Bill Text: NY S07852 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Does away with the legislative ethics commission and transfers certain duties to the joint commission on public ethics.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-10-03 - REFERRED TO RULES [S07852 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-S07852-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 7852 I N S E N A T E October 3, 2012 ___________ Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules AN ACT to amend the executive law, the legislative law and the public officers law, in relation to doing away with the legislative ethics commission and transferring certain duties to the joint commission on public ethics; and to repeal article 5 of the legislative law, in relation to the legislative ethics commission THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Article 5 of the legislative law is REPEALED. 2 S 2. Section 94 of the executive law, as amended by section 6 of part 3 A of chapter 399 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows: 4 S 94. Joint commission on public ethics; functions, powers and duties; 5 review of financial disclosure statements; advisory opinions; investi- 6 gation and enforcement. 7 1. There is established within the department of state a joint commis- 8 sion on public ethics which shall consist of [fourteen] FIVE members and 9 shall have and exercise the powers and duties set forth in this section 10 with respect to statewide elected officials, members of the legislature 11 and employees of the legislature, and state officers and employees, as 12 defined in sections seventy-three and seventy-three-a of the public 13 officers law, candidates for statewide elected office and for the senate 14 or assembly, and the political party chairman as that term is defined in 15 section seventy-three-a of the public officers law, lobbyists and the 16 clients of lobbyists as such terms are defined in article one-A of the 17 legislative law, and individuals who have formerly held such positions, 18 were lobbyists or clients of lobbyists, as such terms are defined in 19 article one-A of the legislative law, or who have formerly been such 20 candidates. This section shall not be deemed to have revoked or rescind- 21 ed any regulations or advisory opinions issued by the FORMER legislative 22 ethics commission, the FORMER commission on public integrity, the state 23 ethics commission and the temporary lobbying commission in effect upon 24 the effective date of chapter fourteen of the laws of two thousand seven 25 which amended this section to the extent that such regulations or opin- EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD16534-02-2 S. 7852 2 1 ions are not inconsistent with any law of the state of New York, but 2 such regulations and opinions shall apply only to matters over which 3 such commissions had jurisdiction at the time such regulations and opin- 4 ions were promulgated or issued. The commission shall undertake a 5 comprehensive review of all such regulations and opinions, which will 6 address the consistency of such regulations and opinions among each 7 other and with the new statutory language, and of the effectiveness of 8 the existing laws, regulations, guidance and ethics enforcement struc- 9 ture to address the ethics of covered public officials and related 10 parties. [Such review shall be conducted with the legislative ethics 11 commission and, to the extent possible, the report's findings shall 12 reflect the full input and deliberations of both commissions after joint 13 consultation.] The commission shall, before February first, two thousand 14 fifteen, report to the governor and legislature regarding such review 15 and shall propose any regulatory or statutory changes and issue any 16 advisory opinions necessitated by such review. 17 2. The members of the commission shall be appointed [as follows: three 18 members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, 19 three members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one 20 member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, one 21 member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly, and 22 six members shall be appointed] by the governor [and the lieutenant 23 governor. In the event that a vacancy arises with respect to a member of 24 the commission first appointed pursuant to the chapter of the laws of 25 two thousand eleven which amended this subdivision by a legislative 26 leader, the legislative leaders of the same political party in the same 27 house shall appoint a member to fill such vacancy irrespective of wheth- 28 er that legislative leader's political party is in the majority or 29 minority. Of the members appointed by the governor and the lieutenant 30 governor, at least three members shall be and shall have been for at 31 least three years enrolled members of the major political party in which 32 the governor is not enrolled. In the event of a vacancy in a position 33 previously appointed by the governor and lieutenant governor, the gover- 34 nor and lieutenant governor shall appoint a member of the same political 35 party as the member that vacated that position. Prior to making their 36 respective appointments, the governor and the lieutenant governor and 37 the legislative leaders shall solicit and receive recommendations for 38 appointees from the attorney general and the comptroller of the state of 39 New York, which recommendations shall be fully and properly considered 40 but shall not be binding] WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE LEGISLA- 41 TURE, WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL AFFILIATION, FROM THE LIST PROVIDED BY 42 THE NOMINATING PANEL AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO-A OF THIS SECTION. 43 No individual shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the 44 commission who currently or within the last three years: 45 (i) is or has been registered as a lobbyist in New York state; 46 (ii) is or has been a member of the New York state legislature or a 47 statewide elected official or a commissioner of an executive agency 48 appointed by the governor; or 49 (iii) is or has been a political party chairman, as defined in para- 50 graph (k) of subdivision one of section seventy-three of [this article] 51 THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW. 52 No individual shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the 53 commission who currently or within the last year is or has been a state 54 officer or employee or legislative employee as defined in section seven- 55 ty-three of the public officers law. S. 7852 3 1 2-A. (A) THE GOVERNOR SHALL CREATE A NOMINATING PANEL COMPOSED OF 2 THREE MEMBERS WHOSE SOLE FUNCTION SHALL BE TO NOMINATE PERSONS FOR 3 CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNOR FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMISSION. REPRE- 4 SENTATION ON THE PANEL AND THE SELECTION OF SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE AS 5 FOLLOWS: ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEALS OR 6 HIS OR HER DESIGNEE; ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK 7 STATE BAR ASSOCIATION OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE; AND ONE MEMBER SHALL BE 8 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, COMMON CAUSE, OR 9 HIS OR HER DESIGNEE. 10 3. Members of the commission shall serve for terms of five years; 11 provided, however, that of the members first appointed by the governor 12 [and lieutenant governor], one shall serve for one year, one shall serve 13 for two years, one shall serve for three years, and one shall serve for 14 four years, as designated by the governor[; the members first appointed 15 by the temporary president of the senate and by the speaker of the 16 assembly shall serve for four years and the members first appointed by 17 the minority leaders of the senate and the assembly shall serve for two 18 years]. 19 4. The governor shall designate the chairman of the commission from 20 among the members thereof, who shall serve as chairman at the pleasure 21 of the governor. The chairman or any [eight] THREE members of the 22 commission may call a meeting. 23 5. Any vacancy occurring on the commission shall be filled within 24 thirty days of its occurrence in the same manner as the member whose 25 vacancy is being filled was appointed. A person appointed to fill a 26 vacancy occurring other than by expiration of a term of office shall be 27 appointed for the unexpired term of the member he or she succeeds. 28 6. [Eight] THREE members of the commission shall constitute a quorum, 29 and the commission shall have power to act by majority vote of the total 30 number of members of the commission without vacancy except where the 31 commission acts pursuant to subdivision thirteen, subdivision fourteen-a 32 or subdivision fourteen-b of this section. 33 7. Members of the commission may be removed by the [appointing author- 34 ity] GOVERNOR solely for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct 35 in office, violation of the confidentiality restrictions in subdivision 36 nine-a of this section, inability to discharge the powers or duties of 37 office or violation of this section, after written notice and opportu- 38 nity for a reply. 