HB 232 addresses unintended consequences from the ethics reform law which took effect January 10, 2011. First, local officials may now file Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports and Personal Financial Disclosure Reports with the state either electronically or via paper. It removes the requirement that local officials submit a current email address to the state. The Campaign Finance Commission (formerly the State Ethics Commission) must notify local officials via mail rather than electronically about "the filing of a complaint; a technical defect in a filing; a failure to make a timely filing; or a late fee or other penalty." HB 232 removes the requirement that every county staff person that speaks with a legislator must register as a lobbyist. Now, county staff must register as lobbyists only if they spend more than 10% of their time lobbying or spend more than $1,000 to influence a public officer.

This bill vests the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission with broad rule making authority as necessary and appropriate to effectuate the commission's statutory duties.

This bill limits the amount of money that can be transferred from one campaign fund to $10,000 per election cycle.  Money can be transferred only as long as the candidate is in office.  The money may be transferred to any national, state or local commitee of a political party, to any political action committee or to any candidate.

Under current law, development authorities must publish any transaction with a member of the board of directors that is in excess of $200 per quarter in the legal organ.  This bill provides that such transactions do not have to be published if the development authority determines that the interest or involvement would not reasonably be expected to influence the member of the board of directors.  The decision of the development authority would be final and not subject to review.

This bill would rename the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission to the Georgia Ethics Commission.  It would also reconstitute the membership of the commission so that three members of the commission are appointed by the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and two appointed by the Chief Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Currently, all five are appointed by the Governor.  It also bars anyone who has been a registered lobbyist within the previous five years from being appointed. makes procedural changes relative to complaints, and provides for funding.