Relates to certain activities by members of a board of a community college

2 Co-sponsors

• Eric Adams
• Antoine M. Thompson

Title of bill

An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to certain activities by members of a board of a community college

Purpose or general idea of bill

Under current law, community college boards of trustees are exempt from Section 73 of the Public Officers Law and the ban on gifts exceeding $75.00. This bill would make members of the boards of trustees of the state's community colleges adhere to the gift limit of Section 73.

Summary of specific provisions

The proposal would amend subparagraph 1(g) of Section 73 of the Public Officers Law and adds a new subparagraph (v) to §2 of Section 73 of the Public Officers Law to include, rather than exclude, members of a board of directors of a community college regardless of whether they receive compensation.

Justification

Over the past twenty years there have been many reforms to the Public Officers Law to restore the public's trust and confidence in government through the prevention of corruption, favoritism and undue influence. In 1987 the state passed the Ethics in Government act, and in 1996 it was updated to include community college employees, as well as senior college employees. Community college boards of trustees were not included in the gift ban at that time.

Community college boards of trustees, however, have a tremendous amount of oversight over their strategic and other plans for growth, in both academic and physical areas. They also create operational and capital outlay budgets that are typically multi-million dollar.

With the oversight of such large budgets and the contracts that are included within it, boards of trustees should abide by the Public Officers law gift ban so as to remove any perceived ethical issues or conflicts of interest.

Prior legislative history

2009: New

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.