Paragraph IX. - Sovereign immunity and waiver thereof; claims against the state and its departments, agencies, officers and employees.

(a)

The general assembly may waive the state's sovereign immunity from suit by enacting a State Tort Claims Act, in which the general assembly may provide by law for procedures for the making, handling, and disposition of actions or claims against the state and its departments, agencies, officers, and employees, upon such terms and subject to such conditions and limitations as the general assembly may provide.

(b)

The general assembly may also provide by law for the processing and disposition of claims against the state which do not exceed such maximum amount as provided therein.

(c)

The state's defense of sovereign immunity is hereby waived as to any action ex contractu for the breach of any written contract now existing or hereafter entered into by the state or its departments and agencies.

(d)

Except as specifically provided by the general assembly in a State Tort Claims Act, all officers and employees of the state or its departments and agencies may be subject to suit and may be liable for injuries and damages caused by the negligent performance of, or negligent failure to perform, their ministerial functions and may be liable for injuries and damages if they act with actual malice or with actual intent to cause injury in the performance of their official functions. Except as provided in this subparagraph, officers and employees of the state or its departments and agencies shall not be subject to suit or liability, and no judgment shall be entered against them, for the performance or nonperformance of their official functions. The provisions of this subparagraph shall not be waived.

(e)

Except as specifically provided in this paragraph, sovereign immunity extends to the state and all of its departments and agencies. The sovereign immunity of the state and its departments and agencies can only be waived by an act of the general assembly which specifically provides that sovereign immunity is thereby waived and the extent of such waiver.

(f)

No waiver of sovereign immunity under this paragraph shall be construed as a waiver of any immunity provided to the state or its departments, agencies, officers, or employees by the United States constitution.

(1991 Ga. Laws, page 2435, § 1)