Georgia Official and Statistical Register 1983-84 - the Digital Library ...

Telecommunications Division — George A. Christenberry,Jr., Director. The 1972 Reorganization Act transferred all ofthe functions of the State Communications Committee createdin 1969 to the Department of Administrative Services. Underlegislation established in 1973, the Department©s Telecommunications Division has the full responsibility of designing, implementing and administering all telecommunication servicesused by State government.In 1975 and 1977 additional legislation was enacted broadening the area of the Division©s responsibility. Now included arethose of radio frequency planning and coordination for Stateand Local governments and planning, reviewing, and coordinating the use of a Statewide emergency telephone number"911" system for all governmental levels.DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS AND ACCOUNTSThe Department of Audits and Accounts examines andaudits, at least once a year, the books and accounts of everyState officer, department, agency, authority, board, commission and institution, and every local school system and official,and to that end he is given the power to conduct investigationsand subpoena witnesses. He not only examines the cashaccounts of those receiving money from the State, but alsoprotects all physical properties purchased with State money.His audits and examination, together with opinions andrecommendations, are reported annually to the General Assembly and the Governor, as is also a detailed and comprehensivereport of the salaries paid to and expenses incurred by everyperson on the payroll of the State.Georgia law requires the State Auditor have a minimum offive years experience as an accountant in the Department, orsimilar government agency, or as a certified public accountant.The General Assembly is responsible for electing the StateAuditor, who serves until a successor is chosen. If the positionbecomes vacant while the General Assembly is not in session,the Governor appoints a successor who serves until the nextsession. Various Acts of the General Assembly provide for theAuditor©s membership on a number of boards, commissions,and authorities.The Department of Audits and Accounts operates under thelegal mandate prescribed in OCGA 50-6.HISTORY. The Department of Audits and Accounts wasestablished by the Act of December 6, 1923 (Ga. L. 1923, Ex.Sess., p. 7). Although the basic responsibilities of the Department concerning units of state government have remainedbasically the same, it was not until 1931 that the powers, dutiesand functions previously vested in the state school auditor weretransferred to the Department of Audits and Accounts (Ga. L.1931, p. 7, 9, 40). A 1943 Act provided for the election of theState Auditor by the General Assembly (Ga. L. 1943, p. 361).William M. Nixon, Atlanta. StaleAuditor, Depi. of Audits, 1976-date. Born Aug. 7, 1925 in Richmond Co., Ga. Ga. Tech Class of1947. Chi Phi. CPA. Independent.Baptist. US Navy-WW II, 1943-46. Auditor, Dept. of Audits,1949-76. Wife, former MarionPettyjohn; I daughter.DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND FINANCEThe Department of Banking and Finance was created by theExecutive Reorganization Act of !972(Ga. Law 1972, p. 1198).The Department is assigned all of the duties and responsibilitiesformerly held by the Superintendent of Banks, the Departmentof Banking and the Georgia Building and Loan Commissioner.In this capacity the Department and the Commissioner havefull and exclusive jurisdiction and supervision over all statechartered banks, bank holding companies, credit unions, holding companies, state savings and loan associations, and building and loan associations, as well as all money order companies, fiduciary investment companies, and international bankingagencies licensed to do business in Georgia. The Department isfurther responsible for supervising the activities of any businessdevelopment corporations chartered pursuant to the BusinessDevelopment Corporation Act of 1972.The Department performs examinations of the books andrecords of all financial institutions within its jurisdiction andsuch institutions are required to file other reports throughouttheir business year. The Department has the authority to takepossession of, close and liquidate any such financial institutionwhich has found to be insolvent, operating in an unsafe andunsound manner, or violating the provisions of its charter orthe laws of Georgia. Every application for charter or otherlicense to do business by such financial institutions is investigated carefully by the Department before the institution ispermitted to engage in business. No change of the legal status orclass of such institution may be made without the Department©sprior consent.The chief officer of the Department is the Commissioner. Heis appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice of theSenate for a four-year term of office. The minimum qualifications for the office include at least five years© experience in anexecutive position in bank management or bank supervision,and that the Commissioner be at least thirty-five years of age.The Commissioner has the authority to appoint a DeputyCommissioner and to employ examiners and other necessarypersonnel as he may need to discharge the duties imposed onhim by law.Authorities and responsibilities of the Department of Banking and Finance are enumerated in OCGA Title 7.HISTOR Y. The Department of Banking was established in1919 (Ga. L. 1919, p. 135) to regulate the banking business.Prior to 1919 banks were supervised by the State Treasurer.Robert M. Moler. Deputy CommissionerEdward Derrill (Jack) Dunn,Atlanta. Commissioner. Dept. ofBanking and Finance, 1972-date.Born May 18, 1925 in ThomasCounty, Ga. Ga. State U., BSC,1950; Woodrow Wilson LawSchool, LLB, 1954. Banker.Democrat. Episcopalian. Mason.US Navy-WW II. 1943-46. Wife,former Betty Hall; 4 children.Reece V. Morris, Deputy Commissioner. AdministrationJohn B. Kline, Deputy Commissioner. Bank SupervisionCharles W. Burge, Deputy Commissioner. Thrift Institutions42