S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 6596--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             April 10, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI, ZEBROWSKI -- (at request of the State
  Comptroller)  --  read  once  and  referred  to the Committee on Local
  Governments -- recommitted to the Committee on  Local  Governments  in
  accordance  with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
  amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
  tee

AN  ACT  to amend the general municipal law, in relation to conflicts of
  interest of municipal officers and  employees,  codes  of  ethics  and
  boards  of  ethics;  to amend chapter 946 of the laws of 1964 amending
  the general municipal law and other  laws  relating  to  conflicts  of
  interest  of  municipal officers and employees, in relation to permit-
  ting local codes of ethics to prohibit activities expressly  permitted
  by  article  18 of the general municipal law; and to repeal paragraphs
  (d) and (e) of subdivision 3 of section 806 and  section  813  of  the
  general  municipal  law, relating to the temporary state commission on
  local government ethics

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. Subdivision 3 of section 800 of the general municipal law,
as amended by chapter 1043 of the laws of 1965, is amended  to  read  as
follows:
  3. "Interest" means a direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit
accruing  to  a  municipal officer or employee, OR HIS OR HER SPOUSE, as
the result of a contract with the municipality  which  such  officer  or
employee serves. For the purposes of this article a municipal officer or
employee  shall be deemed to have an interest in the contract of (a) his
OR HER spouse, minor children  and  dependents,  except  a  contract  of
employment  with the municipality which such officer or employee serves,
(b) a  firm,  partnership  or  association  of  which  such  officer  or
employee,  OR  HIS  OR HER SPOUSE, is a member or employee, (c) a corpo-
ration of which such officer or employee, OR HIS OR HER  SPOUSE,  is  an
officer,  director  or employee and (d) a corporation any stock of which
is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such officer or employ-
ee, OR HIS OR HER SPOUSE.

              

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD09761-02-4

A. 6596--A                          2

  S 2. Section 801 of the general municipal law, as amended  by  chapter
1043 of the laws of 1965, is amended to read as follows:
  S 801. Conflicts of interest prohibited. Except as provided in section
eight  hundred two of this chapter, (1) no municipal officer or employee
shall have an interest in any contract with the municipality of which he
OR SHE is an officer or employee, when such officer or  employee,  indi-
vidually or as a member of a board, has the power or duty to (a) negoti-
ate,  prepare, authorize or approve the contract or authorize or approve
payment thereunder, (b) audit bills or claims under the contract, or (c)
appoint an officer or employee who has any of the powers or  duties  set
forth above [and]; (2) no chief fiscal officer, treasurer, or his OR HER
deputy  or  employee,  shall have an interest in a bank or trust company
designated as a depository, paying  agent,  registration  agent  or  for
investment of funds of the municipality of which he OR SHE is an officer
or employee; AND (3) NO MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHOSE SERVICE TO A
MUNICIPALITY  INCLUDES  RENDITION  OF  PROFESSIONAL  SERVICES  REQUIRING
ADMISSION TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW SHALL  (A)  HAVE  AN  INTEREST  IN  ANY
CONTRACT FOR RENDITION OF LEGAL SERVICES TO THE MUNICIPALITY, UNLESS (I)
THE CONTRACT IS AWARDED ON THE BASIS OF A COMPETITIVE PROCESS UNDERTAKEN
IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE MUNICIPALITY'S PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND PROCE-
DURES ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED FOUR-B  OF  THIS  CHAPTER,
AND  (II)  THE  MUNICIPALITY  HAS THE ADVICE OF INDEPENDENT COUNSEL WITH
RESPECT TO THE ADVISABILITY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE  CONTRACT,  OR  (B)
COMPENSATE ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION FROM HIS OR HER PERSONAL RESOURCES
TO  RENDER  LEGAL  SERVICES  TO THE MUNICIPALITY. The provisions of this
section shall in no event be construed to preclude the payment of lawful
compensation and necessary expenses of any municipal officer or employee
in one or more positions of public employment, the holding of  which  is
not prohibited by law.
  S 3. Paragraphs b and j of subdivision 1 of section 802 of the general
municipal  law,  paragraph  b  as amended by chapter 1043 of the laws of
1965 and paragraph j as added by chapter 364 of the laws  of  1996,  are
amended to read as follows:
  b. A contract with a person, firm, corporation or association in which
a  municipal  officer  or  employee  has an interest which is prohibited
solely by reason of HIS OR  HER  employment,  OR  HIS  OR  HER  SPOUSE'S
EMPLOYMENT,  as  an  officer or employee thereof, if the remuneration of
such employment will not be  directly  affected  as  a  result  of  such
contract  and  the duties of such employment do not directly involve the
procurement, preparation or performance of any part of such contract;
  j. Purchases or public work by a municipality, other  than  a  county,
located  wholly  or  partly  within  a  county  with a population of two
hundred thousand or less pursuant to a contract in which a member of the
governing body or board has a prohibited interest, where:
  (1) the member of the governing body or board is elected OR  APPOINTED
and serves WITH OR without salary OR OTHER COMPENSATION;
  (2)  the  purchases  OR  PUBLIC  WORK, in the aggregate, are less than
[five] TEN thousand dollars in one fiscal year and:
  (I) the governing body or board has followed its procurement  policies
and  procedures adopted in accordance with the provisions of section one
hundred four-b of this chapter and  the  procurement  process  indicates
that the contract is with the lowest dollar offer[;], OR
  (II)  THE  PURCHASES,  IN  THE  AGGREGATE,  ARE LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND
DOLLARS IN ONE FISCAL YEAR, CANNOT BE  PROCURED  FROM  ANOTHER  SUPPLIER
LOCATED  WITHIN  THE  MUNICIPALITY,  AND  THE  NEXT  CLOSEST SUPPLIER IS
LOCATED MORE THAN FIVE MILES DRIVING DISTANCE FROM THE  MUNICIPALITY  BY

