Section 50-5-83. Definitions; requirements for state purchasing card program

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

   (1) "Agency" or "agencies" means any entity of this state, including any department, agency, division, council, bureau, board, commission, public corporation, or authority; provided, however, that such term shall not mean a political subdivision of this state.

   (2) "Department" means the Department of Administrative Services.

   (3) "Purchasing card" means a credit or debit card issued by a credit card company, bank, or other financial institution and provided by the State of Georgia or any of its agencies under the State of Georgia Purchasing Card Program to state employees for the purpose of making purchases on behalf of such agencies or the state.

(b) Any purchasing card program established by the department or by any other agency shall conform to the following requirements:

   (1) Purchasing cards shall only be issued to state employees whose job duties require the use of a purchasing card;

   (2) Each agency that allows the use of purchasing cards by its employees shall develop policies and procedures consistent with guidelines developed by the department pursuant to this Code section to identify those job positions within each agency that would require the use of a purchasing card;

   (3) Each employee receiving a purchasing card shall be required to sign an ethical behavior agreement for the use of the card which shall be developed by the department;

   (4) Each agency that allows its employees to use purchasing cards shall provide for the review of all purchases on such cards, shall maintain receipts for each purchase, and shall maintain a log showing each purchase, the relevant vendor's name, the item purchased, the date of the purchase, the amount of the purchase, the name of the employee making the purchase, and any other information that shall be specified by the department;

   (5) Purchases made on purchasing cards shall be reviewed and approved by supervisory personnel at least quarterly;

   (6) Purchasing cards shall not be used for items over $5,000.00 unless the item is:

      (A) Purchased pursuant to a valid state contract; and

      (B) Purchased in compliance with state procurement policy;

   (7) Purchasing cards shall not be used to purchase gift cards;

   (8) Purchasing cards shall not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or personal items that are not job related, and state contracts for purchasing cards shall contain such prohibitions on the use of such purchasing cards;

   (9) The department shall develop a training manual on the use of purchasing cards which shall instruct users of purchasing cards on the maximum value utilization of such purchasing cards and employees who use such purchasing cards shall comply with the provisions of such manual;

   (10) Agencies shall review not less than annually all purchasing cards issued to their employees and shall eliminate purchasing cards for employees who demonstrate consistently low usage of such purchasing cards;

   (11) Agencies which have more than 100 purchasing cards issued to employees shall establish goals to reduce such number of purchasing cards;

   (12) Employees hired for job positions for which purchasing cards are issued shall be subjected to criminal background checks before hiring and a credit check shall be completed by the hiring agency on all employees to whom a purchasing card is issued prior to issue;

   (13) Purchasing cards shall be issued only to employees of agencies and no purchasing cards shall be issued to employees of foundations associated with agencies;

   (14) Each purchase made with a purchasing card shall be accompanied by a receipt or other documentation listing each item purchased, the purchase price for each item, and any taxes, fees, or other amounts paid in connection with such purchase; and

   (15) With respect to any purchase made with a purchasing card, if the employee to whom such card was issued does not provide documentation meeting the requirements of paragraph (14) of this subsection to his or her supervisor for recording on the purchasing log required to be maintained as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, such employee shall be personally responsible for such purchase.

(c) Any employee of an agency who knowingly:

   (1) Uses a purchasing card for personal gain;

   (2) Purchases items on such purchasing card that are not authorized for purchase by such employee;

   (3) Purchases items in violation of this Code section; or

   (4) Retains for such employee's personal use a rebate or refund from a vendor, bank, or other financial institution for a purchase or the use of a purchasing card

shall be subject to immediate termination of employment, restitution for the amount of the improper purchases, and criminal prosecution. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature if the value of the items improperly purchased or retained is less than $500.00 in the aggregate and shall be guilty of a felony if the value of the items improperly purchased or retained is $500.00 or more in the aggregate and, upon conviction of such felony, shall be sentenced to not less than one nor more than 20 years' imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $50,000.00, or both.

(d) An employee's supervisor who knowingly intentionally, willfully, wantonly, or recklessly allows or who conspires with an employee who is issued a purchasing card to violate subsection (c) of this Code section shall be subject to immediate termination of employment and criminal prosecution. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature if the value of the items improperly purchased or retained is less than $500.00 in the aggregate and shall be guilty of a felony if the value of the items improperly purchased or retained is $500.00 or more in the aggregate and, upon conviction of such felony, shall be sentenced to not less than one nor more than 20 years' imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $50,000.00, or both.

(e) The department is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as necessary to implement this Code section.

Code 1981, § 50-5-83, enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 776, § 2/HB 1113; Ga. L. 2009, p. 8, § 50/SB 46; Ga. L. 2011, p. 387, § 1/HB 290.