Georgia Code
Article 4 - Bombs, Explosives, and Chemical and Biological Weapons
§ 16-7-80. Definitions

As used in this article, the term:
(1.1) “Biological agent” means any microorganism, including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae or protozoa, or infectious substance, or any naturally occurring, bioengineered or synthesized component of any such microorganism or infectious substance, capable of causing:
(A) Death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or another living organism;
(B) Deterioration of food, water, equipment, supplies, or material of any kind; or
(C) Deleterious alteration of the environment.
(16.1) “Toxin” means the toxic material or product of plants, animals, microorganisms, including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae or protozoa, or infectious substances, or a recombinant or synthesized molecule, whatever their origin and method of production, and includes:
(16.2) “Vector” means a living organism, or molecule, including a recombinant or synthesized molecule, capable of carrying a biological agent or toxin to a host.
History. Code 1981, § 16-7-80 , enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 416, § 3; Ga. L. 2017, p. 536, § 3-1/HB 452.
The 2017 amendment, effective July 1, 2017, substituted the present provisions of paragraph (1) for the former provisions, which read: “ ‘Bacteriological weapon’ or ‘biological weapon’ means any device which is designed in such a manner as to permit the intentional release into the population or environment of microbial or other biological agents or toxins whatever their origin or method of production in a manner not otherwise authorized by law or any device the development, production, or stockpiling of which is prohibited pursuant to the ‘Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and Their Destruction,’ 26 U.S.T. 583, TIAS 8063.”; and added paragraphs (1.1), (16.1), and (16.2).
Code Commission notes.
Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1996, paragraph (3) was redesignated as paragraph (6) and former paragraphs (6) through (16) were redesignated as paragraphs (7) through (17), respectively, to maintain alphabetical order; “Safety Fire” was substituted for “Fire Safety” in paragraph (2); “detonating cord” was substituted for “detonating-chord” in paragraph (5); “director” was substituted for “Director” in present paragraph (6); and “Code Section” was substituted for “Code section” near the middle of present paragraph (8).
Law reviews.
For article on the 2017 amendment of this Code section, see 34 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 17 (2017).

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