In brief: Cigarettes and Clayton ethics ajc.com

Senate Rules Committee Chairman Don Balfour (R-Snellville) sponsored the bill after unsuccessful attempts the past two years. Unlike bills introduced in 2006 and 2007, Balfour said, tobacco industry lobbyists do not oppose this one. At first, I thought this was a stupid idea," he said Tuesday. But it will save lives." Balfour's bill is aimed at preventing house fires or deaths because smokers left cigarettes burning when they fell asleep.

Ethics bill for Clayton supported The state Senate voted 53-0 Tuesday in support of ethics legislation for Clayton County Schools - one of the mandates for the district to salvage its accreditation. House Bill 1302 calls for a panel of citizens to review ethics violations by school board members and then issue punishments, including fines and removal, said Larry O'Keeffe, a Morrow father who first pushed for the legislation.

Parents sought the legislation after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools recommended revocation of the district's accreditation because of unethical behavior by board members. SACS gave the district until Sept. 1 to meet nine mandates or lose accreditation. Gov. Sonny Perdue must sign the bill before the district can move forward.

Staff writers Ben Smith and Megan Matteucci contributed to this article.

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