39 8. The members of the joint commission shall receive a per diem allow- 40 ance in the sum of three hundred dollars for each day actually spent in 41 the performance of his or her duties under this article, and, in addi- 42 tion thereto, shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses actually 43 and necessarily incurred by him or her in the performance of his or her 44 duties under this article. 45 9. The commission shall: 46 (a) Appoint an executive director who shall act in accordance with the 47 policies of the commission. The appointment and removal of the executive 48 director shall be made solely by a vote of a majority of the commis- 49 sion[, which majority shall include at least one member appointed by the 50 governor from each of the two major political parties, and one member 51 appointed by a legislative leader from each of the two major political 52 parties]. The commission may delegate authority to the executive direc- 53 tor to act in the name of the commission between meetings of the commis- 54 sion provided such delegation is in writing, the specific powers to be 55 delegated are enumerated, and the commission shall not delegate any 56 decisions specified in this section that require a vote of the commis- S. 7852 4 1 sion. The executive director shall be appointed without regard to poli- 2 tical affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the 3 duties assigned by this article, and shall be a qualified, independent 4 professional. The commission may remove the executive director for 5 neglect of duty, misconduct in office, violation of the confidentiality 6 restrictions in subdivision nine-a of this section, or inability or 7 failure to discharge the powers or duties of office, including the fail- 8 ure to follow the lawful instructions of the commission; 9 (b) Appoint such other staff as are necessary to carry out its duties 10 under this section; 11 (b-1) Review and approve a staffing plan provided and prepared by the 12 executive director which shall contain, at a minimum, a list of the 13 various units and divisions as well as the number of positions in each 14 unit, titles and their duties, and salaries, as well as the various 15 qualifications for each position including, but not limited to, educa- 16 tion and prior experience for each position[.]; 17 (c) Adopt, amend, and rescind rules and regulations to govern proce- 18 dures of the commission, which shall include, but not be limited to, the 19 procedure whereby a person who is required to file an annual financial 20 disclosure statement with the commission may request an additional peri- 21 od of time within which to file such statement, [other than members of 22 the legislature, candidates for members of the legislature and legisla- 23 tive employees,] due to justifiable cause or undue hardship; such rules 24 or regulations shall provide for a date beyond which in all cases of 25 justifiable cause or undue hardship no further extension of time will be 26 granted; 27 (d) Adopt, amend, and rescind rules and regulations to assist appoint- 28 ing authorities in determining which persons hold policy-making posi- 29 tions for purposes of section seventy-three-a of the public officers law 30 AND MAY PROMULGATE GUIDELINES TO ASSIST FIRMS, ASSOCIATIONS AND CORPO- 31 RATIONS IN SEPARATING AFFECTED PERSONS FROM NET REVENUES FOR PURPOSES OF 32 SUBDIVISION TEN OF SECTION SEVENTY-THREE OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, AND 33 PROMULGATE GUIDELINES TO ASSIST ANY FIRM, ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION IN 34 WHICH ANY PRESENT OR FORMER STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL, STATE OFFICER OR 35 EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE OR LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE, OR POLI- 36 TICAL PARTY CHAIRMAN IS A MEMBER, ASSOCIATE, RETIRED MEMBER OF COUNSEL 37 OR SHAREHOLDER, IN COMPLYING WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION TEN OF 38 SECTION SEVENTY-THREE OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW WITH RESPECT TO THE 39 SEPARATION OF SUCH PRESENT OR FORMER STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL, STATE 40 OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE OR LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE, 41 OR POLITICAL PARTY CHAIRMAN FROM THE NET REVENUES OF THE FIRM, ASSOCI- 42 ATION OR CORPORATION. SUCH FIRM, ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION SHALL NOT BE 43 REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE GUIDELINES TO ESTAB- 44 LISH COMPLIANCE WITH SUBDIVISION TEN OF SECTION SEVENTY-THREE OF THE 45 PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, BUT IF SUCH FIRM, ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION DOES 46 ADOPT SUCH PROCEDURES, IT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH 47 SUBDIVISION TEN; 48 (d-1) Adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations defining the 49 permissible use of and promoting the proper use of public service 50 announcements; 51 (e) Make available forms for annual statements of financial disclosure 52 required to be filed pursuant to SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION 53 SEVENTY-THREE AND section seventy-three-a of the public officers law; 54 (f) Review financial disclosure statements in accordance with the 55 provisions of this section, provided however, that the commission may 56 delegate all or part of this review function to the executive director S. 7852 5 1 who shall be responsible for completing staff review of such statements 2 in a manner consistent with the terms of the commission's delegation; 3 (g) Receive complaints and referrals alleging violations of section 4 seventy-three, seventy-three-a or seventy-four of the public officers 5 law, article one-A of the legislative law or section one hundred seven 6 of the civil service law; 7 (h) Permit any person who is required to file a financial disclosure 8 statement with the [joint] commission [on public ethics] to request that 9 the commission delete from the copy thereof made available for public 10 inspection and copying one or more items of information which may be 11 deleted by the commission upon a finding by the commission that the 12 information which would otherwise be required to be made available for 13 public inspection and copying will have no material bearing on the 14 discharge of the reporting person's official duties. If such request for 15 deletion is denied, the commission, in its notification of denial, shall 16 inform the person of his or her right to appeal the commission's deter- 17 mination pursuant to its rules governing adjudicatory proceedings and 18 appeals adopted pursuant to subdivision fourteen of this section; 19 (i) Permit any person who is required to file a financial disclosure 20 statement with the [joint] commission [on public ethics] to request an 21 exemption from any requirement to report one or more items of informa- 22 tion which pertain to such person's spouse or unemancipated children 23 which item or items may be exempted by the commission upon a finding by 24 the commission that the reporting individual's spouse, on his or her own 25 behalf or on behalf of an unemancipated child, objects to providing the 26 information necessary to make such disclosure and that the information 27 which would otherwise be required to be reported will have no material 28 bearing on the discharge of the reporting person's official duties. If 29 such request for exemption is denied, the commission, in its notifica- 30 tion of denial, shall inform the person of his or her right to appeal 31 the commission's determination pursuant to its rules governing adjudica- 32 tory proceedings and appeals adopted pursuant to subdivision fourteen of 33 this section; 34 (i-1) Permit any person required to file a financial disclosure state- 35 ment to request an exemption from any requirement to report the identity 36 of a client pursuant to question 8(b) in such statement based upon an 37 exemption set forth in that question. The reporting individual need not 38 seek an exemption to refrain from disclosing the identity of any client 39 with respect to any matter he or she or his or her firm provided legal 40 representation to the client in connection with an investigation or 41 prosecution by law enforcement authorities, bankruptcy, or domestic 42 relations matters; in addition, clients or customers receiving medical 43 or dental services, mental health services, residential real estate 44 brokering services, or insurance brokering services need not be 45 disclosed[.]; 46 (j) Advise and assist any state agency in establishing rules and regu- 47 lations relating to possible conflicts between private interests and 48 official duties of present or former statewide elected officials and 49 state officers and employees; 50 (k) Permit any person who has not been determined by his or her 51 appointing authority to hold a policy-making position but who is other- 52 wise required to file a financial disclosure statement to request an 53 exemption from such requirement in accordance with rules and regulations 54 governing such