06 LC 37
0117
House
Bill 1601
By:
Representative Buckner of the
76th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to selection and qualification of candidates and
presidential electors, so as to establish a code of conduct for candidates for
elective office; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for
administration by the State Ethics Commission; to provide for related matters;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
1 of Article 4 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to selection and qualification of candidates and
presidential electors, is amended by adding at its end new Code sections to be
designated as Code Sections 21-2-140, 21-2-141, and 21-2-142 to read as
follows:
"21-2-140.
The
Georgia General Assembly, through enactment of the code of Conduct for
Candidates Seeking Elective Office, acknowledges and affirms to every candidate
for public office in the State of Georgia the moral obligation to adhere
voluntarily to these principles:
(1)
Candidates are encouraged to present a campaign which adheres to the highest
principles of honest debate and fair and ethical practices;
(2)
Debate of issues will embrace the democratic process while demonstrating
integrity and respect for the constitutional right of citizens to choose their
governing representation;
(3)
Campaigns will be conducted so that
citizenś
understanding and confidence in the political process and government are
expanded; and
(4)
The goal of each candidate will be foster respect, faith, and trust in elected
officials and provide a foundation for government that will inspire citizens to
unite with elected officials to resolve the issues that confront our
state.
21-2-141.
There
is established for and within the state a code of conduct for candidates for
elective office which shall read as follows:
CODE
OF CONDUCT FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING ELECTIVE OFFICE
Any
person who is a candidate for any elective office in this state
should:
(1)
Put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to
persons, party, or office;
(2)
Uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal regulations of the United States and
the State of Georgia and of all governments therein and never be a party to
their evasion;
(3)
Give his or her earnest effort and best thought to the duties of the office
sought;
(4)
Seek to find and employ more efficient and economical ways of getting tasks
accomplished;
(5)
Never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to
anyone, whether for remuneration or not, and never accept, for self or family,
favors or benefits under circumstances which might be construed by reasonable
persons as influencing the performance of the governmental duties of the office
sought;
(6)
Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office, since a
government official has no private word which can be binding on public
duty;
(7)
Engage in no business with the government, either directly or indirectly, which
is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of the governmental duties of
the office sought;
(8)
Never use any information coming to him or her confidentially in connection with
governmental affairs as a means for making private profit;
(9)
Expose corruption wherever discovered;
(10)
Adhere to the highest standards of truthfulness in all campaign activities,
recognizing that untruthful campaign statements debase the electoral process,
lower the repute of government, and cast discredit upon all candidates for
office; and
(11)
Uphold these principles, ever conscious that public office is a public
trust.
21-2-142.
(a)
The State Ethics Commission shall provide a depository where candidates seeking
elected office may submit items that, in their opinion, are evidence of a
violation of the Code of Conduct for Candidates Seeking Elective Office. The
depository will be open for public inspection.
(b)
Items placed in the depository will be held through two campaign cycles before
being purged.
(c)
The State Ethics Commission will issue a depository notification to the author
of the item received, or to the candidate to whose campaign the item refers, if
said candidate is not the recognized author of the material. Said candidate may
respond to the item being placed in the depository by submitting to the State
Ethics Commission a letter of explanation or rebuttal that will also be placed
in the
depository."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.