A. 6596--A                          3

WAY  OF  THE  MOST DIRECT ROUTE USING PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, ROADS OR STREETS;
AND
  (3)  the  contract  for  the  purchases  or public work is approved by
resolution of the body or board by the affirmative vote of  each  member
of the body or board except the interested member who shall abstain.
  S 4. Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 802 of the general munic-
ipal  law, as amended by chapter 1019 of the laws of 1970, is amended to
read as follows:
  a. A contract with a corporation  in  which  a  municipal  officer  or
employee  has an interest by reason of stockholdings when less than five
per centum of the outstanding stock  of  the  corporation  is  owned  or
controlled directly or indirectly by such officer or employee AND HIS OR
HER SPOUSE EITHER JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY;
  S  5.  Section 805-a of the general municipal law, as added by chapter
1019 of the laws of 1970 and subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 813  of
the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
  S 805-a. [Certain action prohibited] ADDITIONAL STATEWIDE STANDARDS OF
ETHICAL CONDUCT.  1. No municipal officer or employee shall: a. directly
or  indirectly, solicit any gift, or accept or receive any gift having a
value of seventy-five dollars or more, whether in  the  form  of  money,
service,  loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or
in any other form, under circumstances in which it could  reasonably  be
inferred  that  the gift was intended to influence him, or could reason-
ably be expected to influence him, in the performance  of  his  official
duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his part;
  b.  disclose confidential information acquired by him in the course of
his official duties or use such  information  to  further  his  personal
interests;
  c.  receive,  or  enter  into  any  agreement, express or implied, for
compensation for services to be  rendered  in  relation  to  any  matter
before any municipal agency of which he is an officer, member or employ-
ee or of any municipal agency over which he has jurisdiction or to which
he has the power to appoint any member, officer or employee; or
  d.  receive,  or  enter  into  any  agreement, express or implied, for
compensation for services to be  rendered  in  relation  to  any  matter
before any agency of his municipality, whereby his compensation is to be
dependent  or  contingent upon any action by such agency with respect to
such matter, provided that this paragraph shall not prohibit the  fixing
at  any  time  of  fees  based upon the reasonable value of the services
rendered.
  2. A. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH B OF THIS SUBDIVISION, NO MUNIC-
IPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE SHALL PARTICIPATE IN ANY OFFICIAL  DECISION  OR
TAKE  ANY OFFICIAL ACTION WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER REQUIRING THE EXER-
CISE OF DISCRETION, INCLUDING PARTICIPATING IN OFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS  AND
VOTING ON THE MATTER, WHEN HE OR SHE KNOWS OR HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT
ACTION  OR  INACTION  ON  THE  MATTER  COULD CONFER A DIRECT OR INDIRECT
FINANCIAL OR MATERIAL BENEFIT ON HIMSELF OR HERSELF, A RELATIVE, OR  ANY
PRIVATE  ORGANIZATION  IN  WHICH  THE  MUNICIPAL  OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE IS
DEEMED TO HAVE AN INTEREST.
  B. THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS PROHIBITING:
  I. PERFORMANCE OF A MINISTERIAL ACT, WHICH FOR THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS
SECTION  SHALL  MEAN  AN  ADMINISTRATIVE ACT CARRIED OUT IN A PRESCRIBED
MANNER NOT ALLOWING FOR SUBSTANTIAL PERSONAL DISCRETION;
  II. PARTICIPATION IN ANY OFFICIAL DECISION OR OFFICIAL ACTION TAKEN BY
A BOARD OR SIMILAR BODY WHEN  PARAGRAPH  A  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  WOULD
PROHIBIT ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OR BODY FROM PARTICIPATING AND

A. 6596--A                          4

THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OR BODY ARE INSUFFICIENT IN NUMBER OR
LACK  SUFFICIENT  VOTING  STRENGTH  TO  MAKE  SUCH DECISION OR TAKE SUCH
ACTION; OR
  III.  PARTICIPATION  IN ANY OFFICIAL DECISION OR OFFICIAL ACTION TAKEN
BY A MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, INDIVIDUALLY, WHEN THE MATTER CANNOT
BE LAWFULLY DELEGATED OR ASSIGNED TO ANOTHER PERSON.
  C. WHENEVER PARAGRAPH A OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  PROHIBITS  A  MUNICIPAL
OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE FROM PARTICIPATING IN AN OFFICIAL DECISION OR TAKING
OFFICIAL  ACTION,  SUCH  MUNICIPAL  OFFICER  OR  EMPLOYEE SHALL DISCLOSE
PUBLICLY THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES  REQUIRING  RECUSAL.  WHENEVER  THE
PROHIBITION IN PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION DOES NOT APPLY BECAUSE OF
THE  APPLICABILITY OF SUBPARAGRAPH II OR SUBPARAGRAPH III OF PARAGRAPH B
OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR  EMPLOYEE  SHALL  DISCLOSE
PUBLICLY  THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE RECU-
SAL UNDER PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
  D. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "RELATIVE" SHALL MEAN  A
SPOUSE,  PARENT,  STEP-PARENT,  SIBLING, STEP-SIBLING, SIBLING'S SPOUSE,
CHILD, STEP-CHILD, UNCLE, AUNT, NEPHEW, NIECE, FIRST COUSIN,  OR  HOUSE-
HOLD  MEMBER  OF A MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, AND INDIVIDUALS HAVING
ANY OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS TO THE SPOUSE OF THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.
  E. COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN  EXCEPTION
TO SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF THIS ARTICLE, NOR BE CONSTRUED AS CURING
A VIOLATION OF THAT SECTION.
  3. A. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH B OF THIS SUBDIVISION, NO MUNIC-
IPAL  OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE SHALL USE OR PERMIT THE USE OF MUNICIPAL PROP-
ERTY OR RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL OR PRIVATE PURPOSES.
  B. THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS PROHIBITING:
  I. ANY USE OF MUNICIPAL PROPERTY OR RESOURCES  AUTHORIZED  BY  LAW  OR
MUNICIPAL POLICY CONSISTENT WITH LAW;
  II. THE USE OF MUNICIPAL PROPERTY OR RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL OR PRIVATE
PURPOSES WHEN PROVIDED TO A MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE AS PART OF HIS
OR HER COMPENSATION; OR
  III.  THE  OCCASIONAL,  MINIMAL,  NON-BUSINESS AND NON-PARTISAN USE OF
MUNICIPAL OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, SUCH AS TELEPHONES,  COMPUTERS,
COPIERS,  PAPER  AND PENS, FOR PERSONAL MATTERS AT NO OR NOMINAL COST TO
THE MUNICIPALITY.
  C. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION,  "PROPERTY  OR  RESOURCES"  SHALL
INCLUDE,  BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, MONEY, FACILITIES, FURNISHINGS, MACHIN-
ERY, APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND LETTERHEAD.
  4. In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law,
any person who shall knowingly and intentionally  violate  this  section
may  be  fined,  suspended  or  removed from office or employment in the
manner provided by law.
  S 6. The section heading of section 806 of the general municipal  law,
as  amended  by  chapter 1019 of the laws of 1970, is amended to read as
follows:
  [Code] MUNICIPAL CODES of ethics.
  S 7. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of  section  806  of  the  general
municipal law, as amended by chapter 238 of the laws of 2006, is amended
to read as follows:
  (a)  The  governing  body  of each county, city, town, village, school
district [and], fire district AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT GOVERNED BY ARTI-
CLE THIRTEEN OF THE TOWN LAW shall, and the governing body of any  other
municipality may, by local law, ordinance or resolution, adopt a code of
ethics  setting forth for the guidance of its officers and employees the
standards of conduct reasonably expected of  them.  Notwithstanding  any

