The DeKalb County Board of Ethics was created when Senate Bill 590, sponsored by Senator James W. Tysinger in the 1990 Georgia General Assembly, was overwhelmingly approved by the voters of DeKalb County in November, 1990. Senate Bill 590 provided a Code of Ethics regulating the conduct of members of the governing authority of DeKalb County, which included the CEO and the seven County Commissioners. The bill created an independent Board of Ethics consisting of seven members. Five members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, and two are appointed by the CEO of DeKalb County. Each member serves a seven-year term, with the terms staggered to allow for a new appointment each year. Members continue to serve past their term until a replacement is appointed by the governing authority. Should any member fail to serve out their term, the governing authority will appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of that term. (Current Members) In 1992, the voters of DeKalb County approved the expansion of the jurisdiction of the Board of Ethics to include other members of the governing authority as well. (Jurisdiction of the Board)

In addition to conducting hearings on complaints of ethics violations, the 1992 law also allowed the Board of Ethics to render advisory opinions concerning whether a particular course of conduct might constitute a violation of the standards imposed by the Code of Ethics, or other applicable ethical standards. In addition, the new law provided for sanctions in addition to removal from office for someone who knowingly violated the Code of Ethics. Penalties and sanctions now include a possible reprimand with recommendations or requirements for future behavior, fines, suspension from office, or removal from office.

Georgia Laws 1990 Session

Georgia Laws 1992 Session