Requires the joint commission on public ethics to oversee the conduct of commission members in their interactions with certain public officials and public servants

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the joint commission on public ethics to oversee the conduct of commission members in their interactions with certain public officials and public servants

Purpose

This bill directs the joint commission on public ethics to develop internal guidelines that govern members' conduct and interaction with public officials and public servants.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one directs the joint commission on public ethics to develop internal guidelines that govern members' conduct and interaction with public officials and public servants. Further, this section requires that the guidelines be published on the commissions website.

Justification

After reviewing the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, the New York Ethics Review Commission issued a report and recommendations on November 1, 2015. One of the complaints that the Review Commission heard was that firewalls should be erected between JCOPE members and their appointing authorities. In their report, the Commission stated that they understand why the erection of firewalls was suggested, and that they believed that the suggestion would be best accomplished by JCOPE developing internal guidelines for JCOPE members' conduct in their interactions with public officials and public servants, with whom they come into contact in the course of their own public and professional lives, while at the same time having oversight of these same officials and public servants.

By directing JCOPE to issue guidelines, which are available for the public to review, we can help restore public trust in our government.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

No cost to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect the sixtieth day after it shall have become law.