---
title: O.C.G.A. § 49-4-15.1. Examination of financial records in instances of alleged fraud.
collection: code
id: 49-4-15.1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 49-4-15.1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-15.1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-15.1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-15.1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t49-t50-ch1-12-(v38)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=60c992b5_0#page=83
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
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: SOCIAL SERVICES / PUBLIC ASSISTANCE / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 49-4-15.1. Examination of financial records in instances of alleged fraud.

The department may examine any books, papers, or memoranda reflecting the income of, or financial records bearing upon the determination of the eligibility of, recipients in instances of alleged fraud by recipients of food stamps and public assistance. This process may be implemented by means of a subpoena which may be issued by the commissioner of human services, upon the advice of the State Department of Law. In order to consider the issuance of such subpoenas, the director of the department’s office of fraud and abuse must personally make application in writing to the commissioner of human services specifying why such information is necessary. If issued, such subpoenas shall compel the production of relevant documents. Subpoenas shall be served in the same manner as if issued by a superior court. If any person fails to obey a subpoena issued and served under this Code section with respect to any matter germane to the department’s investigation, on application of the department, through the commissioner of human services or the commissioner’s duly authorized representative, the superior court of the county in which the documents were required to be produced may issue an order requiring the person to comply with the subpoena and to produce the relevant documents.

## History

Code 1981, § 49-4-15.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1987, p. 1435, § 2; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1021, § 4; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 2-4/HB 228.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 1997, p. 1021, § 10, not codified by the General Assembly, provides for severability.

## Law Reviews

For article commenting on the 1997 amendment of this Code section, see 14 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 284 (1997).