---
title: O.C.G.A. § 35-1-20. Retention of weapons by officers upon retirement or disability in the line of duty.
collection: code
id: 35-1-20
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 35-1-20 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-1-20
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-1-20.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-1-20/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t35-t36-ch1-59-(v27)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=66569db4_0#page=38
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: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 35-1-20. Retention of weapons by officers upon retirement or disability in the line of duty.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) “Honorable conditions” means conditions of having satisfied, met, or exceeded the conduct and performance standards established by the state entity for sworn police officers.

(2) “State entity” means any state department, agency, board, bureau, office, commission, public corporation, system, or authority.

(b) The governing authority of each municipality and county in this state and each board of education which employs sworn police officers who are certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council may adopt policies under which such sworn police officers, upon their retirement from employment by such municipality, county, or board of education or upon leaving such employment as a result of a disability arising in the line of duty, shall be entitled, as part of their compensation, to retain their weapon and badge.

(c) Except where otherwise provided for by law for a state entity, each state entity which employs sworn police officers who are certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council shall adopt rules, regulations, or policies under which such sworn police officers, upon their retirement from employment by such state entity or upon leaving such employment as a result of a disability arising in the line of duty, shall be entitled, as part of their compensation, to retain their weapon and badge; provided, however, that such sworn police officers retire or leave under honorable conditions.

## History

Code 1981, § 35-1-20, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 823, § 1/SB 263; Ga. L. 2017, p. 24, § 2/SB 18.