Ethics Reform Impacts County Commissioners

Beginning in January, a new ethics law will take effect in Georgia that includes some big changes for local government officials.
 
SB 17 modifies ethics disclosure filings for county candidates and officials, provides for increased disclosure for lobbyists and modifies conflict of interest provisions for members of the General Assembly.  Specifically, local officials – county, city, and school board – must:

 

-Have an email address and provide that address to the State Ethics Commission.  It must be different from their county email address because it will be used for campaign purposes and must be updated within 10 days if it changes.

 

-File financial disclosure and campaign disclosure reports directly with the State Ethics Commission. Previously, these reports were filed with the county, and then submitted to the state.

 

Information is being prepared for release on the State Ethics Commission’s website www.ethics.ga.gov and the Commission’s Education and Information Division will be distributing bulletins with instructions and information on various transition issues and filings.  
 
Each county should ask:
Are your local officials familiar with the new law?
Do all of your officials have email addresses?
How will elections officials get the word out to candidates about the filing requirements?

 

Summary of SB 17 (pdf)