NY State Senate Bill 2017-S7337

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2018	referred to finance

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2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10113
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Public Officers Law
Laws Affected:: Add §75-b, Pub Off L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S1302, A586
2021-2022: S2948, A424
2023-2024: A1433

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes a joint commission on public transparency and sexual harassment to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations defining sexual harassment for state agencies, offices, and branches of government and develop recommendations for the uniform distribution of such definitions and policies, and to receive complaints and referrals alleging violations by certain state officials.

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7337

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to establishing a
joint commission on public transparency and sexual harassment

 
PURPOSE:

To improve policies and promote transparency regarding sexual harassment
policies for certain state employees.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Creates a new section 75-b of the public officers law, estab-
lishing a joint commission on public transparency and sexual harassment.
The commission will consist of 11 members appointed by specified indi-
viduals. Appointees shall include, but not be limited to, an attorney
employed in the area of sexual harassment litigation and similar legal
matters, a human resources or labor relations representative, a member

of law enforcement with experience in relation to sex crimes and harass-
ment, and a member of the judicial branch with experience in the consid-
eration of civil claims related to sexual harassment and sex discrimi-
nation. Members shall serve for terms of five years.

The commission shall be responsible for adopting, amending, and rescind-
ing rules and regulations defining sexual harassment for state agencies,
offices, and branches of government, and shall make forms available for
complaints of sexual harassment and sex discrimination.  The responsi-
bilities of the commission will also include, but are not limited to,
reviewing of sexual harassment filing procedures, receiving complaints
and referrals, reporting allegations that would constitute a crime to
law enforcement, making determinations on complaints and providing
recommendations for appropriate resolutions to such complaints, develop-
ing and administering an online sexual harassment orientation court for
legislature and executive branch employees and members, and preparing an
annual report summarizing the activities of the commission. Members of
the commission shall also be required to sign a non-disclosure statement
and establish procedures necessary to prevent the unauthorized disclo-
sure of any information received by the commission.

Section 2: Establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Recent events on the national level have highlighted the pervasiveness
of sexual harassment in the workplace and society in general. The U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner (EEOC), the entity responsible
for enforcing federal laws preventing discrimination, received more than
1,200 individual charge filings in FY 2016 for cases involving sex
discrimination, which includes sexual harassment, in New York State
alone. These cases make up nearly one-third of the total New York indi-
vidual charge filings received by the EEOC.  Despite the prevalence of
sexual harassment, there is no uniform definition, and by extension, no
uniform process for how to address it. In fact, Title VII of the Civil
rights Act of 1964 prohibits sexual discrimination, however it does not
define "sexual harassment" and there are no federal regulations requir-
ing the implementation of a specific sexual harassment policy. Unfortu-
nately, these inconsistencies are not isolated to the federal government
but extend to state government as well.

Unfortunately, these inconsistencies are enhanced by a lack of transpar-
ency in the handling and resolution of many these cases. In particular,
complaints against public officials have been called into question
regarding reporting of these cases and the use of public monies to
encourage quick resolution. For example, the United States Congress
Office of Compliance recently reported that between 2008 and 2012,
$174,000 was paid to victims of sex discrimination against offices of
the House of Representatives from a U.S. Treasury fund.  Even more has
been paid out from other public monies, as that data does not include
payments from individual offices of members of Congress.

Similarly, New York State has also used public money to settle sexual
harassment claims-paying out at least $5 million to settle sexual
harassment cases between 2008 and 2010. The Comptroller's Office has
cautioned that it is not clear exactly how much was paid out for such
cases in recent years. As such, this legislation seeks to bring more
accountability and transparency to state government when it comes to
handling sex discrimination and sexual harassment cases, and preventing
these crimes from simply being swept under the rug with taxpayer money.

As victims of sexual harassment continue to step forward, it is impor-
tant that we encourage reporting and shine a light on the importance of
taking proactive steps to assist victims, as well as preventing future
victimization. We, as a state and its representatives, should stand
behind them and echo their concerns rather than hinder their efforts. To
that end, individuals who have a pattern of conduct amounting to sex
discrimination and sexual harassment should not be allowed to hide
behind state agencies and taxpayer dollars. Sexual harassment and sex
discrimination are not new phenomena. According to an ABC News-Washing-
ton Post poll, 54% of American women have experienced "unwanted and
inappropriate sexual advances," and 30% of women have experienced such
behavior from male colleagues. Furthermore, nearly one out of four women
have been subjected to such advances by "someone who had influence over
their work situation." Reform must first start in government to provide
an example of how these cases should be identified and handled, and to
foster public trust in institutions and their representatives.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to settlements
entered into on and after such date.

