Georgia Administrative Code

The Commissioner may require evidence of propriety with respect to items for payment.

Whenever possible, the Commission shall be responsible for obtaining at least three bids for a service or product. The Commission shall endeavor to compare products with respect to quality, cost, performance, etc. There shall be no qualifications in the specifications for any con…

(1) Invoices should be rendered in the name of the Commission. (2) Each invoice must have budget category to which the item shall be charged and the amount. (3) Invoices with handwritten or typewritten billheads must be signed by the vendor or person furnishing the supplies or se…

(1) In addition to the other controlling features set forth in these rules and regulations, limitations on payment of claims are made by: (a) available funds for expenditures; (b) budget authorization or authorization in minutes; (c) reasonableness of expenditure. (2) Proper docu…

(1) Payrolls for permanent employees shall be on a semi-monthly basis. (2) Payrolls for other than permanent employees shall be for periods satisfactory to the Commission. Compensation for work performed on an hourly or daily basis shall be supported by detail of hours and days w…

(1) Unless the Commission has established a rule or policy to the contrary, the Chairman with the Commission's approval shall have the authority to hire employees, recommend salary and increases for employees and terminate employees. (a) When employees are hired, the Commission m…

Upon approval of the Commission, an employee may be reimbursed for certain relocation expense as set forth in current Office of Planning and Budget guidelines.

Reimbursement will be allowed for travel expenses of applicants for Commission employment who are called for interviews if the Commission has determined that such expenditure is necessary to recruit qualified persons needed by the Commission. Reimbursement of interview expenses w…

Commission employees are expected to devote their entire working hours to the job and to the business of the Commission. While there is no absolute prohibition of outside employment, any outside job must not interfere with complete attention to their responsibilities as a Commiss…

(1) The Chairman shall determine a maximum reasonable representation for meetings and events and appoint board members and/or employees to attend. (2) Employees and Commission members required to travel in the performance of official duties and entitled to reimbursement for actua…

Reasonable amounts may be advanced for travel expenses upon approval of the Chairman in accordance with current state travel policy. Appropriate forms will be supplied for this purpose by the Department.

(1) Board members and designated employees, when necessary and justification exists, may be reimbursed for group meals for themselves and business clients and employees to breakfast, lunch or dinner for the purpose of transacting business in accordance with current state travel p…

Registration for conventions, meetings, classes, dues for professional organizations, etc.: (a) Shall be approved by the Commission on an individual basis; (b) If paid by claimant who is claiming reimbursement for a registration fee, etc. on a travel expense voucher, a receipt or…

(1) All expense claims shall be submitted and reimbursed in accordance with the current state travel policy. Expenses claimed must be incurred for Commission business and shall not contain expenses submitted to or paid in total or in part by another person. (2) Headquarters for C…

Commission vehicles are to be used for official Commission business. Commission vehicles provided to an employee for commuting as well as any other personal use are considered a fringe benefit by the Internal Revenue Service. The employee is required to maintain records to indica…

Commission and Advisory Board Member Per Diem and Expenses should be handled the same and should follow IRS guidelines: (a) The daily per diem rate shall be set by each Commission not to exceed the per diem allowed members of the Georgia General Assembly. (b) Commission and Advis…

(1) "Act" means the Georgia Liming Materials Act of 1996. (2) "Fineness or Particle Size" means the percentage by weight of the liming material which will pass a U. S. Standard sieve and the following minimums shall apply: (a) Solid liming materials: 90% through a 10 mesh sieve 5…

A new licensee shall pay a license fee of $70.00. The renewal fee for a Lime License shall be due annually on July 1 of each year. Fees and renewals received after July 1 each year shall be: Date Fee Received Tonnage Previous Year License Renewal Fee July 2 through July 31 Less t…

The registration fee shall be $70.00 per product. Such fee shall be submitted with the registration, and a renewal fee of $70.00. The renewal of product registration and payment of the renewal fee shall be due on July 1 of each year. Fees and renewals received after July 1, each …

Every licensee shall file a tonnage report twice annually, no later than July 30, covering tonnage shipped January 1 through June 30 and no later than January 31 covering tonnage shipped July 1 through December 31. All tonnage shall be reported to two (2) decimal places when less…

(1) Certain liming materials shall be labeled to show their calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) as follows: (a) Burnt Lime - not less than 40 percent. (b) Hydrated Lime - not less than 110 percent. (c) Other Solid Liming Materials - not less than 85 percent. (d) Liquid or Suspensi…

Solid dolomitic liming materials shall contain a minimum of six (6) percent magnesium and liquid or suspension dolomitic liming materials must contain at least three (3) percent magnesium.

