Section 10-1-395. Appointment and duties of administrator; Consumer Advisory Board; relations with other regulatory agencies

   (a) The administrator shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. The office of the administrator shall be attached to the office of the Governor for administrative purposes only. The administrator shall perform all functions formerly performed by the Consumer Services Unit of the Division of Special Programs of the Department of Human Resources (now known as the Department of Human Services).

(b) (1) A Consumer Advisory Board is created whose duty it shall be to advise and make recommendations to the administrator. The board shall consist of 15 members with the administrator or his designee to serve as the ex officio member. The members of this board shall be appointed by the Governor; however, the Attorney General shall not be an appointee. One member shall be appointed from each congressional district and the remaining members shall be appointed from the state at large. At least four members shall be attorneys representing consumers' interests and two of these consumers' attorneys shall represent Georgia Indigent Legal Services or any other legal aid society. At least four members shall be representatives of the business community, two of which are recommended by the Georgia Retail Association and two recommended for appointment by the Business Council of Georgia, Inc.

   (2) (A) On and after July 1, 1983, the Consumer Advisory Board shall consist of 15 members who shall be appointed by the Governor as provided in this paragraph. The initial terms of those members other than the ex officio member shall be as follows: five members shall be appointed to serve for a term ending July 1, 1984; five members shall be appointed to serve for a term ending July 1, 1985; and five members shall be appointed for a term ending July 1, 1986. Thereafter, all members appointed to the board by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of three years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy during the term of any member by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise, the appointment of a successor by the Governor shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of such member.

      (B) The first members appointed under this paragraph shall be appointed for terms which begin July 1, 1983. The members of the Consumer Advisory Board serving on April 1, 1983, shall remain in office until June 30, 1983, and until their successors are appointed.

   (3) The board shall elect its chairman and shall meet not less than once every four calendar months at a time and place specified in writing by the administrator. The board may also meet from time to time upon its own motion as deemed necessary by a majority of the members thereof for the purpose of conducting routine or special business. Each member of the board shall serve without pay but shall receive standard state per diem for expenses and receive standard travel allowance while attending meetings and while in the discharge of his responsibilities.

   (4) The board shall assist the administrator in an advisory capacity in carrying out the duties and functions of the office concerning:

      (A) Policy matters relating to consumer interests; and

      (B) The effectiveness of the state consumer programs and operations.

   (5) The board shall make recommendations concerning:

      (A) The improvement of state consumer programs and operations;

      (B) The elimination of duplication of effort;

      (C) The coordination of state consumer programs and operations with other local and private programs related to consumer interests;

      (D) Legislation needed in the area of consumer protection; and

      (E) Avoidance of unnecessary burdens on business, if any, resulting from the administration of this part.

   (6) The board shall make a written report to the Governor not less frequently than at the end of each calendar year on its activities and the administration of this part, with such recommendations for changes, if any, as the board deems proper.

(c) The administrator shall receive all complaints under this part. He shall refer all complaints or inquiries concerning conduct specifically approved or prohibited by the Department of Agriculture, Commissioner of Insurance, Public Service Commission, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Banking and Finance, or other appropriate agency or official of this state to that agency or official for initial investigation and corrective action other than litigation.

(d) Any official of this state receiving a complaint or inquiry as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section shall advise the administrator of his action with respect to the complaint or inquiry.

(e) All officials and agencies of this state having responsibility under this part are authorized and directed to consult and assist one another in maintaining compliance with this part.

(f) In the event a person holding a professional license as defined in Chapter 4 of Title 26 or in Title 43 shall be determined by the administrator to be operating a business or profession intentionally, persistently, and notoriously in a manner contrary to this part, the Secretary of State, at the instruction of the administrator, shall begin proceedings to revoke such professional license.

(g) The administrator shall not be authorized to exercise any powers granted in this part against a person regulated by an agency or department listed in subsection (c), subsection (d), or subsection (e) of this Code section with regard to conduct specifically approved or prohibited by such agency or department if such agency or department certifies to the administrator that the exercise of such powers would not be in the public interest.

(h) On December 31 of each year the administrator shall make a written report to the Governor summarizing the types and numbers of complaints received and the dispositions concerning these complaints by his office.

(i) Nothing contained in this part shall be construed as repealing, limiting, or otherwise affecting the existing powers of the various regulatory agencies of the State of Georgia except that all agencies of this state, in making determinations as to whether actions or proposed actions of persons subject to their jurisdiction and control are in the public interest, shall consider the situation in the light of the policies expressed by this part.

Ga. L. 1975, p. 376, § 5; Ga. L. 1983, p. 743, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 10; Ga. L. 1986, p. 855, § 2; Ga. L. 1987, p. 3, § 10; Ga. L. 1988, p. 426, § 1; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 2-6/HB 228.