exemptions. Such rules and regulations shall provide for 55 exemptions to be granted either on the application of an individual or 56 on behalf of persons who share the same job title or employment classi- S. 7852 6 1 fication which the commission deems to be comparable for purposes of 2 this section. Such rules and regulations may permit the granting of an 3 exemption where, in the discretion of the commission, the public inter- 4 est does not require disclosure and the applicant's duties do not 5 involve the negotiation, authorization or approval of: 6 (i) contracts, leases, franchises, revocable consents, concessions, 7 variances, special permits, or licenses as defined in section seventy- 8 three of the public officers law; 9 (ii) the purchase, sale, rental or lease of real property, goods or 10 services, or a contract therefor; 11 (iii) the obtaining of grants of money or loans; or 12 (iv) the adoption or repeal of any rule or regulation having the force 13 and effect of law; 14 (l) Prepare an annual report to the governor and legislature summariz- 15 ing the activities of the commission during the previous year and recom- 16 mending any changes in the laws governing the conduct of persons subject 17 to the jurisdiction of the commission, or the rules, regulations and 18 procedures governing the commission's conduct. Such report shall 19 include: (i) a listing by assigned number of each complaint and referral 20 received which alleged a possible violation within its jurisdiction, 21 including the current status of each complaint, and (ii) where a matter 22 has been resolved, the date and nature of the disposition and any sanc- 23 tion imposed, subject to the confidentiality requirements of this 24 section, provided, however, that such annual report shall not contain 25 any information for which disclosure is not permitted pursuant to subdi- 26 vision nineteen of this section; 27 (m) Determine a question common to a class or defined category of 28 persons or items of information required to be disclosed, where determi- 29 nation of the question will prevent undue repetition of requests for 30 exemption or deletion or prevent undue complication in complying with 31 the requirements of such section; and 32 (n) Promulgate guidelines for the commission to conduct a program of 33 random reviews, to be carried out in the following manner: (i) annual 34 statements of financial disclosure shall be selected for review in a 35 manner pursuant to which the identity of any particular person whose 36 statement is selected is unknown to the commission and its staff prior 37 to its selection; (ii) such review shall include a preliminary examina- 38 tion of the selected statement for internal consistency, a comparison 39 with other records maintained by the commission, including previously 40 filed statements and requests for advisory opinions, and examination of 41 relevant public information; (iii) upon completion of the preliminary 42 examination, the commission shall determine whether further inquiry is 43 warranted, whereupon it shall notify the reporting individual in writing 44 that the statement is under review, advise the reporting individual of 45 the specific areas of inquiry, and provide the reporting individual with 46 the opportunity to provide any relevant information related to the 47 specific areas of inquiry, and the opportunity to file amendments to the 48 selected statement on forms provided by the commission; and (iv) if 49 thereafter sufficient cause exists, the commission shall take additional 50 actions, as appropriate and consistent with law. 51 9-a. (a) When an individual becomes a commissioner or staff of the 52 commission, that individual shall be required to sign a non-disclosure 53 statement. 54 (b) Except as otherwise required or provided by law, testimony 55 received or any other information obtained by a commissioner or staff of 56 the commission shall not be disclosed by any such individual to any S. 7852 7 1 person or entity outside the commission during the pendency of any 2 matter. Any confidential communication to any person or entity outside 3 the commission related to the matters before the commission may occur 4 only as authorized by the commission. 5 (c) The commission shall establish procedures necessary to prevent the 6 unauthorized disclosure of any information received by any member of the 7 commission or staff of the commission. Any breaches of confidentiality 8 shall be investigated by the inspector general and appropriate action 9 shall be taken. Any commissioner or person employed by the commission 10 who intentionally and without authorization releases confidential infor- 11 mation received by the commission shall be guilty of a class A misdemea- 12 nor. 13 9-b. During the period of his or her service as a commissioner of the 14 commission, each commissioner shall refrain from making, or soliciting 15 from other persons, any contributions to candidates for election to the 16 offices of governor, lieutenant governor, member of the assembly or the 17 senate, attorney general or state comptroller. 18 10. The commission shall prepare materials and design and administer 19 an ethics training program for individuals subject to the financial 20 disclosure requirements of section seventy-three-a of the public offi- 21 cers law with respect to the provisions of sections seventy-three, 22 seventy-three-a, and seventy-four of the public officers law and any 23 other law, administrative regulation, or internal policy that is of 24 relevance to the ethical conduct of such individuals in public service, 25 as follows: 26 (a) The commission shall develop and administer a comprehensive ethics 27 training course and shall designate and train instructors to conduct 28 such training. Such course shall be designed as a two-hour program and 29 shall include practical application of the material covered and a ques- 30 tion-and-answer participatory segment. Unless the commission grants an 31 extension or waiver for good cause shown, all individuals subject to the 32 financial disclosure requirements of section seventy-three-a of the 33 public officers law shall complete such course within two years of the 34 effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand eleven which 35 amended this section, or for those individuals elected or appointed 36 after the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand 37 eleven which amended this section, within two years of becoming subject 38 to the financial disclosure requirements of section seventy-three-a of 39 the public officers law. 40 (b) The commission shall develop and administer an online ethics 41 orientation course and shall notify all individuals newly subject to the 42 financial disclosure requirements of section seventy-three-a of the 43 public officers law of such course, which shall be completed by such 44 individuals within three months of becoming subject to such require- 45 ments, unless the commission grants an extension or waiver for good 46 cause shown. Individuals who have completed the comprehensive ethics 47 training course shall not be required to complete the online ethics 48 orientation course. 49 (c) The commission shall develop and administer an ethics seminar or 50 ethics seminars for individuals who have previously completed the 51 comprehensive ethics training course. Such seminars shall be designed as 52 ninety-minute programs and shall include any changes in law, regulation, 53 or policy or in the interpretation thereof, practical application of the 54 material covered, and a question-and-answer segment. Unless the commis- 55 sion grants an extension or waiver for good cause shown, such individ- 56 uals shall be scheduled to attend a seminar at least once every three S. 7852 8 1 years after having completed the comprehensive ethics training course. 2 In lieu of attending an ethics seminar, such individuals may complete a 3 subsequent comprehensive ethics training program. 4 (d) The provisions of this subdivision shall be applicable to the 5 legislature except to the extent that an ethics training program is 6 otherwise established by the assembly or senate for their respective 7 members and employees and such program meets or exceeds each of the 8 requirements set forth in this section. 9 (e) On an annual basis, the joint commission [in coordination with the 10 legislative ethics commission] shall determine the status of compliance 11 with these training requirements by each state agency and by the senate 12 and the assembly. Such determination shall include aggregate statistics 13 regarding participation in such training, and shall be reported to the 14 governor and the legislature in writing. 15 10-A. THE COMMISSION SHALL DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TRAINING 16 WITH REGARD TO LEGISLATIVE ETHICS FOR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND 17 LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES INCLUDING AN ONLINE ETHICS ORIENTATION COURSE FOR 18 NEWLY-HIRED EMPLOYEES AND, AS REQUESTED BY THE SENATE OR THE ASSEMBLY, 19 MATERIALS AND TRAINING IN RELATION TO A COMPREHENSIVE ETHICS TRAINING 20 PROGRAM. 