Liberal construction

This article, being for the welfare of this state and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof. History. — Code 1981, § 12-5-478, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 1304, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 644, § 2-1/SB 342. 12-5-479. Contracts with public entities for services or use of facilities or equipment; user agreement for provision of environmental services. (a) In the exercise of its powers under this article, the division may contract with any public entity which shall include the state or any institution, department, or other agency thereof or any county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state or with any other public agency, public corporation, or public authority, for joint services, for the provision of services, or for the joint or separate use of facilities or equipment with respect to such activities, services, or facilities which the contracting parties are authorized by law to undertake or provide. (b) Pursuant to any such contract, in connection with any facility authorized under this article, the division may undertake such facility or provide such services or facilities of the division, in whole or in part, to or for the benefit of the public entity contracting with the division with respect to those activities, services, or facilities which the contracting public entity is authorized by the Constitution and law to provide, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Article IX, Section III, 624 12-5-479 Paragraph I of the Constitution, and any such contracting public entity may undertake to pay the division for such activities, services, or facilities such amounts and upon such terms as the parties may determine. (c) The state and each institution, department, or other agency thereof or each county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of this state and each public agency, public corporation, or public authority may contract with the division in connection with any activity, service, or facility which such public entity is otherwise authorized to provide to obtain the performance of such activity or provision of such services or facilities through the division. (d) In connection with its operations, the division may similarly obtain from, and each public entity may provide, such activities, services, or facilities which the division is authorized to provide. (e) Reserved. (f ) A local government by resolution of its governing body may enter into a user agreement for the provision of environmental services utilizing facilities owned by the state upon such terms and conditions as the division shall determine to be reasonable, including, but not limited to, the reimbursement of all costs of construction and financing and claims arising therefrom. (g) No user agreement shall be deemed to be a contract subject to any law requiring that contracts shall be let only after receipt of competitive bids. (h) Any user agreement directly between the state or division and a local government may contain provisions requiring the local government: (1) To establish and collect rents, rates, fees, and charges so as to produce revenues sufficient to pay all or a specified portion of: (A) The costs of operation, maintenance, renewal, and repairs of the water facility; and (B) Outstanding bonds, revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations incurred for the purposes of such water facility and to provide for the payment of all amounts as they shall become due and payable under the terms of such agreement, including amounts for the creation and maintenance of any required reserves; (2) To create and maintain reasonable reserves or other special funds; (3) To create and maintain a special fund or funds as additional security for the punctual payment of any rentals due under such user 625 12-5-479 CONSERVATION & NATURAL RES. 12-5-481 agreement and for the deposit therein of such revenues as shall be sufficient to pay all user fees and any other amounts becoming due under such user agreements as the same shall become due and payable; or (4) To perform such other acts and take such other action as may be deemed necessary and desirable by the division to secure the complete and punctual performance by such local government of such lease agreements and to provide for the remedies of the division in the event of a default by such local government in such payment. History. — Code 1981, § 12-5-479, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 1304, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 644, § 2-1/SB 342. 12-5-480. Use of services of Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission; selection of professional services. The division shall be authorized to utilize the financial advisory and construction related services of the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission with respect to the acquisition, design, planning, and construction of any of the projects. Code Section 50-22-9 shall be applicable to the selection of persons to provide professional services for any project or any portion thereof authorized by this article until such time as the director, with the approval of the authority and consistent with any state-wide water plan provided pursuant to Article 8 of this chapter, certifies that this state and its local governments have constructed or otherwise acquired sufficient reservoir capacity to meet current and reasonably projected future needs, taking into account projected population growth and historical and anticipated cycles or incidents of drought, whereupon the whole of Chapter 22 of Title 50 shall be applicable. History. — Code 1981, § 12-5-480, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 1304, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 644, § 2-1/SB 342. 12-5-481. Legislative findings.