| HB 0142 |
Neutral | Expand Lobbyist Definition |
Ralston, David 7th |
|---|
|
1/1/2014 |
House - Effective Date |
Rules |
RULES |
- |
|
|
| This legislation provides for changes relating to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission (formerly known as the Ethics Commission) as well as the definition of a lobbyist and expenditures.
A more detailed summary can be found here. |
| HB 0143 |
Neutral | Changes and Eliminates Certain Filing Requirements for County Offices |
Ralston, David 7th |
|---|
|
1/1/2014 |
House - Effective Date |
Rules |
RULES |
- |
|
|
| This legislation changes the manner in which candidates for local office file their campaign and finance disclosure statements.
For a detailed summary of the changes, click here.
For a comparison of HB 143 to the filing requirements prior to 2011, click here. |
| HB 0228 |
Negotiating | Use of Government Property for Lobby Purposes |
Hamilton, Mark 24th |
|---|
|
2/8/2013 |
House - House Second Readers |
GAff |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation would prohibit county employees from using county computers, networks, software, printers, phones, fax machines, cell phones, email, or other telecommunication devices to promote or oppose any state legislation unless the employee is a registered lobbyist. Elected officials are not subject to this requirement. Additionally, if the Governor or a member of the General Assembly requests information, this legislation would not prohibit an employee from using county equipment to respond to the request. |
| HB 0310 |
Support | Align State and Local Election Calendar with Federal Calendar |
Wilkinson, Joe 52nd |
|---|
|
1/21/2014 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
Eth |
ETHICS |
- |
|
|
| This bill aligns the state and local elections calendar with the court ordered federal calendar. This changed the qualifying period to March 3-7, 2014, the primary on May 20, 2014, and the general election on November 4, 2014. This bill also reduces the time period required to call a special election to be held in conjunction with a statewide primary or general election from 90 days to 60 days for 2014. |
| HB 0333 |
Neutral | Ethics Commission Authority to Investigate Failure to Pay Taxes by Public Officer |
Hill, Calvin 22nd |
|---|
|
2/14/2013 |
House - House Second Readers |
Eth |
- | - |
|
|
|
This legislation gives the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission the authority to investigate written complaints of elected official's failure to file or pay taxes, contingent upon approval of a constitutional amendment by the voters (HR 298).
|
| HB 0805 |
Neutral | Certain Elected Officials Cannot be in Bail Bond Business |
Howard Maxwell |
|---|
|
1/24/2014 |
House Second Readers |
GAff |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation allows elected officials other than sheriffs, officers of the court, law enforcement officers and attorneys to be in the bail bond business. |
| HR 0298 |
Neutral | Public Officials Prohibited from Holding Office if Deliquent on Taxes |
Hill, Calvin 22nd |
|---|
|
2/14/2013 |
House - House Second Readers |
Eth |
- | - |
|
|
| This proposed constitutional amendment revises comprehensively the constitutional ineligibility of persons to hold public office if they are in default on any taxes. The new provision applies to: ALL state or local elected or appointed offices and ALL federal, state, or local taxes. The proposal mandates that any person seeking to qualify for any state or local public office must agree to release confidential tax information to the GA Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission if the commission so requests. The commission is vested with the authority to declare any state or local elected or appointed office vacant for failure to comply with the new provision. The proposal does not define public office.
A companion, implementing general bill has also been introduced which is contingent upon ratifiaction of the constitutional amendment. See HB 333. |
| HR 1239 |
Neutral | House Development Authority Study Committee |
Matt Dollar |
|---|
|
2/19/2014 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
B&FAO |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation would establish a study committee for the purposes of reviewing the relationship between governing authorities (such as county, municipal, school boards, and the Dept of Economic Development) and local development authorities. The committee shall recommend any proposed legislative changes as it deems necessary. |
| SB 0297 |
Support | Clarifies Provisions Related to Local Filing |
Butch Miller |
|---|
|
1/31/2014 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
Rules |
ETHICS |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires candidates for county office to file a declaration of intent to accept campaign contributions with the county elections superintendent instead of the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission. The election superintendent is required to transmit the documents electronically by eFiling or eFaxing a copy of the report to the Georgia Campaign Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission no later than 10 days after the close of the reporting period. This legislation also changes the exemption for filing campaign finance disclosure reports from those who intend to accept less than $2,500 each calendar year to those who intend to accept less than $2,500 each election cycle.
|
| SB 0316 |
Evaluating | Ethics; Establish Whistleblower Hotline & Commission |
Steve Henson |
|---|
|
1/24/2014 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | GvtO |
- |
|
|
| This legislation creates a Whistleblower Hotline where reports of fraud, waste and abuse of public funds by public officers or employees. It also creates a Whistleblower Hotline Commission to investigate the complaints and determine whether the complaints should be forwarded to the Attorney General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation or the Department of Audits and Accounts. Any employee who makes a complaint or report may not be retaliated against or have the threat of retaliation made. |