21 11. The commission, or the executive director and staff of the commis- 22 sion if responsibility therefor has been delegated, shall inspect all 23 financial disclosure statements filed with the commission to ascertain 24 whether any person subject to the reporting requirements of section 25 seventy-three-a of the public officers law has failed to file such a 26 statement, has filed a deficient statement or has filed a statement 27 which reveals a possible violation of section seventy-three, seventy- 28 three-a or seventy-four of the public officers law. 29 12. If a person required to file a financial disclosure statement with 30 the commission has failed to file a disclosure statement or has filed a 31 deficient statement, the commission shall notify the reporting person in 32 writing, state the failure to file or detail the deficiency, provide the 33 person with a fifteen day period to cure the deficiency, and advise the 34 person of the penalties for failure to comply with the reporting 35 requirements. Such notice shall be confidential. If the person fails to 36 make such filing or fails to cure the deficiency within the specified 37 time period, the commission shall send a notice of delinquency: (a) to 38 the reporting person; (b) in the case of a statewide elected official, 39 member of the legislature, or a legislative employee, to the temporary 40 president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly; and (c) in the 41 case of a state officer or employee, to the appointing authority for 42 such person. Such notice of delinquency may be sent at any time during 43 the reporting person's service as a statewide elected official, state 44 officer or employee, member of the assembly or the senate, or a legisla- 45 tive employee or a political party chair or while a candidate for state- 46 wide office, or within one year after termination of such service or 47 candidacy. 48 12-A. The jurisdiction of the commission, when acting pursuant to 49 [subdivision fourteen of] this section [with respect to financial 50 disclosure], shall continue notwithstanding that the [reporting] person 51 separates from state service, or ceases to hold public or political 52 party office, or ceases to be a candidate, provided the commission noti- 53 fies such person of the alleged [failure to file or deficient filing 54 pursuant to this subdivision] VIOLATION OF LAW WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM HIS 55 OR HER SEPARATION FROM STATE SERVICE, THE TERMINATION FROM HIS OR HER 56 OFFICE OR THE TERMINATION OF HIS OR HER CANDIDACY. S. 7852 9 1 13. (a) Investigations. If the commission receives a sworn complaint 2 alleging a violation of section seventy-three, seventy-three-a, or 3 seventy-four of the public officers law, section one hundred seven of 4 the civil service law or article one-A of the legislative law by a 5 person or entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commission including 6 members of the legislature and legislative employees and candidates for 7 member of the legislature, or if a reporting individual has filed a 8 statement which reveals a possible violation of these provisions, or if 9 the commission determines on its own initiative to investigate a possi- 10 ble violation, the commission shall notify the individual in writing, 11 describe the possible or alleged violation of such laws and provide the 12 person with a fifteen day period in which to submit a written response 13 setting forth information relating to the activities cited as a possible 14 or alleged violation of law. The commission shall, within forty-five 15 calendar days after a complaint or a referral is received or an investi- 16 gation is initiated on the commission's own initiative, vote on whether 17 to commence a full investigation of the matter under consideration to 18 determine whether a substantial basis exists to conclude that a 19 violation of law has occurred. The staff of the joint commission shall 20 provide to the members prior to such vote information regarding the 21 likely scope and content of the investigation, and a subpoena plan, to 22 the extent such information is available. Such investigation shall be 23 conducted if at least [eight] THREE members of the commission vote to 24 authorize it. [Where the subject of such investigation is a member of 25 the legislature or a legislative employee or a candidate for member of 26 the legislature, at least two of the eight or more members who so vote 27 to authorize such an investigation must have been appointed by a legis- 28 lative leader or leaders from the major political party in which the 29 subject of the proposed investigation is enrolled if such person is 30 enrolled in a major political party. Where the subject of such investi- 31 gation is a state officer or state employee, at least two of the eight 32 or more members who so vote to authorize such an investigation must have 33 been appointed by the governor and lieutenant governor. Where the 34 subject of such investigation is a statewide elected official or a 35 direct appointee of such an official, at least two of the eight or more 36 members who so vote to authorize such an investigation must have been 37 appointed by the governor and lieutenant governor and be enrolled in the 38 major political party in which the subject of the proposed investigation 39 is enrolled, if such person is enrolled in a major political party.] 40 (b) Substantial basis investigation. Upon the affirmative vote of not 41 less than [eight] THREE commission members to commence a substantial 42 basis investigation, written notice of the commission's decision shall 43 be provided to the individual who is the subject of such substantial 44 basis investigation. Such written notice shall include a copy of the 45 commission's rules and procedures and shall also include notification of 46 such individual's right to be heard within thirty calendar days of the 47 date of the commission's written notice. The commission shall also 48 inform the individual of its rules regarding the conduct of adjudicatory 49 proceedings and appeals and the other due process procedural mechanisms 50 available to such individual. If the commission determines at any stage 51 that there is no violation or that any potential conflict of interest 52 violation has been rectified, it shall so advise the individual and the 53 complainant, if any. All of the foregoing proceedings shall be confiden- 54 tial. 55 (c) The jurisdiction of the commission when acting pursuant to this 56 section shall continue notwithstanding that a statewide elected official S. 7852 10 1 or a state officer or employee or member of the legislature or legisla- 2 tive employee separates from state service, or a political party chair 3 ceases to hold such office, or a candidate ceases to be a candidate, or 4 a lobbyist or client of a lobbyist ceases to act as such, provided that 5 the commission notifies such individual or entity of the alleged 6 violation of law pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision within 7 one year from his or her separation from state service or his or her 8 termination of party service or candidacy, or from his, her or its last 9 report filed pursuant to article one-A of the legislative law. Nothing 10 in this section shall serve to limit the jurisdiction of the commission 11 in enforcement of subdivision eight of section seventy-three of the 12 public officers law. 13 14. An individual subject to the jurisdiction of the commission who 14 knowingly and intentionally violates the provisions of subdivisions two 15 through five-a, seven, eight, twelve or fourteen through seventeen of 16 section seventy-three of the public officers law, section one hundred 17 seven of the civil service law, or a reporting individual who knowingly 18 and wilfully fails to file an annual statement of financial disclosure 19 or who knowingly and wilfully with intent to deceive makes a false 20 statement or fraudulent omission or gives information which such indi- 21 vidual knows to be false on such statement of financial disclosure filed 22 pursuant to section seventy-three-a of the public officers law shall be 23 subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed forty thousand 24 dollars and the value of any gift, compensation or benefit received as a 25 result of such violation. An individual who knowingly and intentionally 26 violates the provisions of paragraph a, b, c, d, e, g, or i of subdivi- 27 sion three of section seventy-four of the public officers law shall be 28 subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed ten thousand 29 dollars and the value of any gift, compensation or benefit received as a 30 result of such violation. An individual subject to the jurisdiction of 31 the commission who knowingly and willfully violates article one-A of the 32 legislative law shall be subject to civil penalty as provided for in 33 that article. [Except with respect to members of the legislature and 34 legislative employees, assessment] ASSESSMENT of a civil penalty here- 35 under shall be made by the commission with respect to persons subject to 36 its jurisdiction. With respect to a violation of any law other than 37 sections seventy-three, seventy-three-a, and seventy-four of the public 38 officers law, where the commission