Deductions for transit passes and other fare media

(a) It is the purpose of this Code section to permit voluntary deductions from wages or salaries of employees of the State of Georgia for the purchase of transit passes and other fare media for the benefit of these employees and the State of Georgia through a process which involves minimal disruption of work time and provides reasonable assurance to the employees of reliable transportation to and from work. (b) Any department, agency, authority, or commission of the state is authorized to participate in any program to provide a mass transit employee benefit to its employees and may, but need not, bear all or a portion of the cost of such fare media from funds specifically appropriated for this purpose. (c) Any such participating state entity is authorized to deduct designated amounts from the wages or salaries of its employees for the purpose of facilitating employee purchase of transit passes and other fare media. No such deduction shall be made without the approval of the head of the participating state entity. No such deduction shall be made without the written request of the employee, who may withdraw that person’s request upon one month’s written notice. (d) The fiscal authorities or other employees of any participating state entity will not incur any liability for errors or omissions made in the performance of the mass transit employee benefit program. (Code 1981, § 45-7-55, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 831, § 1.1.) 45-7-56. Deductions for purchase of personal computing and computer related equipment. (a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘local unit of administration’’ means any county or independent board of education. (b) It is the purpose of this Code section to permit voluntary deductions from wages or salaries of employees of the State of Georgia and local units of administration for the purchase of personal computing and computer related equipment through an employee purchase program facilitated by and through the Georgia Technology Authority and for the purchase of consumer offerings through an employee purchase program facilitated by and through the Department of Administrative Services. (c) Any department, agency, authority, or commission of the state or any local unit of administration is authorized to deduct designated amounts from the wages or salaries from its employees for the purpose of facilitating employee purchases of personal computing and computer related equipment through an employee purchase program facilitated 147 45-7-56 PUBLIC OFFICERS & EMPLOYEES 45-7-56 by and through the Georgia Technology Authority and for the purpose of facilitating employee purchases of consumer offerings through an employee purchase program facilitated by and through the Department of Administrative Services. No such deduction shall be made under this Code section without the express written and voluntary consent of the employee. Each such request shall designate the exact amount to be deducted. Any employee who has consented to a deduction is authorized to withdraw from such salary reduction with two weeks’ written notice; provided, however, that such withdrawal shall not relieve any employee of any outstanding indebtedness incurred under such purchase program. (d)(1) The fiscal authorities or other employees of the various departments or agencies of this state will not incur any liability for errors or omissions made in the performance of the agreement between the state and the employee. (2) The fiscal authorities or other employees of local units of administration will not incur any liability for errors or omissions made in the performance of the agreement between the local unit of administration and the employee. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, this Code section does not confer immunity from criminal or civil liability for conversion, theft by conversion, theft by taking, theft by extortion, theft by deception, or any other intentional misappropriation of the money or property of another. (e) If a state employee or public school employee leaves employment for any reason and a balance is owing for the computer, equipment, or consumer offering, then, in that event, the state or board of education or the state retirement system shall have the right to deduct the balance owing from any funds under the control of the state or board of education or state retirement system to which said employee would otherwise be entitled. (Code 1981, § 45-7-56, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 867, § 2; Ga. L. 2002, p. 415, § 45; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1411, § 1/HB 551.) The 2015 amendment, effective July 1, 2015, added ‘‘and for the purchase of consumer offerings through an employee purchase program facilitated by and through the Department of Administrative Services’’ at the end of subsection (b); added ‘‘and for the purpose of facilitating employee purchases of consumer offerings through an employee purchase program facilitated by and through the Department of Administrative Services’’ at the end of the first sentence in subsection (c); and substituted ‘‘computer, equipment, or consumer offering,’’ for ‘‘computer or equipment,’’ in subsection (e). 148 45-7-70 45-7-57. Deduction from wages for contributions into savings trust accounts. (a) Any department, agency, authority, commission, or other instrumentality of the state is authorized to deduct designated amounts from the wages or salaries of its employees and remit such moneys to one or more savings trust accounts established under Article 11 of Chapter 3 of Title 20. (b) No payroll deduction shall be made under this Code section without the employee’s written and voluntary consent designating the exact amount to be deducted. (c) Any employee who has authorized a deduction under this Code section is authorized to end such salary deduction upon written notice to the employer. (d) The fiscal authorities or other employees of the various departments, agencies, authorities, commissions, or other instrumentalities of this state shall incur no liability for errors or omissions made in the administration of payroll deductions authorized under this Code section. (Code 1981, § 45-7-57, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 594, § 1.) ARTICLE 4 DISCLOSURE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FEES 45-7-70. Purpose of article.