Georgia voters could elect to give the state's official ethics watchdog dedicated funding under a proposal from a state senator.

Sen. Joshua McKoon of Columbus has proposed changing the state constitution so Georgia's ethics commission would get less than 1 percent of total state funds. The Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission is funded by a fluctuating budget approved by state lawmakers. It's been hamstrung by a lack of staff and resources.

The Republican lawmaker also proposed amending the state constitution so the attorney general can convene grand juries to investigate public corruption.

Those amendments would need a two-thirds vote in each chamber of the General Assembly to pass. They would then require the approval of Georgia's voters.

Tags: Georgia General Assembly, ethics commission, ethics, Josh McKoon, 2013 general assembly, dedicated funding