finds sufficient cause by a vote held 39 in the same manner as set forth in paragraph (b) of subdivision thirteen 40 of this section, it shall refer such matter to the appropriate prosecu- 41 tor for further investigation. In assessing the amount of the civil 42 penalties to be imposed, the commission shall consider the seriousness 43 of the violation, the amount of gain to the individual and whether the 44 individual previously had any civil or criminal penalties imposed pursu- 45 ant to this section, and any other factors the commission deems appro- 46 priate. [Except with respect to members of the legislature and legisla- 47 tive employees, for] FOR a violation of this subdivision, other than for 48 conduct which constitutes a violation of section one hundred seven of 49 the civil service law, subdivisions twelve or fourteen through seventeen 50 of section seventy-three or section seventy-four of the public officers 51 law or article one-A of the legislative law, the commission may, in lieu 52 of or in addition to a civil penalty, refer a violation to the appropri- 53 ate prosecutor and upon such conviction, such violation shall be punish- 54 able as a class A misdemeanor. A civil penalty for false filing may not 55 be imposed hereunder in the event a category of "value" or "amount" 56 reported hereunder is incorrect unless such reported information is S. 7852 11 1 falsely understated. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 2 contrary, no other penalty, civil or criminal may be imposed for a fail- 3 ure to file, or for a false filing, of such statement, or a violation of 4 subdivision six of section seventy-three of the public officers law, 5 except that the appointing authority may impose disciplinary action as 6 otherwise provided by law. The commission may refer violations of this 7 subdivision to the appointing authority for disciplinary action as 8 otherwise provided by law. The commission shall be deemed to be an agen- 9 cy within the meaning of article three of the state administrative 10 procedure act and shall adopt rules governing the conduct of adjudicato- 11 ry proceedings and appeals taken pursuant to a proceeding commenced 12 under article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules relating 13 to the assessment of the civil penalties herein authorized and commis- 14 sion denials of requests for certain deletions or exemptions to be made 15 from a financial disclosure statement as authorized in paragraph (h) or 16 paragraph (i) of subdivision nine of this section. Such rules, which 17 shall not be subject to the approval requirements of the state adminis- 18 trative procedure act, shall provide for due process procedural mech- 19 anisms substantially similar to those set forth in article three of the 20 state administrative procedure act but such mechanisms need not be iden- 21 tical in terms or scope. Assessment of a civil penalty or commission 22 denial of such a request shall be final unless modified, suspended or 23 vacated within thirty days of imposition, with respect to the assessment 24 of such penalty, or unless such denial of request is reversed within 25 such time period, and upon becoming final shall be subject to review at 26 the instance of the affected reporting individuals in a proceeding 27 commenced against the commission, pursuant to article seventy-eight of 28 the civil practice law and rules. 29 14-a. [The joint commission on public ethics shall have jurisdiction 30 to investigate, but shall have no jurisdiction to impose penalties upon 31 members of or candidates for member of the legislature or legislative 32 employees for any violation of the public officers law.] If, after its 33 substantial basis investigation, by a vote of at least [eight] THREE 34 members, [two of whom are enrolled members of the investigated individ- 35 ual's political party if the individual is enrolled in a major political 36 party and were appointed by a legislative leader of such political 37 party,] the joint commission on public ethics has found a substantial 38 basis to conclude that a member of the legislature or a legislative 39 employee or candidate for member of the legislature has violated any 40 provisions of such laws, it shall [present] PREPARE a written report [to 41 the legislative ethics commission,] and deliver a copy of the report to 42 the individual who is the subject of the report. Such written report 43 shall include: 44 (a) the commission's findings of fact and any evidence addressed in 45 such findings; conclusions of law and citations to any relevant law, 46 rule, opinion, regulation or standard of conduct upon which it relied; 47 and 48 (b) a determination that a substantial basis exists to conclude that a 49 violation has occurred, and the reasons and basis for such determi- 50 nation. 51 [The joint commission shall also separately provide to the legislative 52 ethics commission copies of additional documents or other evidence 53 considered including evidence that may contradict the joint commission's 54 findings, the names of and other information regarding any additional 55 witnesses, and any other materials.] With respect to a violation of any 56 law other than sections seventy-three, seventy-three-a, and seventy-four S. 7852 12 1 of the public officers law, where the joint commission finds sufficient 2 cause by a vote held in the same manner as set forth in paragraph (b) of 3 subdivision thirteen of this section, it shall refer such matter to the 4 appropriate prosecutor. 5 14-b. [With respect to the investigation of any individual who is not 6 a member of the legislature or a legislative employee or candidate for 7 member of the legislature, if after its investigation the joint commis- 8 sion has found a substantial basis to conclude that the individual has 9 violated the public officers law or the legislative law, the joint 10 commission shall send a substantial basis investigation report contain- 11 ing its findings of fact and conclusions of law to the individual. With 12 respect to an individual who is a statewide elected official or a direct 13 appointee of such an official, no violation may be found unless the 14 majority voting in support of such a finding includes at least two 15 members appointed by the governor and lieutenant governor and enrolled 16 in the individual's major political party, if he or she is enrolled in a 17 major political party. Where the subject of such investigation is a 18 state officer or employee who is not a direct appointee of a statewide 19 elected official, at least two of the eight or more members who vote to 20 issue a substantial basis investigation report must have been appointed 21 by the governor and lieutenant governor. The commission shall release 22 such report publicly within forty-five days of its issuance. 23 14-c. With respect to an investigation of a lobbyist, if after its 24 investigation the joint commission has found a substantial basis to 25 conclude that the lobbyist has violated the legislative law, the joint 26 commission shall issue a substantial basis investigation report contain- 27 ing its findings of fact and conclusions of law to the lobbyist and 28 shall make public such report within forty-five days of its issuance.] 29 NOT LATER THAN FORTY-FIVE CALENDAR DAYS AFTER PREPARATION BY THE COMMIS- 30 SION OF A WRITTEN SUBSTANTIAL BASIS INVESTIGATION REPORT AND ANY 31 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER MATERIALS REGARDING A MATTER BEFORE 32 THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, UNLESS REQUESTED BY A LAW 33 ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO SUSPEND THE COMMISSION'S ACTION BECAUSE OF AN 34 ONGOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, THE COMMISSION SHALL MAKE PUBLIC SUCH 35 REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE COMMISSION MAY WITH- 36 HOLD SUCH INFORMATION FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF THE 37 SAME DURATION AND, IF DEEMED NECESSARY, CONDUCT ADDITIONAL INVESTI- 38 GATION, IN WHICH CASE THE COMMISSION SHALL, UPON THE TERMINATION OF SUCH 39 ADDITIONAL PERIOD OR UPON PREPARATION OF A NEW REPORT AFTER SUCH ADDI- 40 TIONAL INVESTIGATION, MAKE PUBLIC THE WRITTEN REPORT AND PUBLISH IT ON 41 THE COMMISSION'S WEBSITE. THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT CONDUCT ADDITIONAL 42 INVESTIGATION MORE THAN ONCE. IF THE COMMISSION CONDUCTS ADDITIONAL 43 FACT-FINDING, THE COMMISSION'S ORIGINAL REPORT SHALL REMAIN CONFIDEN- 44 TIAL. 45 14-C. THE COMMISSION SHALL REVIEW THE MATTER ADDRESSED IN A WRITTEN 46 SUBSTANTIAL BASIS INVESTIGATION REPORT. NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER 47 FINAL PREPARATION OF SUCH REPORT, THE COMMISSION SHALL DISPOSE OF THE 48 MATTER BY MAKING ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS: 49 A. WHETHER THE COMMISSION ADOPTS THE FINAL CONTENT OF SUCH A REPORT; 50 B. WHETHER AND WHICH PENALTIES HAVE BEEN ASSESSED PURSUANT TO APPLICA- 51 BLE LAW OR RULE AND THE REASONS THEREFOR; AND 52 C. WHETHER FURTHER ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION TO PUNISH 53 OR DETER THE MISCONDUCT AT ISSUE AND THE REASONS THEREFOR. 