GA Code § 35-2-73 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 35 - Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies|Chapter 2 - Department of Public Safety|Article 3 - Security Guard Division|§ 35-2-73. Security Guards for Protection of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and Their Families and Executive Department; Transportation of Family Members at State Expense

  The commissioner shall be authorized to employ such number of security guards as may be necessary to keep watch over and protect the Governor and members of his immediate family, the Lieutenant Governor and members of his immediate family, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and members of his immediate family, the executive department at the state capitol or at any other place as the executive department may be moved, the executive center or other residence of the Governor, the residences and offices of the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and such other state property and individuals as may be directed by the Governor.   Members of the Governor's family, the Lieutenant Governor's family, and the Speaker's family for whom protection is provided by the Security Guard Division, when traveling with the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, or the Speaker, as the case may be, when traveling on state related business at the request of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, or the Speaker, as the case may be, or when in the judgment of the commissioner security considerations so dictate, may be transported by means of state owned transportation facilities, when appropriate, or at state expense by private carrier, when the use of such state owned facilities are not practical or appropriate.    (Ga. L. 1968, p. 475, § 1; Ga. L. 1979, p. 143, § 2; Ga. L. 1981, p. 684, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 35; Ga. L. 1987, p. 3, § 35; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 35.)   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL    Governor's security guards are, in effect, the Governor's body guards,  and it is the guards' duty to provide security for the Governor. 1972 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 72-144.   Expenses of Governor's security guards chargeable to state.   - Expenses incurred by the state troopers who travel within and without the state with the Governor as security guards are properly chargeable to the state. 1972 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 72-144.   Use of state-owned aircraft.   - If the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Speaker of the House must travel on personal or political business, such travel must be accomplished by private means unless the commissioner of public safety has determined that travel on state aircraft is necessary for personal security; otherwise, when any public officer uses a state aircraft for a personal or political reason, the use of the aircraft is contrary to the prohibitions of the gratuities clause and state statutes authorizing the use of state aircraft, even if the official to reimburse the state for the direct costs associated with the trip. 2004 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 2004-3.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 63C Am. Jur. 2d, Public Officers and Employees, §§ 227, 229, 237. 70 Am. Jur. 2d, Sheriffs, Police, and Constables, § 31 et seq.   C.J.S.   - 63 C.J.S., Municipal Corporations, §§ 640 et seq., 655.