A. 6596--A                          5

other provision of this article to the contrary, a fire district code of
ethics  shall  also  apply to the volunteer members of the fire district
fire department. Codes of ethics shall provide  standards  for  officers
and  employees  with  respect  to  disclosure of interest in legislation
before the local governing body, holding of investments in conflict with
official duties, private employment in conflict  with  official  duties,
future  employment,  NEPOTISM,  and such other standards relating to the
conduct of officers and employees as may be deemed advisable. Such codes
may: (I) regulate or prescribe conduct which is not expressly prohibited
by this article but may not  authorize  conduct  otherwise  prohibited[.
Such  codes may provide for the prohibition of]; (II) PROHIBIT CONTRACTS
OR conduct [or] THAT IS EITHER EXPRESSLY OR BY IMPLICATION PERMITTED  BY
SECTION  EIGHT HUNDRED TWO OR SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED FIVE-A OF THIS ARTI-
CLE; AND (III) PROVIDE FOR THE disclosure of information and the classi-
fication of employees or officers. THE GOVERNING BODY  OF  EACH  MUNICI-
PALITY  THAT  ADOPTS  A CODE OF ETHICS SHALL BIENNIALLY REVIEW AND, WHEN
DEEMED NECESSARY, UPDATE ITS CODE OF ETHICS.
  S 8. Subdivision 2 of section 806 of the  general  municipal  law,  as
amended  by  chapter  238  of  the  laws  of 2006, is amended to read as
follows:
  2. [The] UPON THE ADOPTION OR AMENDMENT OF A CODE OF ETHICS BY A MUNI-
CIPALITY, THE chief executive officer of [a] THE municipality  [adopting
a code of ethics] shall cause a copy [thereof] OF SUCH CODE OR AMENDMENT
to  be  distributed PROMPTLY to every officer and employee of his OR HER
municipality AND TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS FOR THE MUNICIPALITY.  IN  ADDI-
TION,  SUCH  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE OFFICER SHALL CAUSE A COMPLETE AND CURRENT
COPY OF THE MUNICIPALITY'S CODE OF ETHICS TO BE POSTED  ON  THE  MUNICI-
PALITY'S  WEB  SITE,  IF  THE  MUNICIPALITY  MAINTAINS  A  WEB SITE, AND
DISTRIBUTED (A) TO EVERY PERSON WHO IS ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO SERVE  AS
AN  OFFICER  OR  EMPLOYEE  OF  THE  MUNICIPALITY PROMPTLY FOLLOWING SUCH
PERSON'S ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT,  AND  (B)  TO  ALL  THE  OFFICERS  AND
EMPLOYEES  OF  THE  MUNICIPALITY  AT  LEAST ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS. EVERY
MUNICIPAL OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE RECEIVING A COPY OF A CODE OF  ETHICS  OR
AMENDMENT  THERETO  SHALL ACKNOWLEDGE PROMPTLY IN WRITING THAT HE OR SHE
HAS RECEIVED AND READ THE CODE OF ETHICS OR AMENDMENT AND SUCH  ACKNOWL-
EDGEMENT SHALL BE FILED WITH THE CLERK OR SECRETARY OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
The BOARD OF fire [district] commissioners OF A FIRE DISTRICT shall ALSO
cause a copy of the fire district's code of ethics, INCLUDING ANY AMEND-
MENTS  THERETO, to be posted publicly and conspicuously in each building
under such district's control.  Failure to distribute any such  copy  or
failure  of  any  officer or employee to receive such copy shall have no
effect on the duty of compliance with such code, nor the enforcement  of
provisions thereof.
  S 9. The opening paragraph and paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 3
of  section  806 of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 813
of the laws of 1987, are amended to read as follows:
  [Until January first, nineteen hundred ninety-one, the] THE  clerk  of
each municipality [shall file in the office of the state comptroller and
on  or  after  January  first, nineteen hundred ninety-one, the clerk of
each municipality and of  each  political  subdivision,  as  defined  in
section eight hundred ten of this article, shall file with the temporary
state commission on local government ethics established by section eight
hundred  thirteen of this article, if such temporary state commission be
in existence, and in all events] AND OF EACH POLITICAL  SUBDIVISION,  AS
DEFINED  IN SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED TEN OF THIS ARTICLE, shall maintain as
a record subject to public inspection:

A. 6596--A                          6

  (a) a copy of [any] THE MUNICIPALITY'S OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION'S code
of ethics or any amendments to any code of ethics [adopted within thirty
days after the adoption of such code or such amendment],
  (b)  a  statement  that such municipality or political subdivision has
established a board of ethics, in accordance with section eight  hundred
eight OF THIS ARTICLE and/or pursuant to other law, charter, code, local
law, ordinance or resolution, and the composition of such board, [within
thirty days after the establishment of such board.], AND
  S  10.  Paragraphs  (d) and (e) of subdivision 3 of section 806 of the
general municipal law are REPEALED.
  S 11. Section 808 of the general municipal law, as amended by  chapter
1019  of  the  laws of 1970 and subdivision 5 as added by chapter 813 of
the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
  S 808. Boards of ethics. 1. [The governing  body  of  any  county  may
establish  a  county  board of ethics and appropriate moneys for mainte-
nance and personal services in connection therewith. The members of such
board of ethics shall be appointed by such governing body except in  the
case  of  a  county  operating  under an optional or alternative form of
county government or county charter, in which case the members shall  be
appointed by the county executive or county manager, as the case may be,
subject  to  confirmation  by  such governing body. Such board of ethics
shall consist of at least three members, a majority of whom shall not be
officers or  employees  of  such  county  or  municipalities  wholly  or
partially  located  in  such county and at least one of whom shall be an
elected or appointed officer or employee of the county or a municipality
located within such county. The members of such board shall  receive  no
salary  or  compensation for their services as members of such board and
shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority] (A) THE GOVERN-
ING BODY OF (I) EVERY COUNTY, (II) EVERY CITY, TOWN AND VILLAGE HAVING A
POPULATION OF FIFTY THOUSAND OR MORE, AND (III) EVERY BOARD  OF  COOPER-
ATIVE  EDUCATIONAL  SERVICES  (BOCES) SHALL ESTABLISH A BOARD OF ETHICS.
THEREAFTER, THE GOVERNING BODY SHALL APPROPRIATE ANNUALLY SUCH MONEYS AS
MAY BE NECESSARY  FOR  THE  BOARD'S  CONTRACTUAL  AND  PERSONAL  SERVICE
EXPENDITURES.  EXCEPT  AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (D) OF THIS SUBDIVISION,
SUCH BOARD SHALL HAVE JURISDICTION TO ACT ONLY IN RELATION TO THE  OFFI-
CERS  AND  EMPLOYEES  OF  THE  COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE OR BOCES THAT
ESTABLISHED THE BOARD.
  (B) THE GOVERNING BODY OF EVERY MUNICIPALITY NOT  DESCRIBED  IN  PARA-
GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION IS AUTHORIZED, BUT NOT REQUIRED, TO ESTAB-
LISH  A  BOARD  OF ETHICS. IF SUCH GOVERNING BODY ESTABLISHES A BOARD OF
ETHICS, THE GOVERNING BODY SHALL APPROPRIATE ANNUALLY SUCH MONEYS AS MAY
BE NECESSARY FOR THE BOARD'S CONTRACTUAL AND PERSONAL  SERVICE  EXPENDI-
TURES.    SUCH  BOARD SHALL HAVE JURISDICTION TO ACT ONLY IN RELATION TO
THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF  THE  MUNICIPALITY  THAT  ESTABLISHED  THE
BOARD.
  (C)  TWO OR MORE MUNICIPALITIES NOT DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION MAY ENTER INTO, AMEND, CANCEL, AND TERMINATE AGREEMENTS  FOR
THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  COOPERATIVE  BOARD OF ETHICS. SUCH AGREEMENTS
SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS  OF  ARTICLE  FIVE-G  OF  THIS
CHAPTER,  EXCEPT  AS  OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, INCLUDING THAT
(I) THE POWER TO ENTER INTO SUCH AGREEMENTS SHALL EXTEND TO ALL  MUNICI-
PALITIES AS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE, AND SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO MUNICI-
PAL  CORPORATIONS  AND  DISTRICTS  AS  DEFINED IN ARTICLE FIVE-G OF THIS
CHAPTER, AND (II) THE DURATION OF SUCH AGREEMENTS SHALL NOT  BE  LIMITED
TO  A MAXIMUM TERM OF FIVE YEARS. FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COOP-
ERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS, THE GOVERNING BODIES OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT

