The revised regulations more

specifically define standards of ethical conduct, expand the number of

officials and employees who must provide financial disclosures; and expands

the scope of the ethics code to include county board appointees

The new code defines gifts

and favors and more directly restricts county staff from influencing the

contracting process.

Solicitation of gifts or favors

from vendors or potential vendors is specifically prohibited.

While the Ethics Code has always

applied to commissioners and county staff, this resolution would expand

the code to include appointees to boards, commissions, or agencies, and

both part-time and non-paid individuals, as well as non-employees retained

to provide services for the county.

Among the county personnel

who would now be required to file financial disclosures are: commissioners'

non-clerical staff, deputy county Managers, all non-clerical staff reporting

directly to the county manager, judges, and non-clerical staff in the

purchasing, contract compliance, and equal employment opportunity departments.

The resolution would also change

the composition of the Ethics Board. Members formerly selected by the

Fulton County Employees Association and the County Personnel Board would

be replaced with a member of the clergy selected by the Board of Commissioners

and a practicing attorney selected by the chief judge of the Superior

Court.

The board would also meet monthly

instead of quarterly.

The county manager, deputy

county managers, department directors, deputy/assistant department directors,

and other employees who report directly to the Board of Commissioners

would be prohibited from holding outside employment without the written

consent of the Board of Ethics.

"The Board of Commissioners

has studied the Fulton County Code of Ethics for one year. I believe the

time has come when we must meet our responsibilities to Fulton County

taxpayers and employees in this important area. We have made extensive

use of the recently revised Atlanta Code of Ethics, developed by a citizens

group at the direction of Mayor Shirley Franklin. This group included

some of the most respected individuals in the field of Ethics Law in Metropolitan

Atlanta," said Commissioner Darnell.

"The County Manager and

County Attorney also reviewed Ethics Law from other similar governments.

The basic principle of government ethics legislation seems to be uncomplicated.

Government action must be based upon PUBLIC rather than personal interests.

I believe that the proposed resolution is a good statement of this principle."