What's happening
This bill requires Joint Commission on Public Ethics meetings to be open to the public, allows remote participation, and mandates recording of final votes.
Why it matters
Increases public oversight and transparency. by requiring all Joint Commission on Public Ethics meetings and proceedings to be open to the public, unless otherwise specified by law, allowing citizens and advocacy groups to observe and scrutinize the Commission’s actions.
Facilitates broader participation by commissioners. by allowing them to join meetings remotely from locations not open to the public, which could lead to greater attendance and input, while still ensuring at least one public-accessible meeting location.
Promotes accountability. by mandating that the Commission maintain an official record of each member’s final vote in every proceeding, making it easier to track individual commissioners’ decisions and hold them responsible for their actions.
Aligns with broader open government principles. by tying Commission meetings to the requirements of the state’s Open Meetings Law (article seven of the public officers law), reinforcing standards for transparency and public access in state ethics oversight.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Open Ethics Meetings Required
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Open Ethics Meetings Law
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Andrew J. Lanza
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1756
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, GALEF, DINOWITZ, MAYER, MOSLEY, McLAUGH- LIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BUCHWALD, COOK, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to meetings and proceedings of the joint commission on public ethics
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 19 of section 94 of the executive law, as amended by section 6 of part A of chapter 399 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(b) [Notwithstanding the provisions of article seven of the public officers law, no meeting or proceeding, including any such proceeding contemplated under paragraph (h) or (i) of subdivision nine of this section,] Meetings and proceedings of the commission shall be open to the public[, except if expressly provided otherwise by the commission or as is required by article one-A of the legislative law] pursuant to article seven of the public officers law. Notwithstanding the provisions of article seven of the public officers law, commissioners may participate in a meeting or proceeding of the commission, including voting, from a location not open to the general public to conduct the business of the commission, so long as one of the locations from which the meeting or proceeding is being conducted complies with the provisions of article seven of the public officers law. Such participation shall count towards quorum. Furthermore, the commission shall maintain a record of the final vote of each member in every proceeding of the commission in which the member votes.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06307-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.