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ARE PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE  BOARD  SHALL  APPROPRIATE
ANNUALLY SUCH MONEYS AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE BOARD'S CONTRACTUAL AND
PERSONAL  SERVICE  EXPENDITURES, IN SUCH AMOUNTS OR PROPORTION AS MAY BE
PROVIDED  IN  THE  AGREEMENT. A COOPERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL BE THE
BOARD OF ETHICS OF EACH MUNICIPALITY THAT IS A PARTY  TO  THE  AGREEMENT
ESTABLISHING  THE  BOARD,  AND  SHALL  HAVE  JURISDICTION TO ACT ONLY IN
RELATION TO THE OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES OF SUCH MUNICIPALITIES.
  (D) IN THE EVENT THAT A MUNICIPALITY DESCRIBED  IN  PARAGRAPH  (B)  OF
THIS SUBDIVISION DOES NOT ESTABLISH A BOARD OF ETHICS AND IS NOT A PARTY
TO AN AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A COOPERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS:
  (I)  IN  THE  CASE OF A MUNICIPALITY OTHER THAN A SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE
BOARD OF ETHICS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE MUNICIPALITY IS LOCATED SHALL
SERVE AS THE BOARD OF ETHICS OF SUCH MUNICIPALITY AND HAVE  JURISDICTION
TO  ACT  IN RELATION TO THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THAT MUNICIPALITY,
PROVIDED THAT IF SUCH A MUNICIPALITY IS LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY,
THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE MUNICIPALITY BY  RESOLUTION  SHALL  DESIGNATE
THE  BOARD  OF  ETHICS  OF  ONE OF THE COUNTIES TO SERVE AS THE BOARD OF
ETHICS OF THE MUNICIPALITY;
  (II) IN THE CASE OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT,  OTHER  THAN  THE  CITY  SCHOOL
DISTRICT  OF A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOU-
SAND OR MORE, THE BOARD OF ETHICS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOCES OF THE SUPER-
VISORY DISTRICT IN WHICH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOCATED SHALL  SERVE  AS
THE BOARD OF ETHICS OF SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HAVE JURISDICTION TO ACT
IN RELATION TO THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND
  (III)  IN  THE CASE OF A CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF A CITY HAVING A POPU-
LATION OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND OR MORE, THE BOARD OF  ETHICS
ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  CITY IN WHICH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOCATED SHALL
SERVE AS THE BOARD OF ETHICS OF SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HAVE  JURISDIC-
TION  TO  ACT  IN  RELATION TO THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF SUCH SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
  (E) IN THE CASE OF A MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS NOT ESTABLISHED A BOARD  OF
ETHICS  AND  IS  NOT  A PARTY TO AN AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A COOPERATIVE
BOARD OF ETHICS:
  (I) THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MUNICIPALITY, ANNUALLY,  WITHIN
THIRTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE START OF THE MUNICIPALITY'S FISCAL YEAR, SHALL
NOTIFY  THE  APPROPRIATE COUNTY, BOCES OR CITY BOARD OF ETHICS THAT SUCH
BOARD SHALL SERVE AS THE BOARD OF  ETHICS  FOR  THE  MUNICIPALITY.  SUCH
NOTICE  SHALL  BE  ACCOMPANIED  BY  A  COMPLETE  AND CURRENT COPY OF THE
MUNICIPALITY'S CODE OF ETHICS. IF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE  MUNICI-
PALITY  ARE  SUBJECT TO ANNUAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ARTICLE, SUCH NOTICE SHALL ALSO  BE  ACCOMPANIED
BY  A  COMPLETE  AND  CURRENT COPY OF ALL LOCAL LAWS, ORDINANCES, RESOL-
UTIONS AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE MUNICIPALITY RELATING TO THE IMPO-
SITION, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE FILING REQUIREMENT. AT THE
TIME SUCH NOTICE IS GIVEN, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SHALL ALSO  CAUSE
A COPY OF THE NOTICE TO BE POSTED ON THE MUNICIPALITY'S WEB SITE, IF THE
MUNICIPALITY MAINTAINS A WEB SITE, AND IN EACH PUBLIC BUILDING UNDER THE
JURISDICTION  OF THE MUNICIPALITY IN A PLACE CONSPICUOUS TO ITS OFFICERS
AND EMPLOYEES.
  (II) THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY, ANNUALLY,  WITHIN  THIRTY
DAYS  FOLLOWING  THE  START  OF  THE  MUNICIPALITY'S  FISCAL YEAR, SHALL
APPOINT A MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY,  BOCES  OR
CITY  BOARD  OF ETHICS. THE PERSON APPOINTED AS MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVE
SHALL BE A RESIDENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY, AND SHALL BE KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH
RESPECT TO THE MUNICIPALITY'S CODE  OF  ETHICS  AND  THE  MUNICIPALITY'S
ANNUAL  FINANCIAL  DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS, IF ANY. THE MUNICIPAL REPRE-

