Section 12-6-49.2. Suspension of registered forester license; borrowers in default; hearing and appeal procedures

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

   (1) "Agency" means the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation created in Code Section 20-3-263 which is responsible for administering a program of guaranteed educational loans to eligible students and eligible parents known as the Georgia Higher Education Loan Program.

   (2) "Borrower" means an individual who borrowed a guaranteed educational loan under the Georgia Higher Education Loan Program.

   (3) "Default" means default as defined by federal law under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

   (4) "Satisfactory repayment status" means the borrower has agreed to repay the defaulted loan to the agency and has made a payment in the most recent prior 60 days.

(b) The board shall suspend, as provided for in Code Section 20-3-295, the license of any registered forester upon receipt of a record from the agency stating that such licensee is a borrower in default who is not in satisfactory repayment status.

(c) The board shall deny the application for renewal, as provided for in Code Section 20-3-295, of any applicant or licensee upon receipt of a record from the agency stating that such licensee is a borrower in default who is not in satisfactory repayment status.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the hearings and appeals procedures provided for in Code Section 20-3-295, where applicable, shall be the only such procedures required to suspend a license or deny the issuance or renewal of an application for a license under this part.

Code 1981, § 12-6-49.2, enacted by Ga. L. 1998, p. 1094, § 5.