(1) Solid liming materials shall contain no more than fifteen (15) percent moisture and liquid or suspension liming materials shall contain no more than 50% moisture. (2) Industrial by-products shall not be subject to a maximum moisture content but must be labeled to show the max…

Liming materials shall be considered deficient when: (a) The calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) is found to be more than two (2) percent below the guaranteed CCE. (b) The elemental calcium (Ca) content is found to be more than ten (10) percent below the guaranteed calcium content…

(1) Reports on all liming materials whose analysis shows the sample to be within the investigational allowances established above shall show that the sample is found to be in compliance and shall not be required to show the actual analyses. (2) Upon request of a licensee within t…

In determining if a liming material contains quantities of toxic materials which could be injurious to plants or animals, the Commissioner shall rely upon guidelines or other data developed by the University of Georgia.

The Commissioner or his duly designated agent is authorized to collect samples of a liming material upon demand without charge or cost from any public or private premises within this state in which a liming material is manufactured, processed, packed, stored, distributed or held …

(1) "Department" means the Georgia Department of Agriculture. (2) "Agricultural tourist attraction" means any agricultural based business providing onsite attractions to tourists that meet the criteria set out in departmental Rule . (3) "Registered agricultural tourist attraction…

Once a facility is designated an "agricultural tourist attraction" the Department shall, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Transportation, take the appropriate steps to assist in the placement of directional signs along roads in the direct proximity of the agricultura…

(1) Facilities wishing to be recognized by the Department as an "agricultural tourist attraction" shall: (a) Submit an application to the Department; (b) Submit payment of a one-time application fee of not less than $300.00, depending on the type of agricultural tourist attractio…

(1) The Department shall maintain a registry of approved agricultural tourist attractions. (2) Agricultural tourist attractions shall be registered in the following categories: (a) Temporary registration: attractions operating 14 days or less per year. (b) Seasonal registration: …

(a) Have a point-of-business sign on-site posted in a prominent and visible location stating the name of the business, the days and hours of operation, and the time tours will be conducted if applicable. (b) Maintain a website with the hours of operation and directions to the fac…

Once a facility ceases to fulfill the criteria required as an agricultural tourist attraction, the facility shall be given thirty (30) days to come into compliance with all applicable rules. If the facility is not in compliance at the end of said period, it shall lose the designa…

(1) "Agricultural product" - Items produced by agricultural operations. (2) "Agricultural operations" - Used synonymously with 'agricultural purposes' and means the following activities: raising, growing, harvesting, or storing of crops, including, but not limited to, soil prepar…

(1) No person or entity shall utilize a GATE Certificate unless prior application for certification or licensing has been made to the Department and permission to make such use has been granted by the Commissioner. (2) Only Qualified Agriculture Producers are authorized to use th…

(1) The GATE Certificate must be renewed every three years, except as provided in the renewal schedule identified in Rule . The procedure for renewal by certificate holders previously authorized to use the GATE Certificate is as follows: (a) Certificates expire December 31. The D…

(1) The Commissioner may make an initial determination of whether a person or entity is eligible for the GATE Certificate. If the applicant is denied certification, then the applicant shall be provided a reason for such denial and the licensing fee will be returned to the applica…

(1) Authorization to use the GATE Certificate may be suspended or revoked at any time if the certificate is misused or if the owner fails to operate as a Qualified Agriculture Producer. (2) Misuse of the GATE Certificate includes, but is not limited to, the following: (a) The use…

All eggs that are sold, offered for sale or stored for sale at retail or wholesale shall use an Open Date to express the packing date or the expiration date. (a) Definitions: 1. Open Date: Means the use of letters (for the month) together with number(s) (for the day of the month)…

The Commissioner of Agriculture, or his authorized representative, shall have the authority, right and privilege to enter the place of business of any wholesaler, retailer, warehouse, cold storage house, or other storage places, trucks or carriers where eggs are stored and inspec…

No person shall sell, offer or expose for sale, or have in his possession for sale, eggs for human consumption that are inedible or adulterated. Eggs that are filthy, putrid, decomposed, or otherwise unfit for food in whole or in part, shall be deemed to be adulterated. Eggs whic…

(1) For the purpose of determining who is responsible for a violation of Section 26-2-261 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated it will be presumed that a shipment of eggs was of the same grade when delivered to the retailer as shown by the inspection at the end of a five day…

No person shall operate an egg processing plant, and egg candling room or an egg breaking plant before the plant has been approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture or his duly authorized agent.