HB1068: HB1068 Georgia Constituent Services Improvement and Accountability Act; enact

26 LC 28 0700 House Bill 1068 By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Schofield of the 63rd, and Scott of the 76th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapters 1 and 4 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating1 to general provisions regarding the General Assembly and legislative services, respectively, 2 so as to provide for additional office expense funding; to provide for additional funding for3 constituent services for members of the General Assembly; to pr ovide for the creation,4 staffing, funding, duties, and procedures for the Office of Constituent Services; to provide5 for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for related matters;6 to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Constituent Services Improvement10 and Accountability Act."11 SECTION 2.12 The General Assembly finds and expresses as the intent of this Act that:13 ( 1 ) T h e r e i s a n e e d f o r a f r a m e w o r k f o r c o n s t i t u e n t s e r v i c e s offices for the General14 Assembly as well as caucuses and delegations;15 H. B. 1068 - 1 - 26 LC 28 0700 (2) Constituent services management needs to be modernized thr ough the adoption and16 implementation of technology and funding increases; and17 (3) There is a need to promote transparency, accountability, a nd equitable access with18 regard to constituent services through the year.19 SECTION 3.20 Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to general21 provisions regarding the General Assembly, is amended by revising subsection (a) of Code22 Section 28-1-8, relating to salary and allowances of members and officers, as follows:23 "(a)(1) Each member of the General Assembly shall receive an annual salary, as provided24 for in Code Section 45-7-4, to be paid in equal monthly installments. Upon complying25 with the requirements of paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of Code Section 45-7-4, each26 member shall also be reimbursed for those actual expenses incurred in the performance27 of duties for which reimbursement is provided in paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of28 Code Section 45-7-4. The Speaker of the House of Representativ es, the Speaker Pro29 Tempore of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate30 shall receive an additional amount per annum as provided for in Code Section 45-7-4. 31 The majority leader, the minority leader, the administration floor leader, and the assistant32 administration floor leaders of the House of Representatives and the majority leader, the33 minority leader, the administration floor leader, and the assis tant administration floor34 leaders of the Senate shall each receive such additional amount per annum as shall be35 provided by resolution of the respective houses; but such amoun t for each shall not be36 greater than the additional amount provided by law for the Speaker Pro Tempore of the37 House of Representatives. All of such additional amounts shall also be paid in equal38 monthly installments.39 (2) In addition to the reimbursements for expenses for the per formance of duties40 provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section and paragraph (22) of subsection (a)41 H. B. 1068 - 2 - 26 LC 28 0700 of Code Section 45-7-4, each member shall receive at the beginn ing of such member's42 term of office an additional expense allowance of $7,000.00. Such funds shall be used43 by the member only for those purposes for which expense reimbursement is provided for44 in paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of Code Section 45-7-4. Each member shall maintain45 records documenting the use of such funds and shall make such records available to the 46 State Ethics Commission for review and audit at all times. The State Ethics Commission47 shall provide forms and procedures for the maintenance of such records and shall conduct48 annual audits of such records and may conduct random audits in the discretion of the49 State Ethics Commission of such records regarding the use of such funds. Not later than50 January 31 of each calendar year, each member of the General Assembly shall submit a51 report, which shall be public record, to the Legislative Servic es Committee and such52 report shall detail how the funds provided for in this paragrap h were used in the53 preceding calendar year and shall provide specific examples of constituent services54 improvements accomplished, in whole or in part, with such funds.55 (3) In addition to the funds specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, each56 member shall be authorized to direct an additional amount not to exceed $1,000.00 each57 calendar year for the purpose of funding, in whole or in part, the establishment and58 operation of delegation-wide constituent services offices. Such amounts may be pooled59 by delegations to maximize impact and efficiency. The State Ethics Commission shall60 provide forms and procedures for the maintenance of records regarding the use of such61 funds and shall conduct annual audits of such records and may conduct random audits in62 the discretion of the State Ethics Commission of such records regarding the use of such63 funds."64 H. B. 1068 - 3 - 26 LC 28 0700 SECTION 4.65 Chapter 4 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to general66 provisions regarding legislative services, is amended by revising Code Section 28-4-8, which67 is reserved, as follows:68 "28-4-8.69 (a) There is hereby created the Office of Constituent Services which shall exist for the70 purpose of providing centralized resources and support for caucuses and delegations in the71 General Assembly. Such office shall be established and constit uted in such form and72 manner as the Legislative Services Committee shall direct and shall be funded by annual73 appropriation by the General Assembly sufficient to fund its operations, including staffing,74 technology, and training programs. Such office shall operate o n a year-round basis to75 ensure consistent constituent engagement and assistance.76 (b) The Office of Constituent Services shall be headed by a di rector selected at the77 beginning of each odd-numbered year by the Legislative Services Committee. The office78 shall have such number of staff members as shall be determined by the Legislative Services79 Committee.80 (c) The Office of Constituent Services shall, subject to appropriation, select, obtain, and81 implement computer programs and software for the purpose of mod ernizing constituent82 services, including, but not limited to, correspondence, case m anagement, and data83 analytics. The Office of Constituent Services shall develop and conduct training programs84 in the use of such computer programs and software for members and members' staffs and85 regarding best practices for constituent engagement.86 (d) The Office of Constituent Services shall develop standardi zed procedures and best87 practices for constituent case management, communication, and event coordination. The88 Office of Constituent Services shall develop and conduct training programs regarding such89 best practices for constituent case management, communication, and event coordination.90 H. B. 1068 - 4 - 26 LC 28 0700 (e) The Office of Constituent Services shall develop guideline s for the use of the funds91 under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 28-1-8 which shall include, but not92 be limited to, approved activities, reporting requirements, and accountability measures.93 (f) The Office of Constituent Services shall coordinate the se tup and management of94 delegation-wide constituent services offices throughout the state and shall assist members95 in the planning and execution of constituent services programs.96 (g) The Office of Constituent Services shall publish an annual report not later than97 January 31 of each calendar year, which shall be a public record, summarizing the activities98 of the office for the immediately preceding calendar year, incl uding, but not limited to,99 support provided to delegations, training outcomes, and constituent impact metrics.100 (h) The Office of Constituent Services shall be fully operational as soon as possible, but101 not later than July 1, 2027. Reserved."102 SECTION 5.103 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law104 without such approval.105 SECTION 6.106 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.107 H. B. 1068 - 5 -