What's happening
This bill requires meetings of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics to be open to the public and allows remote participation by commissioners, with recorded votes.
Why it matters
Greater transparency and accountability. By mandating that commission meetings be open to the public and requiring a public record of each member's vote, the bill increases oversight and allows citizens and stakeholders to monitor the decision-making process more closely.
Enhanced flexibility for commissioners. The legislation permits commissioners to participate and vote remotely, making it easier for members to attend and contribute regardless of location, which could lead to better attendance and diverse perspectives in commission proceedings.
Potential impact on public trust. Opening up the commission’s proceedings and disclosing individual voting records may strengthen public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which plays a critical role in government oversight.
Balancing transparency with operational practicality. While the bill expands openness, it also recognizes the need for modern meeting practices (like remote participation), aiming to balance the public’s right to know with the realities of how contemporary government bodies function.
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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 Required
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Andrew J. Lanza
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
416
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, GALEF, DINOWITZ, MOSLEY, STECK -- 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.
LBD03716-01-9
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.