reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
GA Code § 12-5-545 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 9 - Flint River Drought Protection|§ 12-5-545. Administration of Fund

 The authority shall administer the drought protection funds provided to it for purposes of this article and shall make expenditures from said funds in accordance with and at the direction of the director pursuant to Code Sections 12-5-546 and 12-5-547. With the prior consent and approval of the director, the authority is authorized to expend a portion of the drought protection funds for incidental costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the authority in connection with its administration of the drought protection funds for such things as postage, office supplies, and prorated salaries and wages of personnel assigned the tasks associated with management of the drought protection funds. The authority is further authorized and directed to invest the unexpended balance of the drought protection funds in the same manner as other funds under its control. Any interest or other revenues earned on the principal of the drought protection funds shall be added to the unexpended balance of the drought protection funds and become a part thereof. Upon request of the director, the authority shall provide such accounting information to the director as may be reasonably necessary for the director to perform his or her duties and functions pursuant to this article. All moneys deposited in the drought protection funds shall be deemed to be contractually obligated and shall not lapse to the general fund.    (Code 1981, §12-5-545, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 458, § 1.)
GA Code § 12-5-547 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 9 - Flint River Drought Protection|§ 12-5-547. Director's Orders

 If the director determines that the total number of nonirrigated acres needed during a given year cannot be sufficiently obtained through the irrigation reduction auction held in accordance with Code Section 12-5-546, the director is authorized to issue an order, in accordance with rules adopted by the board, requiring certain permittees not to irrigate a specified number of acres of irrigated land until the end of the calendar year. When issuing such orders, the director shall begin with the permittees whose withdrawal permits were issued most recently and then work chronologically backward with each order issued. A permittee who is issued such an order shall be compensated for such restriction if such permittee applied to the division for a surface-water or ground-water withdrawal permit prior to December 1, 1999, received a surface-water or ground-water withdrawal permit from the division prior to December 1, 2000, and is able to demonstrate actual previous irrigation on the same acres of land which the owner has been ordered not to irrigate. The per acre dollar amount received by a permittee pursuant to this Code section shall be equal to the average agreed upon sum per acre paid pursuant to the irrigation reduction auction during the same year.    (Code 1981, §12-5-547, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 458, § 1.)   Law reviews.   - For note, "The Problem of Reallocation in a Regulated Riparian System: Examining the Law in Georgia," see 40 Ga. L. Rev. 207 (2005).
GA Code § 12-5-548 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 9 - Flint River Drought Protection|§ 12-5-548. Investigations and Inspections

  The division shall have the right, in accordance with rules adopted by the board, to conduct such investigations and inspections as may reasonably be necessary to carry out its duties prescribed in this article and to ensure compliance with this article, the rules and regulations issued pursuant to this article, and any agreement or order that the division or director enters into or issues pursuant to this article. For these purposes, the division shall have the right to enter at reasonable times any property, public or private, and conduct such investigations or inspections.   No person shall refuse entry or access to any authorized representative of the division who requests entry for the purposes of a lawful inspection and who presents appropriate credentials, nor shall any person obstruct, hamper, or interfere with any such representative while in the process of carrying out his or her official duties consistent with the provisions of this article.     (Code 1981, §12-5-548, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 458, § 1.)
GA Code § 12-5-549 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 9 - Flint River Drought Protection|§ 12-5-549. Compliance; Violations

