Purpose of fund; legislative intent

The fund is established as a voluntary pension system which provides benefits intended to supplement primary pension benefits provided by fire departments or the governmental units or volunteer districts establishing fire departments. It is the intent of the General Assembly in authorizing the benefits of this chapter: (1) To provide an additional benefit which may be used by fire departments of the state or political subdivisions of the state to attract and retain qualified firefighters; and (2) To limit the availability of such benefits to those fire departments which satisfy the minimum requirements for membership provided in this chapter so as to induce political subdivisions and the fire departments serving such political subdivisions to meet and maintain compliance with such minimum standards which the General Assembly deems essential to improving the ability of a fire department to suppress fires. (Code 1981, § 47-7-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1994, p. 703, § 2; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1376, § 1.) 422 T.47, C.7, A.2 GEORGIA FIREFIGHTERS’ PENSION FUND 47-7-20 ARTICLE 2 ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSETS OF THE FUND 47-7-20. Membership of the board; manner of election; compensation and expenses. (a) To carry out this chapter, there is created the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Firefighters’ Pension Fund. The board shall consist of five members as follows: (1) The Governor or the Governor’s designee; (2) The Commissioner of Insurance or the Commissioner of Insurance’s designee; (3) Two active members of the fund appointed by the Governor; and (4) One retired beneficiary of the fund appointed by the Governor. (b) The first members appointed by the Governor pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be appointed to take office on July 1, 1984. One of the persons appointed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section and the person appointed pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall each be appointed for an initial term of two years. The remaining person appointed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be appointed for an initial term of four years. Thereafter, successors shall be appointed by the Governor to take office upon the expiration of the respective terms of office for terms of four years. All such members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy during the term of office of any such member, the Governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term. (c) The Georgia State Firefighters’ Association shall be authorized to submit to the Governor the names of nominees for each position on the board appointed by the Governor pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section. The Governor, in making such appointments, may consider the nominees submitted by said association, but all such appointments shall be at the sole discretion of the Governor, and the Governor shall not be required to appoint members of the board from such nominees. (d) Members of the board shall serve without pay but all members of the board shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses that they may incur through service on the board. (Ga. L. 1955, p. 339, § 2; Ga. L. 1984, p. 828, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 477, § 1; Ga. L. 1995, p. 332, § 1; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1376, § 1.) 423 Editor’s notes. — Ga. L. 1984, p. 828, § 2, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: ‘‘The positions of membership on the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Firemen’s Pension Fund existing on June 30, 1984, except for the Governor and Insurance Commissioner, shall stand abolished on July 1, 1984.’’ 47-7-23 Ga. L. 1984, p. 828, § 3, provided that that Act, which amended this Code section, shall become effective July 1, 1984, except that it shall become effective upon the date of the Governor’s approval (March 28, 1984) for the administrative purpose of allowing the Governor to consider appointments pursuant to the revised language of § 47-7-20. 47-7-21. Creation of the office of executive director of the board; appointment of the executive director; compensation; bond. There is created the office of executive director of the Georgia Firefighters’ Pension Fund. The executive director shall be named by the board and shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The compensation of the executive director shall be fixed by the board. He or she shall be bonded by a corporate surety in such amount as the board shall determine to be sufficient. The cost of such bond shall be paid by the fund. (Ga. L. 1955, p. 339, § 3; Ga. L. 1956, p. 368, § 3; Ga. L. 1962, p. 550, § 3; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1376, § 1; Ga. L. 2005, p. 54, § 1/HB 355.) 47-7-22. Legal adviser to the board.