Last month, the Georgia Senate unanimously passed a bill [1] requiring every local governing body (including school boards) to create an ethics panel to hear complaints regarding at least members of the local governing body and, in counties, elected constitutional officers.

Each panel would have the power to reprimand and fine, up to $1,000, members of local governing bodies. No specific ethics provisions are required. Jurisdiction over other officials and employees would be up to each local government. The very people subject to the ethics panels would be the ones who select their members, a situation that will not lead to great trust from the community.

This bill is now before the House, although it appears the session ended on April 3. The bill is supported by Common Cause [2] and opposed by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia [3]. The Georgia Municipal Association [4] is neutral on it.