ATLANTA— State Representative Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has introduced new legislation to further strengthen Georgia’s ethics laws. As introduced by Chairman Willard, House Bill 920 will make it unlawful for a lobbyist to offer a gift worth more than $100 to a public officer, restrict elected officials’ ability to move campaign contributions from one political campaign to another, and prevent all full-time staff members in the Governor’s Office from registering as lobbyists within one year of leaving their employment with the executive branch.
“After taking control of the state House for the first time in over 130 years, Republicans passed sweeping ethics reforms in 2005,” said Chairman Willard. “House Bill 920 builds on that commitment to high ethical standards.”
The 2005 legislation, House Bill 48, was one of the first bills passed by the then new majority. It restricts lobbyists eligibility for executive appointment to government agencies and bans the use of campaign funds for personal needs. Furthermore, the legislation prohibits public officers from advocating the advancement, employment, appointment, and promotion of family members to state jobs in the executive branch.
HB 48 also increased penalties for ethics violations, required lobbyist disclosure reports, and created venues for all Georgians to present ethics complaints of members of the General Assembly. These substantial changes did not go unnoticed. The Center for Public Integrity raised Georgia’s standing on their “ethics report card” from 33rd in the nation to 6th best after the implementation of the legislation.
“HB 920 picks up where the 2005 ethics reforms left off,” added Chairman Willard. “This legislation preserves Georgians’ constitutional right to petition the government while eliminating high-priced meals, airline tickets, and other unnecessary extravagances.”
HB 920 has received broad bi-partisan support and has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee for review. For more information on the bill, please visit http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/sum/hb920.htm.
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