Relates to the eligibility of individuals appointed to JCOPE

3 Co-sponsors

• Fredrick J. Akshar II
• Robert Ortt
• Susan Serino

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the eligibility of individuals appointed to JCOPE

Purpose

This bill expands the prohibition against certain individuals serving as members of JCOPE

Summary of specific provisions

Section one increases from three years to ten years, the prohibition against lobbyists, elected officials and commissioners serving as members of JCOPE. Further, this section expands the elected official prohibition to include any elected officials, as opposed to just covering state-wide elected officials. Additionally, this section increases the prohibition against legislative or state officers or employees, from one year to ten years.

Justification

After accepting public comment, the New York Ethics Review Commission issued a report and recommendations concerning JCOPE and the Legislative Ethics Commission on November 1, 2015. One of the complaints that was noted in their report was that members of the public felt strongly that current elected officials should be barred from serving on as a member of JCOPE. The Review Commission agreed and provided that current elected officials who are under the jurisdiction of JCOPE should be barred. This bill will accomplish that recommendation, by expanding the ban on statewide elected officials from serving to include all elected officials.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.