What's happening
This bill prohibits New York state legislators from engaging in any paid outside work during their term in office.
Why it matters
Aims to reduce conflicts of interest. by ensuring legislators cannot be influenced by outside employers or clients while making legislative decisions.
Intends to professionalize legislative service. , signaling that being a state legislator is a full-time responsibility, which may increase accountability and focus on public duties.
Could broaden access to legislative office. for those who cannot afford to balance outside work, but may also deter candidates who rely on supplemental income, potentially affecting the diversity of representation.
Addresses public trust concerns. by attempting to eliminate the perception or reality of lawmakers personally profiting from their position while in office.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Legislator Side Jobs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4906
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. DIAZ, LATIMER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to prohibiting outside work by a legislator during the term of office
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 2-a to read as follows:
§ 2-a. Members prohibited from engaging in outside activity for remuneration while in office. No member of the legislature, either senate or assembly, shall engage in any outside activity for remuneration of any kind during his or her term of office.
§ 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07128-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to prohibiting outside work by a legislator during the term of office
Purpose or general idea of bill
Prohibits a member of the legislature from engaging in any outside paid activity during his or her term of office.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the Legislative Law by adding a new section 2-a. Prohibits members of the legislature from engaging in outside activity for remuneration during his or her term of office.
Existing law
None
Justification
How much transparency should be demanded by the people of their representatives? As long as we allow legislators to hold outside business interests, there is a potential that these outside business interests could one day cause a serious conflict of interest, or at least in the public's eye, the perception of one. This bill prohibits members of the legislature from engaging in any outside paid activity during their term of office. The public has a right to know that his or her Senator or Assemblyperson is not beholden to outside financial pressures. The best way to limit legislators' outside income is to eliminate it.
Prior legislative history
2016: AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 2015: DEFEATED IN INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 2014: S.384A - Amend and Recommit to Investigations & Government Operations 2013: S.384: Referred to Investigations & Government Operations 2012: S.284-A- Amend and recommit to Investigations & Government Oper- ations 2011: S.284 - Defeated in Investigations & Government Operations 2009-10: S.3149 - Referred to Investigations & Government Operations/A.4704 - Held for consideration in Governmental Operations
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
January 1, 2019
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.