(a) All members of the General Assembly shall be authorized and encouraged to attend and complete a series of instructional classes or courses relating to the organization and operation of state government in general, and the role and powers of the General Assembly in particular. Such courses or classes shall include, but not be limited to, such general topics as the Georgia Constitution, the role of each branch of state government, the organization of state government, the role of state government in the U.S. federal system, the relationship of state and local government, sources of state and local revenue, and the state budgeting process. Additionally, such courses or classes shall include, but not be limited to, topics specifically related to the General Assembly, such as constitutional and statutory law, bill drafting, the legislative process, committee operations, parliamentary rules of procedure, the appropriation process, legislative customs and traditions, duties and responsibilities of members, ethics and rules of conduct, legislative oversight of the executive branch, local legislation, constituent service, legislative use of computers, the Internet, distance learning, public policy issues on the legislative agenda, and such other matters as deemed necessary and appropriate by the board.

(b) All expenses incurred by an incumbent member of the General Assembly related to the course of training and education authorized by subsection (a) of this Code section, including the reasonable costs of housing, travel, meals, instructors, and instructional materials, may be paid from state funds appropriated to the legislative branch for such purposes or from other such funds as become available. In addition, all such expenses shall constitute ordinary and necessary expenses for purposes of subsection (a) of Code Section 21-5-33 and may be reimbursed to members-elect of the General Assembly from campaign contributions.