who provides dialysis care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician.

(5) “End stage renal disease” means that stage of renal impairment that appears irreversible and permanent and that requires a regular course of dialysis or kidney transplantation to maintain life.

(6) “End stage renal disease facility” means a facility that provides dialysis treatment, home dialysis training, support services, or any combination thereof to individuals with end stage renal disease.

(7) “Physician” means an individual who is licensed to practice medicine under Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 34.

(8) “Reuse technician” means an individual who is not a registered nurse or licensed physician who performs the procedures necessary to clean and properly prepare kidney dialyzers for use for multiple treatments.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-44-1, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 526, § 1; Ga. L. 2011, p. 705, § 4-18/HB 214.

## Code Commission Notes

Ga. L. 2000, p. 126, § 1, Ga. L. 2000, p. 526, § 1, and Ga. L. 2000, p. 549, § 3 all enacted a Chapter 43 of Title 31. Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2000, the chapter enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 526, § 1 has been redesignated as Chapter 44 of Title 31 and the Code sections therein redesignated accordingly. The chapter enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 549, § 3 has been redesignated as Chapter 45 of Title 31 and the Code sections therein redesignated accordingly.

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2000, “semipermeable” was substituted for “semi-permeable” in paragraph (1) (now paragraph (3)).

## Editor's Notes

For information as to the elimination of a certain future repeal or “sunset” of this Code section, see the Editor’s notes at the beginning of this chapter.

## Law Reviews

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