GA HB794

Establishes an 8-member Board of Ethics for Clayton County, with 5 members appointed by the grand jury and 3 by the tax commissioner, plus one alternate member, serving staggered 3-year terms beginning September 1, 2025

Creates positions for an ethics officer (must be Georgia Bar member with 5 years experience, appointed for up to 6 years) and ethics administrator to investigate complaints, provide training, and maintain an ethics hotline

Grants the Board of Ethics budgetary independence with funding up to $200,000 as a priority, authority to employ staff, issue subpoenas, and conduct hearings with decisions governed by preponderance of evidence standard

Prohibits county officials and employees from conflicts of interest, accepting gifts over $100 that could influence duties, using confidential information for private gain, and bars the county from contracting with former employees for 2 years after leaving

Authorizes penalties including administrative sanctions up to $1,000, public reprimand, and referral of potential criminal activity to law enforcement, with decisions appealable to superior court