  Except as may otherwise be provided in this article, whenever the director has reason to believe that a violation of any provision of this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this article has occurred, he or she shall attempt to obtain compliance therewith by conference, conciliation, or persuasion, if the making of such an attempt is appropriate under the circumstances. If he or she fails to obtain compliance in this manner, the director may order the violator to take whatever corrective action the director deems necessary in order to obtain such compliance within a period of time to be prescribed in such order.   Except as may otherwise be provided in this article, any order issued by the director under this article shall become final unless the person or persons named therein file with the director a written request for a hearing within 30 days after such order or permit is served on such person or persons.   Except as may otherwise be provided in this article, hearings on contested matters and judicial review of final orders and other enforcement actions under this article shall be provided and conducted in accordance with subsection (c) of Code Section 12-2-2.   The director may file in the superior court of the county wherein the person under order resides, or if the person is a corporation, in the county wherein the corporation maintains its principal place of business, or in the county wherein the violation occurred or in which jurisdiction is appropriate, a certified copy of a final order of the director unappealed from or a final order of the director affirmed upon appeal, whereupon the court shall render judgment in accordance therewith and notify the parties. Such judgment shall have the same effect, and all proceedings in relation thereto shall thereafter be the same, as though the judgment had been rendered in an action duly heard and determined by such court.   For purposes of this Code section, a violation of an agreement entered into in accordance with Code Section 12-5-546 or an order issued by the director in accordance with Code Section 12-5-547 shall be prima facie established upon a showing that:   During the effective period of the agreement or order, the irrigation system was observed in person or via remote sensing or otherwise established by representatives of the division or others to have been operating and disbursing water; or   During the effective period of the agreement or order, a seal, lock, or other device placed by the division on the system to prevent operation of the system has been broken or otherwise tampered with.       (Code 1981, §12-5-549, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 458, § 1; Ga. L. 2014, p. 302, § 6/SB 213.)   Law reviews.   - For annual survey on administrative law, see 66 Mercer L. Rev. 1 (2014). For article on the 2014 amendment of this Code section, see 31 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 9 (2014).
GA Code § 12-5-550 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 9 - Flint River Drought Protection|§ 12-5-550. Repayment Penalty; Notice of Violation; Time Limit to Respond to Notice of Violation; Failure to Respond to Notice of Violation

  A repayment penalty in the amount of three times the dollar amount of payments received from the drought protection funds shall be paid by any person who irrigates in violation of an agreement entered into in accordance with Code Section 12-5-546 or in violation of an order issued by the director in accordance with Code Section 12-5-547. Such penalties shall be assessed on a per violation basis. A violation shall be deemed to have occurred each time a person irrigates in violation of an agreement or order.   Within 30 days after discovery that a permittee violated an agreement entered into pursuant to Code Section 12-5-546 or an order issued by the director in accordance with Code Section 12-5-547, the director shall send via certified mail or statutory overnight delivery a notice of violation to the permittee stating:   The date on which the violation occurred;   The facts constituting the violation and a statement that such facts will be deemed admitted unless denied by petition for hearing; and   The total dollar amount of repayment penalties owed by the permittee, together with a demand that said amount be paid in full within 30 days of the permittee's receipt of the notice.     A permittee receiving a notice of violation pursuant to this Code section shall have 30 days from receipt thereof either to pay in full the total amount of repayment penalties set forth in the notice or to submit a petition challenging such notice to the director. If a petition is filed within the required time, then a hearing shall be conducted with respect to same in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act," and the rules and regulations applicable thereto.   If a permittee receiving a notice of violation pursuant to this Code section does not either pay the total amount of repayment penalties or submit a petition challenging the notice, then the facts set out in the notice shall be deemed admitted and the director shall issue an order to the permittee, assessing the total repayment penalties due from the permittee as set forth in the notice of violation and requiring payment of same within 30 days of issuance of the order. Any order issued by the director pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed final, and no hearing or appeal may be taken.     (Code 1981, §12-5-550, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 458, § 1; Ga. L. 2001, p. 1212, § 3.)   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 2001, p. 1212, § 7, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that this Act is applicable with respect to notices delivered on or after July 1, 2001.
GA Code § 12-5-570 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-570. Short Title

