Purpose; exemptions

20-13-1. Establishment of Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission. (a) There is created a body corporate and politic to be known as the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission which shall be deemed to be an instrumentality of the State of Georgia and a public corporation; and by that name, style, and title such body may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, and complain and defend in all courts of this state. (b) The commission shall have perpetual existence. Any change in name or composition of the commission shall in no way affect the vested rights of any person under this chapter or impair the obligations of any contracts existing under this chapter. (c) The commission shall be attached to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia for administrative purposes only, as provided for in Code Section 50-4-3. (Code 1981, § 20-13-1, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 594, § 1.) 20-13-2. Membership; appointment; terms of office; election of chairperson; vacancies. (a) The commission shall be composed of nine members, who shall be appointed by the Governor from the general public. No person may serve on the commission who is also an official, officer, or employee of the state or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or an official, officer, employee, or representative of any public school system. (b) The term of office for members shall be four years, except for those members whose initial terms begin on July 1, 2001, which terms 451 20-13-5 shall expire on June 30, 2002. Thereafter, their successors shall serve for terms of four years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. (c) The commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson. (d) Vacancies which occur in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the Governor. (Code 1981, § 20-13-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 594, § 1; Ga. L. 2001, p. 328, § 1.)