Georgia Code Title 50. State Government § 50-1-4

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “state agency” means any department, agency, board, commission, or authority of the state or any political subdivision thereof, any employees of which are members of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia.

(b) Any time a state employee entitled to receive involuntary separation retirement benefits pursuant to Code Section 47-2-123 is involuntarily separated from employment and such employee is granted such involuntary separation benefits, the employment position such employee held within a state agency at the time of such involuntary separation from service shall remain open and unfilled permanently. In addition, an amount equal to the sum of such employee's salary at the time of such involuntary separation from service and the cost of such employee's retirement with involuntary separation benefits shall be deleted permanently from the employing state agency's annual appropriations budget.

(c) The provisions of this Code section shall not apply to an employee who is involuntarily separated from service because of a mandatory retirement age or as a direct result of an Act of the General Assembly which abolishes such employee's position.