(a) For purposes of this article, the term "clerk of the governing authority of a municipality" means an individual holding the office of city clerk pursuant to a municipal charter and who is normally employed in that capacity for 40 hours per week.

(b) Any person hired or appointed to serve as the clerk of the governing authority of a municipality shall attend and complete a course of training on matters pertaining to the basic performance of his or her official duties. A city official who is an acting city clerk or who carries the dual responsibilities of both city manager and city clerk is exempt from such training. Such training shall be conducted by the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute, created under Article 1 of this chapter.

(c) The personnel of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government are authorized to work with the members of the Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute in establishing and operating the training course provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section.

(d) All reasonable expenses of attending the training classes required by this Code section shall be paid from funds appropriated by the municipal governing authority for such purposes.