This bill would amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A. to revise qualifications of local board of education members:

1.      Residence in the district for at least one year of taking office would be required.

2.      No person would be eligible to run for the LBOE who has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor in the past ten years from the date of the election.

3.      A current member would be immediately disqualified to serve if he/she qualifies as a candidate for any other elective office, or if he/she is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.

The bill would eliminate the current prohibition of several behaviors and add a long list of specific behaviors that might bring personal financial gain to the member, his relatives, or others to which he has a financial connection. It goes on to expand the requirements to appointed officers and employees and specifies a code of ethics to be supervised by a local ethics commission. Lengthy requirements for membership on the commission are included, as well as procedures for complaints and hearings. If the local commission recommends removal, the LBOE would have 30 days to reject or modify the commission‘s recommendation, but only with a ¾ vote. The bill goes on to list many instances that could result in removal, including a list of causes.