A. 6596--A                          8

SENTATIVE SHALL RECEIVE NOTICE OF, AND BE ENTITLED TO PARTICIPATE, AS  A
NON-VOTING MEMBER, IN ALL MEETINGS, PROCEEDINGS, DELIBERATIONS AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES  OF  THE  BOARD THAT PERTAIN TO AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE
MUNICIPALITY.    A  MUNICIPAL  REPRESENTATIVE SHALL RECEIVE NO SALARY OR
COMPENSATION FOR HIS OR HER SERVICES, BUT  WITHIN  AMOUNTS  APPROPRIATED
SHALL  BE  REIMBURSED  FOR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE
PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER OFFICIAL DUTIES.
  (F) IN THE EVENT THAT A BOARD OF ETHICS ESTABLISHED BY A COUNTY, BOCES
OR CITY SERVES AS THE BOARD OF ETHICS FOR ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY, AND SUCH
MUNICIPALITY SHALL EITHER ESTABLISH A BOARD OF ETHICS OR BECOME A  PARTY
TO  AN  AGREEMENT  ESTABLISHING A COOPERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS, THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL NOTIFY THE COUNTY, BOCES  OR
CITY  BOARD OF ETHICS OF THE DATE AS OF WHICH SUCH BOARD SHALL NO LONGER
SERVE AS THE BOARD OF ETHICS OF  THE  MUNICIPALITY.  SUCH  NOTICE  SHALL
EITHER  STATE  THAT  THE  MUNICIPALITY  HAS ESTABLISHED ITS OWN BOARD OF
ETHICS OR IDENTIFY SUCH COOPERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS. AT  THE  TIME  SUCH
NOTICE  IS GIVEN, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SHALL ALSO CAUSE A COPY OF
THE NOTICE TO BE POSTED ON THE MUNICIPALITY'S WEB SITE, IF  THE  MUNICI-
PALITY  MAINTAINS  A  WEB  SITE,  AND  IN EACH PUBLIC BUILDING UNDER THE
JURISDICTION OF THE MUNICIPALITY IN A PLACE CONSPICUOUS TO ITS  OFFICERS
AND  EMPLOYEES.  PROMPTLY  AFTER  THE DATE SPECIFIED IN SUCH NOTICE, THE
COUNTY, BOCES OR CITY BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL TRANSFER TO THE MUNICIPAL OR
COOPERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS ALL PENDING MATTERS AND RECORDS RELATING  TO
THE  OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE MUNICIPALITY; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
SUCH COUNTY, BOCES, OR CITY BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL HAVE THE DISCRETION TO
RETAIN ANY PENDING MATTER AND RECORDS RELATING THERETO UNTIL  SUCH  TIME
AS THE MATTER IS RESOLVED.
  (G)  EVERY  BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL CONSIST OF AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS, A
MAJORITY OF WHOM SHALL NOT  BE  MUNICIPAL  OFFICERS  OR  EMPLOYEES.  THE
MEMBERS OF EVERY BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL SERVE FOR A FIXED TERM OF OFFICE,
NOT  TO  EXCEED  FIVE  YEARS. THE LENGTH OF SUCH TERM OF OFFICE SHALL BE
DETERMINED BY THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNING BODY THAT ESTABLISHES THE BOARD OF
ETHICS OR SPECIFIED IN THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A COOPERATIVE BOARD OF
ETHICS, PROVIDED THAT SUCH GOVERNING BODY OR AGREEMENT MAY  PROVIDE  FOR
THE  INITIAL  APPOINTMENTS  TO THE BOARD TO BE MADE FOR STAGGERED TERMS.
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD SHALL BE MADE AS FOLLOWS:
  (I) THE MEMBERS OF A COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY  THE
GOVERNING  BODY  OF  THE COUNTY EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF A COUNTY OPERATING
UNDER AN OPTIONAL OR ALTERNATIVE FORM OF  COUNTY  GOVERNMENT  OR  COUNTY
CHARTER,  IN  WHICH  CASE  THE  MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE, COUNTY MANAGER OR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AS THE CASE  MAY  BE,
SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY SUCH GOVERNING BODY.
  (II)  THE  MEMBERS  OF A BOARD OF ETHICS ESTABLISHED BY A MUNICIPALITY
OTHER THAN A COUNTY SHALL BE APPOINTED BY  THE  GOVERNING  BODY  OF  THE
MUNICIPALITY  OR  BY  SUCH  PERSON  OR  BODY AS MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE
GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
  (III) THE MEMBERS OF A COOPERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL BE  APPOINTED
IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE BOARD.
  (H)  THE  MEMBERS  OF EVERY BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL RECEIVE NO SALARY OR
COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES AS MEMBERS OF  SUCH  BOARD,  BUT  WITHIN
AMOUNTS  APPROPRIATED  SHALL  BE  REIMBURSED  FOR  ACTUAL  AND NECESSARY
EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES, PROVIDED,
THAT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SEVENTY-SEVEN-B  OF  THIS  CHAPTER  SHALL
APPLY TO THE MEMBERS OF A BOARD OF ETHICS.
  2.  [The]  EVERY board OF ETHICS shall render advisory opinions to THE
officers and employees [of municipalities wholly or  partly  within  the

