Qualifications of personnel

(a) Except as provided in Code Section 35-9-15, relating to cross designation of law enforcement officers and prosecuting attorneys, any assistant solicitor-general, or other attorney at law employed by the solicitor-general shall be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia, admitted to practice before the appellate courts of this state, shall serve at the pleasure of the solicitor-general, and shall have such authority, powers, and duties as may be assigned by the solicitor-general. (b) Any investigator employed by the solicitor-general’s office who is authorized by the solicitor-general and by Article 4 of Chapter 11 of 356 15-18-74 Title 16, relating to firearms, to carry weapons or authorized by local law to exercise any of the powers of a peace officer of this state shall meet the requirements of Chapter 8 of Title 35 and shall serve at the pleasure of the solicitor-general. (c) Subject to the provisions of Chapter 19 of Title 45, relating to employment practices of public officials and agencies, the solicitor-general shall, unless otherwise provided by local law, establish the qualifications of all other personnel employed in the solicitor-general’s office. (Code 1981, § 15-18-72, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 748, § 2.) 15-18-73. Offices, utilities, equipment, supplies, expenses, costs, materials. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, the governing authority of the county shall provide all offices, utilities, equipment, telephone expenses, legal costs, transcripts, materials, and supplies as may be necessary for the solicitor-general to perform the duties and obligations of such office in an orderly and efficient manner. (b) The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of the State of Georgia may, to the extent that funds or other resources are available to the council for such purpose, provide such additional equipment or services as may be requested by the solicitors-general. (Code 1981, § 15-18-73, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 748, § 2.) 15-18-74. Liability; immunity from suit; liability insurance or contracts of indemnity. (a) If a solicitor-general fails to carry out the duties of office as provided in subsection (a) of Code Section 15-18-66 without just cause, the solicitor-general shall be liable to rule as are attorneys at law. (b) If a solicitor-general fails to attend court as required by law without just cause, the solicitor-general is liable to be fined $50.00 for each failure, to be retained out of the solicitor-general’s salary. (c) Solicitors-general of state courts and their staff shall be entitled to immunity from private suit for actions arising from the performance of their official duties to the same extent as district attorneys. (d) The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of the State of Georgia is authorized to purchase policies of liability insurance or contracts of indemnity or to participate in the state insurance and indemnification program established pursuant to Chapter 9 of Title 45 on behalf of the solicitors-general of the state courts and their staffs when engaged in the performance of their official duties. The council shall pay any 357 15-18-80 premiums out of such funds as may be available for the support of the district attorneys and solicitors-general of this state. (Code 1981, § 15-18-74, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 748, § 2.) ARTICLE 4 PRETRIAL INTERVENTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAM