GA Code § 45-21-7 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 45 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 21 - Employees' Suggestion and Meritorious Awards Program|§ 45-21-7. Awards to Employees

    Cash awards for suggestions or ideas submitted by an employee, implemented by an agency, and approved by the board which result in direct measurable cash savings or cost avoidance shall be paid to such employee in an amount equal to up to 10 percent of the first year's estimated net material and labor savings. The award shall be paid by the agency or agencies adopting the suggestion and shall be made within the fiscal year the suggestion or idea is authorized for payment. Cash awards shall be for not less than $10.00 and for not more than $5,000.00 regardless of the number of agencies adopting the suggestion.   Suggestions involving improvements in working conditions; changes in procedures; revision of forms; improvement in employee morale, health, or safety; or related improvements for which the monetary value cannot be determined shall be eligible for award certificates or cash awards based on intangible savings.   The board shall establish a method of evaluating such suggestions. Cash awards for suggestions involving intangible savings shall not exceed $100.00.     In recognition of achievements under meritorious award programs, incentive compensation plans, goal based plans, or other employee achievement, the board and other appointing authorities may award:   Certificates of merit;   Certificates acknowledging period of service; or   Pins, buttons, or other emblems.      (Ga. L. 1957, p. 336, § 8; Ga. L. 1972, p. 914, § 2; Ga. L. 1973, p. 794, § 2; Ga. L. 1990, p. 8, § 45; Ga. L. 1990, p. 1251, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1377, § 6; Ga. L. 2001, p. 500, § 1; Ga. L. 2006, p. 760, § 1/SB 472.)   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Award as compensation not gift.   - Compensation pursuant to these statutory provisions would be payment for a service which has been performed by the employee and would not fall into the category of a gift or gratuity. 1971 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 71-183.   Money paid under the "Employees Suggestion and Awards Program" is an award, and as such does not violate the constitutional prohibition against grants or gifts, since such payment is a form of compensation. 1973 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 73-86.   Agency paying award.   - Money paid to a state employee under the "Employees Suggestion and Awards Program" is an award and as such it may be paid by the state agency or department which adopts the suggestion whether or not that agency is the employee's appointing authority. 1973 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 73-86.   Conflicts with rules of State Personnel Board.    - State Personnel Board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of the State Employees' Suggestion and Awards Program; provided, however, that such rules and regulations do not conflict with the requirement of O.C.G.A. § 45-21-7 that the number of years of state service for state service award is ascertained by the director of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia. 1982 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 82-92.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 63C Am. Jur. 2d, Public Officers and Employees, § 284.   C.J.S.   - 67 C.J.S., Officers and Public Employees, § 397.