A. 6596--A                          9

county]  UNDER THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION with respect to this article and
any code of ethics adopted pursuant hereto. Such advisory opinions shall
be rendered pursuant to the written  request  of  any  such  officer  or
employee  under  such  rules  and regulations as the board may prescribe
[and shall have the advice of counsel employed by the board, or if none,
the county attorney]. In addition, [it] THE BOARD may  make  recommenda-
tions  with  respect to the drafting and adoption of a code of ethics or
amendments thereto upon the request of the governing body of any munici-
pality [in the county] FOR WHICH THE BOARD SERVES AS THE  MUNICIPALITY'S
BOARD OF ETHICS, AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER FUNCTIONS RELATING TO THE ADMIN-
ISTRATION  OF THIS ARTICLE AS MAY BE AUTHORIZED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OR
AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE BOARD INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  PROVID-
ING  ETHICS  TRAINING  TO  THE  OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES UNDER THE BOARD'S
JURISDICTION.
  2-A. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL OR LOCAL LAW,  ORDINANCE
OR  RESOLUTION  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  EVERY BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL HAVE THE
POWER TO INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THIS ARTICLE AND A CODE  OF
ETHICS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE INVOLVING THE MUNICIPAL OFFICERS
AND  EMPLOYEES  UNDER  THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT APPLY TO A JUDGE OR JUSTICE  OF  THE  UNIFIED
COURT  SYSTEM.  THE BOARD MAY INITIATE SUCH AN INVESTIGATION EITHER UPON
ITS OWN MOTION OR UPON RECEIPT OF A  SWORN  COMPLAINT  ALLEGING  SUCH  A
VIOLATION.
  (B)  AT  ANY  TIME  AFTER RECEIVING A SWORN COMPLAINT OR INITIATING AN
INVESTIGATION, THE BOARD MAY MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION THAT  THERE  HAS
BEEN NO VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE OR A CODE OF ETHICS. IN SUCH CASE, THE
BOARD  SHALL  PROVIDE  WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF SUCH DETERMINATION TO THE
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHO WAS THE SUBJECT OF  THE  INVESTIGATION
AND THE COMPLAINANT, IF ANY.
  (C) AFTER INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION, BUT BEFORE MAKING A PRELIMINARY
DETERMINATION  THAT THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE OR A CODE
OF ETHICS, THE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE TO THE MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR  EMPLOYEE
WHO  IS  THE  SUBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION WRITTEN NOTICE DESCRIBING THE
POTENTIAL VIOLATION, AND PROVIDE THE PERSON WITH AT LEAST A FIFTEEN  DAY
PERIOD  TO  SUBMIT A WRITTEN RESPONSE SETTING FORTH INFORMATION RELATING
TO THE ACTIVITIES CITED AS THE POTENTIAL VIOLATION.
  (D) AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE PERIOD OF TIME  FOR  SUBMISSION  OF  A
WRITTEN  RESPONSE  PURSUANT  TO  PARAGRAPH  (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE
BOARD MAY MAKE  A  PRELIMINARY  DETERMINATION  THAT  THERE  HAS  BEEN  A
VIOLATION    OF THIS ARTICLE OR A VIOLATION OF A CODE OF ETHICS. IN SUCH
CASE, THE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION  OF  THE  PRELIMINARY
DETERMINATION TO THE MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF
THE INVESTIGATION AND PROVIDE THAT PERSON WITH AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY
TO  BE  HEARD. THEREAFTER, IF THE BOARD MAKES A FINAL DETERMINATION THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLATION, THE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION
OF SUCH FINAL DETERMINATION TO THE MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHO WAS
THE SUBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION,  THE  COMPLAINANT,  IF  ANY,  AND  THE
APPOINTING  AUTHORITY  FOR  SUCH  PERSON  OR, IF THE PERSON SERVES IN AN
ELECTIVE OFFICE, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY FOR  WHICH  SUCH
PERSON SERVES.
  (E) IN CASES WHERE THE BOARD FINDS THAT A MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOY-
EE  HAS  WILLFULLY  AND  KNOWINGLY  VIOLATED  THIS  ARTICLE OR A CODE OF
ETHICS, THE BOARD MAY: (I) ISSUE A REPRIMAND; (II) ASSESS A CIVIL PENAL-
TY ON BEHALF OF THE MUNICIPALITY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR  EACH  SUCH  SPECIFIC  VIOLATION;  (III)  RECOMMEND  TO  THE
APPOINTING AUTHORITY FOR SUCH PERSON, IF ANY, SUSPENSION WITH OR WITHOUT

A. 6596--A                         10

PAY,  DEMOTION,  TERMINATION  OR  SUCH  OTHER DISCIPLINARY ACTION AS THE
BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE; AND (IV) IN THE CASE OF A VIOLATION POTENTIALLY
ENCOMPASSED WITHIN SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE, REFER THE
MATTER  TO THE APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. ASSESSMENT OF A CIVIL
PENALTY SHALL BE FINAL UNLESS  MODIFIED,  SUSPENDED  OR  VACATED  WITHIN
THIRTY  DAYS  OF IMPOSITION, AND UPON BECOMING FINAL SHALL BE SUBJECT TO
REVIEW AT THE INSTANCE OF SUCH PERSON IN A PROCEEDING AGAINST THE  BOARD
BROUGHT  PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND
RULES.
  (F) EVERY BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL ADOPT RULES TO ENSURE  PROCEDURAL  DUE
PROCESS IN THE CONDUCT OF ADJUDICATORY PROCEEDINGS HELD PURSUANT TO THIS
SUBDIVISION.  THE  BOARD SHALL CAUSE A COPY OF SUCH RULES TO BE PROVIDED
TO ANY PERSON WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF AN ADJUDICATORY PROCEEDING, AND SUCH
RULES SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR INSPECTION AND COPYING.
  2-B. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION IN ARTICLE  SIX  OR  SEVEN  OF  THE
PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW TO THE CONTRARY:
  (A)  ALL  DOCUMENTS  AND  RECORDS  OF A BOARD OF ETHICS RELATING TO AN
INVESTIGATION OR AN ADJUDICATORY PROCEEDING CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SUBDI-
VISION TWO-A OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE  CONFIDENTIAL  AND  SHALL  NOT  BE
AVAILABLE  TO  THE PUBLIC, EXCEPT THAT FINAL DETERMINATIONS OF THE BOARD
WITH RESPECT TO WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE OR  A
CODE OF ETHICS SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AND COPYING;
  (B) ADVISORY OPINIONS RENDERED BY A BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL BE AVAILABLE
FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AND COPYING, PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION IDENTIFYING
THE  MUNICIPAL  OFFICER  OR  EMPLOYEE  REQUESTING  THE  OPINION SHALL BE
REDACTED FROM THE COPY MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC; AND
  (C) NO MEETING OF A BOARD OF ETHICS OR PORTION THEREOF RELATING TO THE
CONDUCT OF AN INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE AND NO  ADJUDICA-
TORY  PROCEEDING CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO-A OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, UNLESS THE AFFECTED  MUNICIPAL  OFFICER  OR
EMPLOYEE  REQUESTS  AND  THE BOARD AGREES TO PERMIT PUBLIC ATTENDANCE AT
THE MEETING OR PROCEEDING.
  3. [The governing body of any municipality other  than  a  county  may
establish  a  local board of ethics and, where such governing body is so
authorized, appropriate moneys for maintenance and personal services  in
connection therewith. A local board shall have all the powers and duties
of  and  shall  be  governed by the same conditions as a county board of
ethics, except that it shall act  only  with  respect  to  officers  and
employees  of the municipality that has established such board or of its
agencies. The members of a local board shall be appointed by such person
or body as may be designated by the governing body of  the  municipality
to  serve  at  the  pleasure  of the appointing authority and such board
shall consist of at least three members, a  majority  of  whom  are  not
otherwise  officers  or employees of such municipality. Such board shall
include at least one member who is an  elected  or  appointed  municipal
officer or employee.
  4.  The county board of ethics shall not act with respect to the offi-
cers and employees of any municipality located  within  such  county  or
agency thereof, where such municipality has established its own board of
ethics,  except  that the local board may at its option refer matters to
the county board.
  5.] A BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL HAVE THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL EMPLOYED BY THE
BOARD OR, IF NONE, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE  MUNICIPALITY  THAT  ESTABLISHED
THE BOARD OR, IN THE CASE OF A COOPERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS, SUCH MUNICI-
PAL  ATTORNEY  AS  MAY  BE  DESIGNATED IN THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE
COOPERATIVE BOARD OF ETHICS.

