(a) All persons elected as members of a municipal governing authority who were not serving as members of a municipal governing authority on July 1, 1990, shall enroll in, attend, and satisfactorily complete a course of training and education on matters pertaining to the administration and operations of municipal governments. Such course of training and education shall include, but not be limited to, orientation in local government finance and budgeting; methods of taxation; planning; public works and utilities; parks and recreation; environmental management; public safety; personnel management; responsiveness to the community; the ethics, duties, and responsibilities of members of a municipal governing authority or a chief executive officer; and such other matters as may be deemed necessary and appropriate by the board.

(b) All expenses incurred by a newly elected member of a municipal governing authority related to the course of training and education authorized and required by subsection (a) of this Code section, including the reasonable costs of housing, travel, and meals, shall be paid from public funds appropriated for such purposes. All expenses not paid for by state funds shall be paid from municipal funds by the municipal governing authority whose newly elected member or members shall attend such course.