HB142.html

Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax collectors and tax commissioners, is amended by adding two new Code sections immediately following Code Section 48-5-126.1 to be designated Code Section 48-5-126.2 and 48-5-126.3 to read as follows:
"48-5-126.2.
(a)(1) In addition to the fee provided for by Code Section 40-2-33 for tag agent commissions allowed for the registration of motor vehicles, an additional amount of $1.00 per license plate or revalidation decal issued by each county tax commissioner shall be withheld from funds to be paid to the commissioner.
(2) In addition to the fee provided for by Code Section 40-3-39 for tag agent commissions allowed for the receiving, processing, and issuing of motor vehicle certificates of title, an additional amount of $1.00 for each such application received by each county tax commissioner shall be withheld from funds to be paid to the commissioner.
(b) The fees what are withheld in accordance with subsection (a) of this Code section shall be allocated and paid over as follows:
(1) One-half of the additional fee for the registration of motor vehicles and one-half of the additional fee for receiving and processing applications for motor vehicle certificates of title shall be retained by the tax commissioner, shall become the property of the county, and shall be turned over to the fiscal authority of the county by the tax commissioner.
(2) One-half of the additional fee for the registration of motor vehicles and one-half of the additional fee for receiving and processing motor vehicle certificates of title shall be remitted to the commissioner and shall be maintained and used by the commissioner only as provided for by Code Section 48-5-126.3.

48-5-126.3.
(a)(1) The commissioner shall establish, and the state merit system may review, the qualifications of not more than four levels or types of employee classification necessary and adequate to perform all clerical, accounting, technical, and administrative functions within the office of tax commissioner relating both to motor vehicle registration and title responsibilities as well as all functions relating to the administration of property tax within the tax commissioner´s office.
(2) Not later than December 31, 2001, the commissioner shall also establish a comprehensive program of training courses designed to qualify tax commissioners and employees of tax commissioners for each of the various classification levels that have been determined. The commissioner may prepare and provide course instruction or may contract with institutions of higher learning or with other qualified entities for the development of necessary educational courses and materials and their instruction. The courses shall be offered periodically at reasonable locations designed to ensure access by tax commissioners and their employees in each county in the state.
(b)(1) Not later than December 31, 2001, the commissioner shall establish by regulation the appropriate minimum number of staff employees which may include tax commissioners necessary to perform the employee functions within each classification level within each county. The number thus established shall be sufficient and adequate to perform all motor vehicle and property tax functions of the tax commissioner´s office.
(2) Not later than February 1, 2002, the commissioner shall also develop and instruct a comprehensive program of continuing education courses designed to enable tax commissioners and employees to attain and maintain appropriate levels of certification during their periods of employment.
(3) The commissioner shall develop criteria and evaluation methods to measure the competence of each person seeking qualification at each of the levels of classification established. The commissioner shall certify the classification level successfully achieved and maintained by each person and shall maintain all records of course completion and certification.
(c) The commissioner is authorized to utilize a portion of the funds remitted to the department pursuant to Code Section 48-5-126.2 to pay necessary and reasonable costs of preparing, instructing, and administering the certification training program provided for in this Code section including necessary and reasonable operating costs incurred by the department provided for in this Code section.
(d) On or after July 1, 2002, the commissioner shall pay, from the funds remitted to the commissioner pursuant to Code Section 48-5-126.2, salary supplements to tax commissioners and employees who fill the minimum staff positions in each classification level as defined by the commissioner in each county except for the minimum, entry level classifications. These salary supplements shall be equal to $100.00 per month for those certified at the second level; $200.00 per month for those certified at the third level; and $300.00 per month for employees certified at the fourth level. The total of all supplements to be paid in each county shall be paid by the commissioner to the county fiscal authority on behalf of each designated person and those supplements shall be paid to each such designated person as a part of his or her compensation. The costs of employee benefits, etc., that are associated with these salary supplements shall be borne by the county from the increased commission retained by them as provided for in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 48-5-126.2. Supplements shall be paid only to those persons who fill those positions that are established by the commissioner as the appropriate minimum staff requirements for each qualified county, and such supplements shall be paid only to those persons who maintain their certification as required by the regulations established by the commissioner.
(e) At the end of each fiscal year, funds remaining from the funds remitted pursuant to Code Section 48-5-126.2, which have not been specifically obligated by the commissioner for training course development and instruction expenses or for salary supplements to be paid for the current fiscal year and for the two months following the close of the fiscal year, shall lapse and become part of the general fund of the state."