A. 6596--A                         11

  4. THE board of ethics of  a  political  subdivision  (as  defined  in
section  eight  hundred  ten of this article) and THE BOARD OF ETHICS of
any other municipality[,] which [is required by local law, ordinance  or
resolution  to be, or which pursuant to legal authority, in practice is,
the  repository  for completed annual statements of financial disclosure
shall notify the temporary state commission on local  government  ethics
if  such  commission  be in existence and if not, shall file a statement
with the clerk of its municipality, that it is the authorized repository
for completed annual statements of  financial  disclosure  and  that  on
account thereof, such completed statements will be filed with it and not
with  the  commission.  Should any local law, ordinance or resolution be
adopted which provides for the filing of such  completed  annual  state-
ments  with  the  temporary  state commission on local government ethics
instead of with such board of ethics, such board of ethics shall  notify
the  temporary state commission on local government ethics of that fact]
REQUIRES FILING OF ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO
THIS ARTICLE, SHALL RECEIVE,  REVIEW  FOR  COMPLETENESS,  AND  SERVE  AS
REPOSITORY  FOR  SUCH ANNUAL STATEMENTS AND ENFORCE SUCH FILING REQUIRE-
MENT.
  5. EACH MEMBER OF EVERY BOARD OF ETHICS SHALL ATTEND AND  SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETE  A TRAINING COURSE APPROVED BY THE STATE COMPTROLLER WITHIN TWO
HUNDRED SEVENTY DAYS OF HIS OR HER APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT  TO  THE
BOARD;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  NOTHING  IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
DEEMED TO REQUIRE A MEMBER OF A BOARD OF ETHICS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE
SUCH TRAINING COURSE MORE THAN ONCE. THE COURSE SHALL  CONTAIN  TRAINING
RELATED  TO  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  ARTICLE, CODES OF ETHICS, ANNUAL
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE AND DECISIONAL LAW RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF  INTER-
EST AND ETHICS AND SUCH OTHER TOPICS AS THE COMPTROLLER DEEMS ADVISABLE.
WHEN  APPROVED  IN  ADVANCE  OF  ATTENDANCE BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE
MUNICIPALITY ESTABLISHING THE BOARD OR IN  THE  MANNER  PROVIDED  IN  AN
AGREEMENT  ESTABLISHING  A  COOPERATIVE  BOARD OF ETHICS, THE ACTUAL AND
NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED BY A BOARD MEMBER IN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING
THE TRAINING REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION SHALL  BE  A  CHARGE  AGAINST  THE
MUNICIPALITY  OR  THE  MUNICIPALITIES  PARTICIPATING  IN THE COOPERATIVE
BOARD OF ETHICS AS PROVIDED IN SUCH AGREEMENT.
  6. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO A CITY  HAVING  A
POPULATION  OF  ONE  MILLION OR MORE OR TO A COUNTY, SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR
OTHER PUBLIC AGENCY OR FACILITY THEREIN.
  S 12. Subdivision 9 of section 810 of the general  municipal  law,  as
added by chapter 813 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
  9. The term "appropriate body" or "appropriate bodies" shall mean[:
  (a)  in  the  case  of  any political subdivision which has created or
hereafter creates a board of ethics which is in existence at the time an
annual statement of financial disclosure is  due,  and  which  has  been
designated  by  local  law, ordinance or resolution to be the repository
for such completed statements, such board of ethics;
  (b) in the case of any political  subdivision  which  has  created  or
hereafter creates a board of ethics which is in existence at the time an
annual  statement of financial disclosure is due, and which has not been
designated by local law, ordinance or resolution to  be  the  repository
for  such  completed statements, the temporary state commission on local
government ethics;
  (c) in the case of any political subdivision for  which  no  board  of
ethics  is  in  existence  at  the time an annual statement of financial
disclosure is due, the temporary state commission  on  local  government

A. 6596--A                         12

ethics]   THE   BOARD   OF   ETHICS  OF  ANY  POLITICAL  SUBDIVISION  OR
MUNICIPALITY.
  S  13.  Paragraphs  (c) and (d) of subdivision 1 of section 811 of the
general municipal law, as added by chapter 813 of the laws of 1987,  are
amended to read as follows:
  (c) The governing body of a political subdivision or any other county,
city,  town  or village which requires any local or municipal officer or
employee or any local elected official  or  any  local  political  party
official to complete and file either of such annual statements of finan-
cial  disclosure shall have, possess, exercise and enjoy all the rights,
powers and privileges attendant thereto which are necessary  and  proper
to  the  enforcement  of such requirement, including but not limited to,
the promulgation of rules and regulations pursuant to local  law,  ordi-
nance  or  resolution,  which  rules  or regulations may provide for the
public availability of items of information to be contained on such form
of statement of financial disclosure, the determination of penalties for
violation of such rules or regulations, and such other powers  as  [are]
WERE  conferred  upon the temporary state commission on local government
ethics pursuant to THE FORMER section eight  hundred  thirteen  of  this
article, AS ADDED BY CHAPTER EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTEEN OF THE LAWS OF NINE-
TEEN  HUNDRED  EIGHTY-SEVEN, as such local governing body determines are
warranted under the circumstances existing in its county, city, town  or
village.
  (d) The local law, ordinance or resolution, if and when adopted, shall
provide  for the annual filing of completed statements with [either] the
[temporary state commission on local government ethics or with the board
of ethics of the political subdivision or other municipality]  APPROPRI-
ATE BODY, and shall contain the procedure for filing such statements and
the date by which such filing shall be required. [If the board of ethics
is  designated as the appropriate body, then such] SUCH local law, ordi-
nance or resolution shall  confer  upon  the  [board]  appropriate  BODY
authority to enforce such filing requirement, including the authority to
promulgate  rules  and regulations of the same import as those which the
FORMER temporary state commission on  local  government  ethics  [enjoys
under section eight hundred thirteen of this article] COULD HAVE ADOPTED
UNDER FORMER SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTEEN OF THIS ARTICLE, AS ADDED BY
CHAPTER   EIGHT  HUNDRED  THIRTEEN  OF  THE  LAWS  OF  NINETEEN  HUNDRED
EIGHTY-SEVEN.  Any such local law, ordinance or resolution shall author-
ize exceptions with respect to complying  with  timely  filing  of  such
disclosure  statements  due to justifiable cause or undue hardship.  The
appropriate body shall prescribe rules and regulations related  to  such
exceptions  with  respect  to  extensions and additional periods of time
within which to file such statement including the imposition of  a  time
limitation upon such extensions.
  S  14.  Paragraph  (a)  of subdivision 1 of section 812 of the general
municipal law, as added by chapter 813 of the laws of 1987 and the open-
ing paragraph as amended by chapter 85 of the laws of 2004,  is  amended
to read as follows:
  (a)  Any  political subdivision or other county, city, town or village
to which all of the provisions of  this  section  are  made  applicable,
whether  as the result of the provisions contained in subdivision two of
section eight hundred eleven of this  article  or  as  a  result  of  an
election to be subject to the provisions of this section as permitted by
subdivision  two  of  this  section, shall require (i) each of its local
elected officials and local officers  and  employees,  (ii)  each  local
political  party  official  and  (iii)  each candidate for local elected

