---
title: O.C.G.A. § 49-4-2. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 49-4-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 49-4-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-2/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=70
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 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: SOCIAL SERVICES / PUBLIC ASSISTANCE / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 49-4-2. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Department” means the Department of Human Services and includes the county departments of family and children services and the agents, agencies, officers, and employees designated by the commissioner of human services to perform any function vested in the Department of Human Services by this article.

(2) “Public assistance” means payment in or by money, medical care, remedial care, goods, or services to or for the benefit of needy persons under any categories that may be established pursuant to this article.

(3) “Recipient” means a person to whom, or on whose behalf, public assistance is granted.

## History

Ga. L. 1965, p. 385, § 2; Ga. L. 1967, p. 878, § 1; Ga. L. 1977, p. 384, § 19; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 2-2/HB 228.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2009, “commissioner of human services” was substituted for “commissioner of human resources” in paragraph (1).