 This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Act."    (Code 1981, §12-5-570, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1.)   Law reviews.   - For note on the 2001 enactment of O.C.G.A. §§ 12-5-570 to12-5-586, see 18 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. (2001).   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Compliance by state with post development stormwater runoff regulations not required.   - State and the state's departments, agencies, and authorities, including the Georgia Department of Transportation and DOT construction projects, are not subject to the "post-development stormwater runoff" regulations or other ordinances adopted by a local government, local authority, or regional authority, including the model ordinance promulgated by the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. 2009 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 2009-6.
GA Code § 12-5-571 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-571. Legislative Intent

  The General Assembly recognizes the value of the metropolitan North Georgia area watersheds for water supply, recreation, habitat for fish and wildlife, economic prosperity, and quality of life. The General Assembly finds that adequate supplies of clean water for drinking and other purposes constitute the lifeblood of the metropolitan North Georgia area and are, therefore, essential to the health, welfare, and economic progress of the area. The purpose of this article is to create a planning entity dedicated to developing comprehensive regional and watershed-specific plans to be implemented by local governments in the district. These plans will protect water quality and public water supplies in and downstream of the region, protect recreational values of the waters in and downstream of the region, and minimize potential adverse impacts of development on waters in and downstream of the region.   The General Assembly finds that the waters and watersheds of the district are natural resources, environments, and vital areas within the meaning of Article III, Section VI, Paragraph II of the Constitution of the State of Georgia.     (Code 1981, §12-5-571, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1.)
GA Code § 12-5-572 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-572. Creation; Purpose

  There is created the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.   The general purposes of the district shall be to establish policy, create plans, and promote intergovernmental coordination for all water issues in the district; to facilitate multijurisdictional water related projects; and to enhance access to funding for water related projects among local governments in the district area.   It is the primary purpose of the district to develop regional and watershed-specific plans for storm-water management, waste-water treatment, water supply, water conservation, and the general protection of water quality, which plans will be implemented by local governments in the district.     (Code 1981, §12-5-572, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1.)
GA Code § 12-5-573 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-573. Definitions

 As used in this article, the term:    "Board" means the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Governing Board created under Code Section 12-5-575.   "Director" means the director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources.   "District" means the entity established by this article that shall have planning responsibility for watershed and storm-water management, waste-water management, and water supply and conservation management within the district area.   "District area" means any county which has a population of 500,000 or more according to the 2000 United States decennial census or any future such census and all counties geographically contiguous to any such county; provided, however, that any such contiguous county having population of 100,000 or less according to the 2000 United States decennial census or any future such census may, by majority vote of the governing authority thereof and with the written approval of the director, remove itself from the district area. The district area may be expanded from time to time as provided in this article.   "Local government" means any county or municipality of this state lying in whole or in part within the district area.     (Code 1981, §12-5-573, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1.)
GA Code § 12-5-574 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-574. Powers; Approval of Plan Non-Binding on Finances; Extension of Time for Preparing Plan

  The district shall promote regional coordination and cooperation through the exercise of the following powers:   Development of regional and watershed-specific plans for storm-water management taking into account recommendations developed by the basin advisory councils;   Development of regional and watershed-specific plans for waste-water management taking into account recommendations developed by the basin advisory councils;   Development of regional and watershed-specific plans for water supply and water conservation taking into account recommendations developed by the basin advisory councils;   Development of regionally consistent policies, model ordinances, and minimum standards of performance for local governments relating to the creation and implementation of the plans developed by the district;   Development and coordination of an effective regional and watershed-specific water quality monitoring program and development and maintenance of a corresponding data base reflecting available monitoring data;   Establishment of education programs on water quality issues and promotion of water conservation;   Identification of funding sources, including without limitation federal funding sources for the creation and implementation of plans provided for under this article;   Entry into contracts with both public and private parties in connection with the exercise of the powers and duties of the district;   Development of measurable short-term and long-term goals for water quality and conservation improvement;   Development of a program to identify and implement structural controls and nonstructural controls needed to achieve the goals for water quality and conservation improvement; and   Reviewing and reporting on the progress of implementation of the water plans and achievement of the water goals developed pursuant to this article.     Approval by the district of any storm-water management plan, waste-water management plan, water supply and conservation plan, or other plan pursuant to this article shall not obligate any governing authority comprising a part of the district to provide funding for facilities planned or constructed pursuant to such plans which do not provide services to all or a portion of the population of such governing authority proportionate to any cost allocation.   No extension of time by the board for preparation of a plan provided for under this article shall exceed six months, nor shall more than one extension be granted for any such plan.     (Code 1981, §12-5-574, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1.)   Code Commission notes.   - Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2001, "advisory" was substituted for "advisors" in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3).
GA Code § 12-5-576 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-576. Open Meetings; Quorum; Voting; Executive Sessions