54 THE COMMISSION'S DISPOSITION SHALL BE REPORTED IN WRITING AND 55 PUBLISHED ON ITS WEBSITE NO LATER THAN TEN DAYS AFTER SUCH DISPOSITION S. 7852 13 1 UNLESS REQUESTED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO SUSPEND THE COMMISSION'S 2 ACTION BECAUSE OF AN ONGOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. 3 15. A copy of any notice of delinquency or substantial basis investi- 4 gation report shall be included in the reporting person's file and be 5 available for public inspection and copying pursuant to the provisions 6 of this section. 7 16. Upon written request from any person who is subject to the juris- 8 diction of the commission and the requirements of sections seventy- 9 three, seventy-three-a or seventy-four of the public officers law, 10 [other than members of the legislature, candidates for member of the 11 legislature and employees of the legislature,] the commission shall 12 render written advisory opinions on the requirements of said provisions. 13 An opinion rendered by the commission OR BY THE FORMER LEGISLATIVE 14 ETHICS COMMISSION, until and unless amended or revoked, shall be binding 15 on the commission in any subsequent proceeding concerning the person who 16 requested the opinion and who acted in good faith, unless material facts 17 were omitted or misstated by the person in the request for an opinion. 18 Such opinion may also be relied upon by such person, and may be intro- 19 duced and shall be a defense, in any criminal or civil action. Such 20 requests shall be confidential but the commission may publish such opin- 21 ions provided that the name of the requesting person and other identify- 22 ing details shall not be included in the publication. 23 17. In addition to any other powers and duties specified by law, the 24 commission shall have the power and duty to: 25 (a) Promulgate rules concerning restrictions on outside activities and 26 limitations on the receipt of gifts and honoraria by persons subject to 27 its jurisdiction, provided, however, a violation of such rules in and of 28 itself shall not be punishable pursuant to subdivision fourteen of this 29 section unless the conduct constituting the violation would otherwise 30 constitute a violation of this section; and 31 (b) Administer and enforce all the provisions of this section; and 32 (c) Conduct any investigation necessary to carry out the provisions of 33 this section. Pursuant to this power and duty, the commission may admin- 34 ister oaths or affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance 35 and require the production of any books or records which it may deem 36 relevant or material; 37 18. Within one hundred twenty days of the effective date of this 38 subdivision, the commission shall create and thereafter maintain a 39 publicly accessible website which shall set forth the procedure for 40 filing a complaint with the commission, and which shall contain the 41 documents identified in subdivision nineteen of this section, other than 42 financial disclosure statements filed by state officers or employees or 43 legislative employees, and any other records or information which the 44 commission determines to be appropriate. 45 19. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of article six of the public 46 officers law, the only records of the commission which shall be avail- 47 able for public inspection and copying are: 48 (1) the information set forth in an annual statement of financial 49 disclosure filed pursuant to section seventy-three-a of the public offi- 50 cers law except information deleted pursuant to paragraph (h) of subdi- 51 vision nine of this section; 52 (2) notices of delinquency sent under subdivision twelve of this 53 section; 54 (3) notices of civil assessments imposed under this section which 55 shall include a description of the nature of the alleged wrongdoing, the S. 7852 14 1 procedural history of the complaint, the findings and determinations 2 made by the commission, and any sanction imposed; 3 (4) the terms of any settlement or compromise of a complaint or refer- 4 ral which includes a fine, penalty or other remedy; 5 (5) those required to be held or maintained publicly available pursu- 6 ant to article one-A of the legislative law; and 7 (6) substantial basis investigation reports issued by the commission 8 pursuant to subdivision fourteen-a or fourteen-b of this section. [With 9 respect to reports concerning members of the legislature or legislative 10 employees or candidates for member of the legislature, the joint commis- 11 sion shall not publicly disclose or otherwise disseminate such reports 12 except in conformance with the requirements of paragraph (b) of subdivi- 13 sion nine of section eighty of the legislative law.] 14 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of article seven of the public 15 officers law, no meeting or proceeding, including any such proceeding 16 contemplated under paragraph (h) or (i) of subdivision nine of this 17 section, of the commission shall be open to the public, except if 18 expressly provided otherwise by the commission or as is required by 19 article one-A of the legislative law. 20 (c) Pending any application for deletion or exemption to the commis- 21 sion, all information which is the subject or a part of the application 22 shall remain confidential. Upon an adverse determination by the commis- 23 sion, the reporting individual may request, and upon such request the 24 commission shall provide, that any information which is the subject or 25 part of the application remain confidential for a period of thirty days 26 following notice of such determination. In the event that the reporting 27 individual resigns his office and holds no other office subject to the 28 jurisdiction of the commission, the information shall not be made public 29 and shall be expunged in its entirety. 30 20. THE COMMISSION SHALL CREATE AND THEREAFTER MAINTAIN A PUBLICLY 31 ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE WHICH SHALL SET FORTH THE PROCEDURE FOR FILING A 32 COMPLAINT WITH THE COMMISSION, AND WHICH SHALL CONTAIN ANY OTHER RECORDS 33 OR INFORMATION WHICH THE COMMISSION DETERMINES TO BE APPROPRIATE. 34 21. If any part or provision of this section or the application there- 35 of to any person or organization is adjudged by a court of competent 36 jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such judgment 37 shall not affect or impair any other part or provision or the applica- 38 tion thereof to any other person or organization, but shall be confined 39 in its operation to such part or provision. 40 S 3. Subdivision 5 of section 12 of the legislative law, as added by 41 chapter 141 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows: 42 5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, services and 43 expenses of the legislative health service, legislative library, legis- 44 lative messenger service, [legislative ethics committee] JOINT COMMIS- 45 SION ON PUBLIC ETHICS, joint operations of the legislative task force on 46 demographic research and reapportionment, and contributions to the 47 national conference of state legislatures shall be payable after audit 48 by and on the warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers certified by the 49 temporary president of the senate or his or her designee and the speaker 50 of the assembly or his or her designee. 51 S 4. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1, the opening paragraph of para- 52 graph (a) and paragraph (c) of subdivision 6, the opening paragraph of 53 subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) and paragraph (g) of subdivision 8, 54 and subdivision 10 of section 73 of the public officers law, paragraph 55 (a) of subdivision 1 as amended by section 1 of part A of chapter 399 of 56 the laws of 2011, the opening paragraph of paragraph (a) of subdivision S. 7852 15 1 6 as amended by section 3 of part A of chapter 399 of the laws of 2011, 2 paragraph (c) of subdivision 6 as amended by chapter 813 of the laws of 3 1987, the opening paragraph of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of 4 subdivision 8 as amended by chapter 574 of the laws of 2011, paragraph 5 (g) of subdivision 8 as added by chapter 218 of the laws of 1998, and 6 subdivision 10 as amended by section 13 of part A of chapter 399 of the 7 laws of 2011, are amended to read as follows: 8 (a) The term "compensation" shall mean any money, thing of value or 9 financial benefit conferred in return for services rendered or to be 10 rendered. With regard to matters undertaken by a firm, corporation or 11 association, compensation shall mean net revenues, as defined in accord- 12 ance with generally accepted accounting principles as defined by the 13 joint commission on public ethics [or legislative ethics commission] in 14 relation to persons subject to [their respective jurisdictions] THE 15 JOINT COMMISSION'S JURISDICTION. 