A. 6596--A                         13

official with respect to such political subdivision, to file  an  annual
statement  of financial disclosure containing the information and in the
form set forth in subdivision five of this section except  that  disclo-
sure  requirements  for  assessors  who  are not covered by this article
shall be governed by the requirements of section three  hundred  thirty-
six  of  the  real property tax law. Such statement shall be filed on or
before the fifteenth day of May with respect to the  preceding  calendar
year, except that:
  (i)  a  person  who  is  subject to the reporting requirements of this
subdivision and who timely filed with the internal  revenue  service  an
application  for automatic extension of time in which to file his or her
individual income tax return for the immediately preceding  calendar  or
fiscal  year  shall be required to file such financial disclosure state-
ment on or before May fifteenth but may, without being subjected to  any
civil penalty on account of a deficient statement, indicate with respect
to  any  item  of the disclosure statement that information with respect
thereto is lacking but will be supplied in a supplementary statement  of
financial  disclosure, which shall be filed on or before the seventh day
after the expiration of the period of such automatic extension  of  time
within  which  to  file such individual income tax return, provided that
failure to file or to timely file such supplementary statement of finan-
cial disclosure or the filing of an incomplete or deficient supplementa-
ry statement of financial disclosure shall be subject to the notice  and
penalty  provisions  of  this  section  respecting  annual statements of
financial disclosure as if such supplementary statement were  an  annual
statement;
  (ii)  [a person who is required to file an annual financial disclosure
statement with  the  temporary  state  commission  on  local  government
ethics,  and who is granted an additional period of time within which to
file such statement due to  justifiable  cause  or  undue  hardship,  in
accordance  with  required  rules and regulations on the subject adopted
pursuant to paragraph c of subdivision nine  of  section  eight  hundred
thirteen  of  this  article,  shall file such statement within the addi-
tional period of time granted;
  (iii)] candidates for local  elected  official  who  file  designating
petitions for nomination at a primary election shall file such statement
within  seven  days  after the last day allowed by law for the filing of
designating petitions naming them as candidates for the next  succeeding
primary election;
  [(iv)]  (III)  candidates for independent nomination for local elected
official who have not been designated by a party to receive a nomination
shall file such statement within seven days after the last  day  allowed
by law for the filing of independent nominating petitions naming them as
candidates  for local elected official in the next succeeding general or
special or village election; and
  [(v)] (IV) candidates for local elected official who receive the nomi-
nation of a party for a special election or who receive  the  nomination
of  a  party  other  than  at  a primary election (whether or not for an
uncontested office) shall file such statement within  seven  days  after
the  date  of the meeting of the party committee at which they are nomi-
nated.
  S 15. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section  812  of  the  general
municipal  law,  as added by chapter 813 of the laws of 1987, is amended
to read as follows:
  (a) Such local law, ordinance  or  resolution  must  provide  for  the
promulgation  of  a  form of an annual statement of financial disclosure

A. 6596--A                         14

described in subdivision one of section eight  hundred  eleven  of  this
article  for use with respect to information the governing body requires
to be reported for the calendar year next succeeding the year  in  which
such  local  law,  ordinance  or  resolution is adopted and for use with
respect to information required to be reported for  subsequent  calendar
years;  and  shall  provide  for the filing of completed statements with
[either] the [temporary state commission on local government  ethics  or
with  the  board of ethics of the political subdivision or other munici-
pality, as specified in subdivision one of section eight hundred  eleven
of this article] APPROPRIATE BODY.
  S 16. Section 813 of the general municipal law is REPEALED.
  S  17.  Section  13  of  chapter  946 of the laws of 1964 amending the
general municipal law and other laws relating to conflicts  of  interest
of municipal officers and employees, is amended to read as follows:
  S  13. Laws superseded. The provisions of article [eighteen] 18 of the
general municipal law, as added by this act, shall supersede  any  local
law,  charter,  ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation of any munici-
pality to the extent that such local  law,  charter,  ordinance,  resol-
ution,  rule  or regulation is inconsistent with the provisions thereof.
No local law, ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation shall modify  or
dispense  with  any  provision  of  article [eighteen] 18 of the general
municipal law, as added by this act;  provided,  however,  that  nothing
[herein]  contained  IN  THIS  SECTION  shall  prohibit a code of ethics
adopted pursuant thereto from supplementing the provisions of  this  act
OR  FROM  BEING  MORE STRINGENT THAN ARTICLE 18 OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
LAW.
  S 18. Notwithstanding any general, special or local law to the contra-
ry, the governing body of any municipality which has prior to the effec-
tive date of this act: (a) established a board  of  ethics  pursuant  to
section 808 of the general municipal law; and (b) not established a term
of  office  for  the  members  of  such board, such governing body shall
establish terms of office for the members  of  such  board  pursuant  to
paragraph g of subdivision 1 of section 808 of the general municipal law
as  added  by this act to begin on a date no later than the first day of
the municipality's fiscal year commencing in 2015 and on such  date  the
positions  on such board of ethics shall be deemed vacant, provided that
nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the reappointment
of an incumbent board member for such term of office.
  S 19. Notwithstanding any general, special or local law to the contra-
ry, any person serving as a member of  a  board  of  ethics  established
pursuant  to  section  808 of the general municipal law on the effective
date of  this  act  shall  successfully  complete  the  training  course
required  by  subdivision  5 of section 808 of such law as added by this
act within one year of the effective date of this act.
  S 20. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become  a  law;  provided,  however,
that  the amendments to paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 808 of
the general municipal law made by section eleven of this act shall  take
effect January 1, 2016.