Rule 110-12-9-.02. Definitions

Rule 110-12-9-.02. Definitions

For the purpose of these rules, the following words will have the meaning as contained therein unless the context does not permit such meaning. Terms not defined in these rules but defined in O.C.G.A. § 36-70-20, et seq., will have the meanings contained herein. Terms not defined in these rules or in O.C.G.A. § 36-70-20, et seq., will have ascribed to them the ordinary accepted meanings such as the context may imply.

1. (1) 'Parties' within the SDS include the county and any municipality located either wholly or partially within the county without regard to whether the local government is a signatory of the SDS, required or otherwise.
2. (2) 'Service Delivery Strategy' means the collection of the forms, geospatial information, intergovernmental agreements and contracts, and all other supporting materials that describe the totality of service delivery arrangements for a county, all municipalities located wholly or partially therein, and authorities providing service to any territory within the county. This may also be referred to as the "SDS Document" or the "Agreement", (if referring to an intergovernmental agreement or some other agreement, it will be specified as such.).
3. (3) 'Service Delivery Strategy Amendment' is an amendment as required under O.C.G.A. § 36-70-21(a)(2), or any other amendment to the SDS as necessary.
4. (4) 'Service Delivery Strategy Update' is the update required under O.C.G.A. § 36-70-21(a)(1). This may also be referred to as the '10-year update' or 'full update'. This is an SDS that contains a Form 2 for every service provided by or on behalf of any local government or authority serving any territory within the county covered by SDS.
5. (5) 'Verifiable Delivery' means delivery that can be decisively confirmed to have occurred. All notices and communications to the Department, necessary to implement O.C.G.A. § 36-70-26, will be sent via verifiable delivery or as specified by the Department. Verifiable delivery between the Parties includes: Posted mail with a tracking number produced by a mail carrier service (e.g., USPS, FedEx, UPS);Email showing delivery time/ date in the message's header or (delivery and read receipts are strongly advised),For hand-delivered materials, a scan or photo of the notice clearly showing a date-received stamp on the document accompanied by the signature of the person who accepted delivery of the notice on behalf of the receiving party. An affidavit including the following information is also acceptable: the name and signature of the person who accepted delivery of the notice on behalf of the receiving party, the date received, and the name and signature of the person who delivered the notice.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 36-70-23.1; 36-70-26(d).

History. Original Rule entitled "Definitions" adopted. F. Nov. 25, 2025, eff. Jan. 1, 2026, as specified by the Agency.