16 Every legislative employee not subject to the provisions of section 17 seventy-three-a of this chapter shall, on and after December fifteenth 18 and before the following January fifteenth, in each year, file with the 19 joint commission on public ethics [and the legislative ethics commis- 20 sion] a financial disclosure statement of 21 (c) Any such legislative employee who knowingly and wilfully with 22 intent to deceive makes a false statement or gives information which he 23 knows to be false in any written statement required to be filed pursuant 24 to this subdivision, shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not 25 to exceed ten thousand dollars. Assessment of a civil penalty shall be 26 made by the [legislative ethics committee] JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC 27 ETHICS in accordance with the provisions of subdivision [twelve] FOUR- 28 TEEN of section [eighty] NINETY-FOUR of the [legislative] EXECUTIVE law. 29 For a violation of this subdivision, the [committee] JOINT COMMISSION 30 may, in lieu of a civil penalty, refer a violation to the appropriate 31 prosecutor and upon conviction, but only after such referral, such 32 violation shall be punishable as a class A misdemeanor. 33 The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall not apply 34 to any such officer or employee who at the time of or prior to such 35 termination had served in a policymaking position as determined by the 36 appointing authority, which determination had been filed with the [state 37 ethics commission or the commission on public integrity] JOINT COMMIS- 38 SION ON PUBLIC ETHICS, provided that such officer or employee may so 39 appear or practice or receive such compensation with the prior approval 40 of the [state ethics commission or the commission on public integrity] 41 JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS. In determining whether to grant such 42 approval the [state ethics commission or the commission on public integ- 43 rity] JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS shall consider: 44 (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of 45 paragraph (a) of this subdivision, a former state officer or employee 46 may contract individually, or as a member or employee of a firm, corpo- 47 ration or association, to render services to any state agency when the 48 agency head certifies in writing to the [state ethics commission] JOINT 49 COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS that the services of such former officer or 50 employee are required in connection with the agency's efforts to address 51 the state's year 2000 compliance problem. 52 10. Nothing contained in this section, the judiciary law, the educa- 53 tion law or any other law or disciplinary rule shall be construed or 54 applied to prohibit any firm, association or corporation, in which any 55 present or former statewide elected official, state officer or employee, 56 or political party chairman, member of the legislature or legislative S. 7852 16 1 employee is a member, associate, retired member, of counsel or share- 2 holder, from appearing, practicing, communicating or otherwise rendering 3 services in relation to any matter before, or transacting business with 4 a state agency, or a city agency with respect to a political party 5 chairman in a county wholly included in a city with a population of more 6 than one million, otherwise proscribed by this section, the judiciary 7 law, the education law or any other law or disciplinary rule with 8 respect to such official, member of the legislature or officer or 9 employee, or political party chairman, where such statewide elected 10 official, state officer or employee, member of the legislature or legis- 11 lative employee, or political party chairman does not share in the net 12 revenues, as defined in accordance with generally accepted accounting 13 principles by the joint commission on public ethics [or by the legisla- 14 tive ethics committee] in relation to persons subject to [their respec- 15 tive jurisdictions] THE JOINT COMMISSION'S JURISDICTION, resulting ther- 16 efrom, or, acting in good faith, reasonably believed that he or she 17 would not share in the net revenues as so defined; nor shall anything 18 contained in this section, the judiciary law, the education law or any 19 other law or disciplinary rule be construed to prohibit any firm, asso- 20 ciation or corporation in which any present or former statewide elected 21 official, member of the legislature, legislative employee, full-time 22 salaried state officer or employee or state officer or employee who is 23 subject to the provisions of section seventy-three-a of this article is 24 a member, associate, retired member, of counsel or shareholder, from 25 appearing, practicing, communicating or otherwise rendering services in 26 relation to any matter before, or transacting business with, the court 27 of claims, where such statewide elected official, member of the legisla- 28 ture, legislative employee, full-time salaried state officer or employee 29 or state officer or employee who is subject to the provisions of section 30 seventy-three-a of this article does not share in the net revenues, as 31 defined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles by 32 the joint commission on public ethics [or by the legislative ethics 33 committee] in relation to persons subject to [their respective jurisdic- 34 tions] THE JOINT COMMISSION'S JURISDICTION, resulting therefrom, or, 35 acting in good faith, reasonably believed that he or she would not share 36 in the net revenues as so defined. 37 S 5. Paragraph (d) and (d-1) of subdivision 1, the opening paragraph 38 and subparagraphs (ii), (viii) and (ix) of paragraph (a) and paragraphs 39 (c), (e), (f) and (g) of subdivision 2 and subdivision 4 of section 73-a 40 of the public officers law, paragraph (d) of subdivision 1, the opening 41 paragraph and subparagraphs (ii), (viii) and (ix) of paragraph (a) and 42 paragraphs (c), (e), (f) and (g) of subdivision 2 and subdivision 4 as 43 amended and paragraph (d-1) of subdivision 1 as added by section 5 of 44 part A of chapter 399 of the laws of 2011, are amended to read as 45 follows: 46 (d) The term "legislative employee" shall mean any officer or employee 47 of the legislature who receives annual compensation in excess of the 48 filing rate established by paragraph (l) below or who is determined to 49 hold a policy-making position by the appointing authority as set forth 50 in a written instrument which shall be filed with the [legislative 51 ethics commission and the] joint commission on public ethics. 52 (d-1) A financial disclosure statement required pursuant to section 53 seventy-three of this article and this section shall be deemed "filed" 54 with the joint commission on public ethics upon its filing, in accord- 55 ance with this section, [with the legislative ethics commission] for all 56 purposes including, but not limited to, subdivision fourteen of section S. 7852 17 1 ninety-four of the executive law[, subdivision nine of section eighty of 2 the legislative law] and subdivision four of this section. 3 Every statewide elected official, state officer or employee, member of 4 the legislature, legislative employee and political party chairman and 5 every candidate for statewide elected office or for member of the legis- 6 lature shall file an annual statement of financial disclosure containing 7 the information and in the form set forth in subdivision three of this 8 section. On or before the fifteenth day of May with respect to the 9 preceding calendar year: (1) every member of the legislature, every 10 candidate for member of the legislature and legislative employee shall 11 file such statement, ALONG WITH ANY REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTIONS OR 12 DELETIONS, with the [legislative ethics commission which shall provide 13 such statement along with any requests for exemptions or deletions to 14 the] joint commission on public ethics [for filing and], WHICH SHALL 15 MAKE rulings with respect to such requests for exemptions or deletions, 16 on or before the thirtieth day of June; and (2) all other individuals 17 required to file such statement shall file it with the joint commission 18 on public ethics, except that: 19 (ii) a person who is required to file an annual financial disclosure 20 statement with the joint commission on public ethics, and who is granted 21 an additional period of time within which to file such statement due to 22 justifiable cause or undue hardship, in accordance with required rules 23 and regulations on the subject adopted pursuant to paragraph c of subdi- 24 vision nine of section ninety-four of the executive law shall file such 25 statement within the additional period of time granted[; and the legis- 26 lative ethics commission shall notify the joint commission on public 27 ethics of any extension granted pursuant to this paragraph]; 28 (viii) a candidate substituted for another candidate, who fills a 29 vacancy in a party designation or in an independent nomination, caused 30 by declination, shall file such statement within ten days after the last 31 day allowed by law to file a certificate to fill a vacancy in such party 32 designation or independent nomination[; 33 (ix) with respect to all candidates for member of the legislature, the 34 legislative ethics commission shall within five days of receipt provide 35 the joint commission on public ethics the statement filed pursuant to 36 subparagraphs (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of this paragraph]. 