Senate votes to require ethics panels for local governments

ATLANTA - The state Senate voted to require that local governments set up ethics panels to hear complaints filed by citizens against elected officials.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Kasim Reed, D-Atlanta, would also put in place new disclosure and training requirements for lobbyists.

The measure passed 46-0.

The legislation gives local governments flexibility in how they set up their oversight panels. They would have the authority to levy penalties of $1,000 per offense.