What's happening
This bill requires New York's Joint Commission on Public Ethics to create and publish guidelines for commission members' interactions with public officials and servants.
Why it matters
Establishes Clear Standards. By mandating official guidelines for commission members’ interactions with public officials and servants, the bill aims to clarify what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate conduct, reducing ambiguity and potential conflicts of interest.
Adds Transparency. Publishing these guidelines on the commission’s website allows the public to see the standards to which commission members are held, supporting greater government transparency and public trust.
Addresses Both Professional and Private Interactions. The bill covers not just commission members’ official dealings but also their private contacts with public officials and servants, closing possible loopholes for behind-the-scenes influence or impropriety.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Watchdog for Ethics Commission
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 3
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Reported and committed to rules
- Referred to finance
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.
Oversee Ethics Commission Conduct
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
917
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 5, 2017
Introduced by Sens. CROCI, HANNON, ORTT, SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 9 of section 94 of the executive law is amended by adding a new paragraph (c-1) to read as follows:
(c-1) Adopt, amend and rescind internal guidelines governing commission members conduct in their interactions with public officials and public servants with whom they have contact, both professionally and privately. The guidelines shall be published on the website maintained by the commission.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01736-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the 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.
Section two provides that this act shall take effect sixty days after becoming law.
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
S.7633 of 2015/16: Referred to Finance
Fiscal implications
No cost to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect the sixtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.