Near the end of the Georgia General Assembly’s 2024 session, a Code of Ethics was approved for the Clayton County Board of Commissioners.
The Senate passed House Bill 1444 Thursday while the Georgia House of Representatives approved it March 8.
“It is essential to the proper administration and operation of the Clayton County government that its officials and employees be, and give the appearance of being, independent and impartial, that public office not be used for private gain, and that there be public confidence in the integrity of Clayton County officials and employees,” a portion of the bill read. “Because the attainment of one or more of these ends is impaired whenever there exists in fact, or appears to exist, a conflict between the private interests and public responsibilities of officials and employees, the public interest requires that the General Assembly protect against such conflicts of interest by establishing by law appropriate ethical standards with respect to the conduct of the officials and employees of Clayton County in situations where a conflict may exist.”
The bill creates a Board of Ethics and the positions of ethics officer and ethics administrator.
The Board of Ethics will be comprised of seven Clayton County representatives with board members to take office on Jan. 1, 2025.
Board of Ethics members are to be selected by Dec. 1, 2024. Five members will be appointed by a Clayton County grand jury while two will be appointed by the tax commissioner.
The Ethics Board will conduct investigation proceedings, and meetings of the board will be open unless otherwise permitted by state law.
Board members will be unpaid.
House Bill 1444 creates the full-time salaried position of ethics officer in Clayton County.
The ethics officer must be an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing with five years of…
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