37 (c) If the reporting individual is a senator or member of assembly, 38 candidate for the senate or member of assembly or a legislative employ- 39 ee, [such statement shall be filed with both the legislative ethics 40 commission established by section eighty of the legislative law and the 41 joint commission on public ethics in accordance with paragraph (d-1) of 42 subdivision one of this section. If the reporting individual is a] 43 statewide elected official, candidate for statewide elected office, a 44 state officer or employee or a political party chairman, such statement 45 shall be filed with the joint commission on public ethics established by 46 section ninety-four of the executive law. 47 (e) Any person required to file such statement who commences employ- 48 ment after May fifteenth of any year, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, LEGIS- 49 LATIVE EMPLOYEES, and political party chairman shall file such statement 50 within thirty days after commencing employment or of taking the position 51 of political party chairman, as the case may be. [In the case of members 52 of the legislature and legislative employees, such statements shall be 53 filed with the legislative ethics commission within thirty days after 54 commencing employment, and the legislative ethics commission shall 55 provide such statements to the joint commission on public ethics within 56 forty-five days of receipt.] S. 7852 18 1 (f) A person who may otherwise be required to file more than one annu- 2 al financial disclosure statement [with both the joint commission on 3 public ethics and the legislative ethics commission] in any one calendar 4 year may satisfy such requirement by filing one such statement with 5 [either body and by notifying the other body of such compliance] THE 6 JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS. 7 (g) A person who is employed in more than one employment capacity for 8 one or more employers certain of whose officers and employees are 9 subject to filing a financial disclosure statement [with the same ethics 10 commission, as the case may be,] and who receives distinctly separate 11 payments of compensation for such employment shall be subject to the 12 filing requirements of this section if the aggregate annual compensation 13 for all such employment capacities is in excess of the filing rate 14 notwithstanding that such person would not otherwise be required to file 15 with respect to any one particular employment capacity. [A person not 16 otherwise required to file a financial disclosure statement hereunder 17 who is employed by an employer certain of whose officers or employees 18 are subject to filing a financial disclosure statement with the joint 19 commission on public ethics and who is also employed by an employer 20 certain of whose officers or employees are subject to filing a financial 21 disclosure statement with the legislative ethics commission shall not be 22 subject to filing such statement with either such commission on the 23 basis that his aggregate annual compensation from all such employers is 24 in excess of the filing rate.] 25 4. A reporting individual who knowingly and wilfully fails to file an 26 annual statement of financial disclosure or who knowingly and wilfully 27 with intent to deceive makes a false statement or gives information 28 which such individual knows to be false on such statement of financial 29 disclosure filed pursuant to this section shall be subject to a civil 30 penalty in an amount not to exceed forty thousand dollars. Assessment of 31 a civil penalty hereunder shall be made by the joint commission on 32 public ethics [or by the legislative ethics commission, as the case may 33 be, with respect to persons subject to their respective jurisdictions]. 34 The joint commission on public ethics acting pursuant to subdivision 35 fourteen of section ninety-four of the executive law [or the legislative 36 ethics commission acting pursuant to subdivision eleven of section 37 eighty of the legislative law, as the case may be,] may, in lieu of or 38 in addition to a civil penalty, refer a violation to the appropriate 39 prosecutor and upon such conviction, but only after such referral, such 40 violation shall be punishable as a class A misdemeanor. A civil penalty 41 for false filing may not be imposed hereunder in the event a category of 42 "value" or "amount" reported hereunder is incorrect unless such reported 43 information is falsely understated. Notwithstanding any other provision 44 of law to the contrary, no other penalty, civil or criminal may be 45 imposed for a failure to file, or for a false filing, of such statement, 46 except that the appointing authority may impose disciplinary action as 47 otherwise provided by law. The joint commission on public ethics [and 48 the legislative ethics commission] shall [each] be deemed to be an agen- 49 cy within the meaning of article three of the state administrative 50 procedure act and shall adopt rules governing the conduct of adjudicato- 51 ry proceedings and appeals relating to the assessment of the civil 52 penalties herein authorized. Such rules, which shall not be subject to 53 the approval requirements of the state administrative procedure act, 54 shall provide for due process procedural mechanisms substantially simi- 55 lar to those set forth in such article three but such mechanisms need 56 not be identical in terms or scope. Assessment of a civil penalty shall S. 7852 19 1 be final unless modified, suspended or vacated within thirty days of 2 imposition and upon becoming final shall be subject to review at the 3 instance of the affected reporting individual in a proceeding commenced 4 against the joint commission on public ethics [or the legislative ethics 5 commission], pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil practice law 6 and rules. 7 S 6. Transfer of records. The legislative ethics commission shall 8 deliver to the joint commission on public ethics all books, papers, 9 records, and property as requested by the joint commission. 10 S 7. Continuity of authority. For the purpose of succession to all 11 functions, powers, duties and obligations transferred and assigned to, 12 devolved upon and assumed by it pursuant to this act, the joint commis- 13 sion on public ethics shall be deemed and held to constitute the contin- 14 uation of the legislative ethics commission. 15 S 8. Completion of unfinished business. Any business or other matter 16 undertaken or commenced by the legislative ethics commission pertaining 17 to or connected with the functions, powers, obligations and duties here- 18 by transferred and assigned to the joint commission on public ethics, 19 and pending on the effective date of this act may be conducted and 20 completed by the joint commission on public ethics in the same manner 21 and under the same terms and conditions and with the same effect as if 22 conducted and completed by the former legislative ethics commission. 23 S 9. Terms occurring in laws, contracts and other documents. Whenever 24 the legislative ethics commission is referred to or designated in any 25 law, contract or documents pertaining solely to those functions, powers, 26 obligations and duties hereby transferred and assigned to the joint 27 commission on public ethics, such reference or designation shall be 28 deemed to refer to the joint commission on public ethics. 29 S 10. Existing rights and remedies preserved. No existing right or 30 remedy of any character shall be lost, impaired or affected by reason of 31 this act. 32 S 11. Pending actions and proceedings. No action or proceeding pending 33 at the time when this act shall take effect, brought by or against the 34 legislative ethics commission shall be affected by this act, but the 35 same may be prosecuted or defended in the name of the joint commission 36 on public ethics and upon application to the court, the joint commission 37 on public ethics shall be substituted as a party. 38 S 12. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the state finance law, 39 transfer of appropriations heretofore made to the legislative ethics 40 commission, all appropriations or reappropriations for the functions 41 herein transferred heretofore made to the legislative ethics commission, 42 or segregated pursuant to law, to the extent of remaining unexpended or 43 unencumbered balances thereof, whether allocated or unallocated and 44 whether obligated or unobligated, are hereby transferred to the joint 45 commission on public ethics to the extent necessary to carry out its 46 functions, powers and duties subject to the approval of the director of 47 the budget for the same purposes for which originally appropriated or 48 reappropriated and shall be payable on vouchers certified or approved by 49 the joint commission on public ethics on audit and warrant of the comp- 50 troller. 51 S 13. This act shall take effect January 1, 2013 provided, however, 52 that the amendments to paragraph (i-1) of subdivision 9 and subparagraph 53 1 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 19 of section 94 of the executive law 54 made by section two of this act, shall take effect on the same date and 55 in the same manner as subdivision 3 of section 22 of part A of chapter 56 399 of the laws of 2011 takes effect.