  The board shall meet at least three times per year at a time and place set forth in the minutes of the district and at such other times as the chairperson may direct. All such meetings shall be open to the public.   A majority of the members to which the board is entitled shall constitute a quorum.   Once a quorum has been established, a majority of the members to which the board is entitled shall be required to adopt any matter before the district.   Each member of the board shall have one vote to be cast in person, and there shall be no voting by proxy; provided, however, that each member serving on the board pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 12-5-575 shall be entitled to designate in writing to the chairperson of the board an alternate who may exercise any of the powers and discharge any of the duties of such member provided for in this article, including voting, in the absence of such member, other than serving as chairperson, vice chairperson, or secretary-treasurer of the board.   The district, by a majority vote of those members of the board present, may go into executive session for the purposes of discussing personnel matters, meeting with attorneys representing the district in adversarial or potentially adversarial situations, and for any other purpose authorized by and consistent with Chapter 14 of Title 50.     (Code 1981, §12-5-576, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1; Ga. L. 2004, p. 470, § 1.)
GA Code § 12-5-577 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-577. Operating Budget; Sources of Funding; Power to Enter Into Contracts and to Expend Funds; Depositing

  Prior to July 1 each year, the officers of the board shall submit to the district for adoption a preliminary budget required for the operation of the district during the ensuing calendar year, which shall also be the fiscal year.   Funding for the district operations shall be derived from the following sources:   Dues paid by cities and counties within the district such that the aggregate total of all such dues from all such cities and counties shall be no less than $500,000.00 annually. Such fees shall be raised on a per capita assessment or water-usage fee basis or based on a formula adopted and approved by the local government members of the district; and   Appropriated or contracted state funds.     The district is specifically empowered to contract or otherwise participate in and to accept grants, funds, gifts, or services from any federal, state, or local government or its agencies or instrumentalities and from private and civic sources and to expend funds received therefrom under provisions as may be required and agreed upon by the district in connection with any program or purpose for which the district exists.   All funds of the district not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the district in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the district may select.     (Code 1981, §12-5-577, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1; Ga. L. 2004, p. 470, § 2; Ga. L. 2006, p. 72, § 12/SB 465.)
GA Code § 12-5-578 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-578. Adjoining Counties or Municipalities Application to Be Added to the District Area

 Any county or municipality adjoining a member county or municipality shall be added to the district area upon the application of such entity to be included in the district by resolution of its governing authority and upon approval of the director.    (Code 1981, §12-5-578, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1.)
GA Code § 12-5-579 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 12 - Conservation and Natural Resources|Chapter 5 - Water Resources|Article 10 - Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District|§ 12-5-579. Staffing; Cooperation Among Agencies

  The district staff shall consist initially of the existing staff of the Environmental Planning Division of the Atlanta Regional Commission. Additional staff may be added or the staffing modified as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the district. The district may contract for such additional staff and consulting services as the board in its discretion may determine to be necessary from time to time.   Any commission, as defined by Code Section 50-8-31, falling within the geographic boundaries of the district shall cooperate with the district and shall assist it in its efforts.     (Code 1981, §12-5-579, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 181, § 10/HB 1216.)