GA Code § 50-7-12 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 50 - State Government|Chapter 7 - Department of Economic Development|Article 1 - General Provisions|§ 50-7-12. Welcome Centers Authorized; Department to Construct, Operate, and Maintain Centers; Installation and Operation of Vending Machines, Automated Teller Machines, and Cash-Dispensing Machines

  The Governor shall have authority to direct and provide for the construction of welcome centers at or near the point of entrance into this state of any federal highway. The Department of Transportation may exercise the power of eminent domain in acquiring fee simple title to suitable locations for the erection of such welcome centers. Any welcome center acquired prior to April 23, 1969, may be maintained and improved, regardless of whether the fee simple title therefor is in the state.   It shall be the duty of the Department of Economic Development or the Department of Natural Resources to construct, operate, and maintain the welcome centers assigned to such agency by the Governor and keep them supplied with such information, pamphlets, and other materials as will advertise and publicize the tourist attractions, natural resources, industry, history, and commerce of this state.   The Department of Economic Development or the Department of Natural Resources, with the concurrence of the Department of Transportation, is further authorized to install or provide for the installation of and to operate or provide for the operation of vending machines and to sell in such machines nonalcoholic beverages, snacks, candy, and other articles as determined by the Department of Economic Development or the Department of Natural Resources to be necessary or desirable for the traveling public at reasonable prices at the welcome centers assigned to such agency. The prices charged for these products will approximate the prevailing rate within the area for similar items so as not to compete unfairly with private enterprise, such prices to be set by the Department of Economic Development or the Department of Natural Resources for the welcome centers assigned to such agency. The Department of Economic Development or the Department of Natural Resources is also authorized to provide for the sale or free distribution of articles and merchandise at the welcome centers assigned to such agency in such manner as is deemed to be in the best interest of promoting the tourist trade in this state.   The Department of Economic Development or the Department of Natural Resources, with the concurrence of the Department of Transportation, is authorized to provide for the installation and operation at welcome centers of automated teller machines and cash-dispensing machines at the welcome centers assigned to such agency. If so authorized, such machines shall be established, placed, and operated in accordance with applicable law. Such machines shall be placed in welcome centers upon such terms and conditions as shall be deemed by the Department of Economic Development or the Department of Natural Resources for the welcome centers assigned to such agency to be in the best interest of the state and the traveling public.    (Ga. L. 1951, p. 747, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 185, §§ 2-6; Ga. L. 1960, p. 1097, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 610, §§ 1-3; Ga. L. 1979, p. 132, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1641, § 14; Ga. L. 1995, p. 416, § 1; Ga. L. 2004, p. 690, § 33; Ga. L. 2020, p. 43, § 1/SB 474.)    The 2020 amendment,  effective July 1, 2020, in subsection (b), inserted "or the Department of Natural Resources" and inserted "assigned to such agency by the Governor"; in subsection (c), inserted "or the Department of Natural Resources" in three places, in the first sentence, deleted "cigarettes," following "candy," and inserted "at the welcome centers assigned to such agency", inserted "or the Department of Natural Resources for the welcome centers assigned to such agency" in the second sentence, and inserted "assigned to such agency" in the last sentence; and, in subsection (d), in the first sentence, inserted "or the Department of Natural Resources" and inserted "at the welcome centers assigned to such agency", and inserted "or the Department of Natural Resources for the welcome centers assigned to such agency" in the last sentence.   Cross references.   - Seizure of vending machines containing cigarettes or cigars upon which tax has not been paid, § 48-11-9.   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL    Departmental duty to preserve and be responsible for upkeep  of actual building which comprises welcome center; whereas, it will be the correlative duty of the Department of Transportation to preserve and keep the surrounding grounds in their originally constructed condition. 1969 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 69-332.   Discount coupons to tourist attractions.   - Department may print and distribute a booklet of coupons entitling the holder to discounts at various tourist attractions in this state. 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 70-81.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   ALR.    - Validity, construction, and application of statutes or ordinances prohibiting or regulating automatic vending machines, 111 A.L.R. 755; 151 A.L.R. 1195.