---
title: O.C.G.A. § 45-21-1. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 45-21-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 45-21-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-21-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-21-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-21-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t45-(v33)-2016-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cde47f8a_0#page=638
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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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES / EMPLOYEES’ SUGGESTION AND MERITORIOUS AWARDS PROGRAM
---

# O.C.G.A. § 45-21-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) ‘‘Agency’’ means any agency as defined in Code Section 45-20-2, any authority, or any public corporation, but shall not include the board of regents and units of the University System of Georgia.

(2) ‘‘Appointing authority’’ means a person or group of persons authorized by law or delegated authority to make appointments to fill employee positions in the legislative, judicial, or executive branch of state government.

(3) ‘‘Board’’ means the State Personnel Board.

(4) ‘‘Commissioner’’ means the commissioner of administrative services or his or her designee.

(5) ‘‘Goal based plan’’ means a plan developed by the board or other appointing authority under subsection (d) of Code Section 45-21-2 designed to measure performance against business objectives or performance targets.

(6) ‘‘Incentive compensation plan’’ means a plan developed by the board under Chapter 20 of this title and subsection (c) of Code Section 45-21-2 or other appointing authority under subsection (c) of Code Section 45-21-2.

(7) ‘‘Incentive payment’’ means a one-time lump sum payment or a predetermined quarterly payment that does not become a part of base salary.

(8) ‘‘Meritorious award program’’ means a program developed by the board or other appointing authority under subsection (b) of Code Section 45-21-2.

## History

Ga. L. 1957, p. 336, § 1; Ga. L. 1959, p. 23, § 1; Ga. L. 1973, p. 794, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1377, § 6; Ga. L. 2001, p. 500, § 1; Ga. L. 2006, p. 760, § 1/SB 472; Ga. L. 2012, p. 446, § 2-82/HB 642.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2012, p. 446, § 3-1/HB 642, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: ‘‘Personnel, equipment, and facilities that were assigned to the State Personnel Administration as of June 30, 2012, shall be transferred to the Department of Administrative Services on the effective date of this Act.’’ This Act became effective July 1, 2012.

Ga. L. 2012, p. 446, § 3-2/HB 642, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: ‘‘Appropriations for functions which are transferred by this Act may be transferred as provided in Code Section 45-12-90.’’