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7337
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 8, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to  establishing  a
   joint commission on public transparency and sexual harassment
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The public officers law is amended by adding a new  section
 75-b to read as follows:
   §  75-B.  COMMISSION ON PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT.  1.
 WHEN USED IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE  THE  FOLLOWING
 MEANINGS:
   (A)  "STATEWIDE  ELECTED OFFICIAL" SHALL MEAN THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT
 GOVERNOR, COMPTROLLER, OR ATTORNEY GENERAL;
   (B) "STATE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE" SHALL MEAN:
   (I) HEADS OF STATE DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR DEPUTIES AND  ASSISTANTS  WHO
 SERVE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL; AND
   (II)  OFFICERS  AND EMPLOYEES OF STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO SERVE
 AT THE DISCRETION OF THE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL;
   (C) "LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE" SHALL MEAN ANY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE  OF  THE
 LEGISLATURE; AND
   (D)  "LEGISLATIVE MEMBER" SHALL MEAN A SENATOR OR MEMBER OF THE ASSEM-
 BLY.
   2. THERE IS HEREBY  ESTABLISHED  WITHIN  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE  A
 COMMISSION  ON  PUBLIC  TRANSPARENCY  AND  SEXUAL HARASSMENT WHICH SHALL
 CONSIST OF ELEVEN MEMBERS AND SHALL HAVE AND EXERCISE THE POWERS AND THE
 DUTIES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION WITH RESPECT TO STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFI-
 CIALS, STATE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES, AND LEGISLA-
 TIVE MEMBERS. THIS SECTION SHALL  NOT  BE  DEEMED  TO  HAVE  REVOKED  OR
 RESCINDED ANY REGULATIONS OR ADVISORY OPINIONS ISSUED BY THE LEGISLATIVE
 ETHICS  COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION ON PUBLIC INTEGRITY, THE STATE ETHICS
 COMMISSION, OR THE STATE OFFICE FOR HUMAN  RIGHTS  IN  EFFECT  UPON  THE
 EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS SECTION TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH REGULATIONS OR
 OPINIONS ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ANY LAW OF THIS STATE, BUT SUCH REGU-
 LATIONS AND OPINIONS SHALL APPLY ONLY TO MATTERS OVER WHICH SUCH COMMIS-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14132-01-8

 S. 7337                             2
 
 SIONS HAD JURISDICTION AT THE TIME SUCH REGULATIONS  AND  OPINIONS  WERE
 PROMULGATED  OR  ISSUED.  THE COMMISSION SHALL UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE
 REVIEW OF THE CURRENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICIES IN THE LEGISLATURE  AND
 EXECUTIVE  AGENCIES.  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL, BEFORE FEBRUARY FIRST, TWO
 THOUSAND NINETEEN, REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE  REGARDING
 THIS REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY REGULATORY OR STATUTORY GUIDANCE
 FOR CONSISTENCY AND TRANSPARENCY.
   3.  THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF ELEVEN MEMBERS OF WHOM THREE SHALL
 BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, FOUR BY THE CHIEF JUDGE OF  THE  COURT  OF
 APPEALS,  AND  ONE  EACH  BY  THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY
 PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE MINORITY LEADER  OF  THE  SENATE,  AND  THE
 MINORITY  LEADER  OF THE ASSEMBLY. OF THE THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE
 GOVERNOR, NO MORE THAN TWO SHALL  BE  ENROLLED  IN  THE  SAME  POLITICAL
 PARTY,  AND  TWO  SHALL  BE  ATTORNEYS  ADMITTED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THIS
 STATE. OF THE FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE COURT  OF
 APPEALS, NO MORE THAN TWO SHALL BE ENROLLED IN THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY,
 TWO  SHALL  BE ATTORNEYS LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THIS STATE, AND TWO
 SHALL NOT BE ATTORNEYS. NO MEMBER  OF  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  HOLD  ANY
 OFFICE  IN  ANY  POLITICAL  PARTY.    MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE
 APPOINTED BASED ON THEIR  ACTUAL  EXPERIENCE  IN  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF
 INSTITUTIONAL  POLICIES,  SEXUAL  HARASSMENT  CLAIMS,  AND LEGAL MATTERS
 REGARDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT ISSUES, SEX CRIMES, AND REPORTING.  APPOINT-
 ING  AUTHORITIES  SHALL  COORDINATE  APPOINTMENTS TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE
 LIMITED TO, AN ATTORNEY ACTUALLY EMPLOYED IN THE AREA OF SEXUAL  HARASS-
 MENT LITIGATION AND SIMILAR LEGAL MATTERS WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTAND-
 ING  SERVICE  AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS LEGAL AREA, A HUMAN RESOURCES OR
 LABOR RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED  ACTUAL  SERVICE  IN
 THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF EFFECTIVE SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICIES IN THE WORK-
 PLACE, A MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO HAS WORK EXPERIENCE  IN  RELATION
 TO  SEX  CRIMES  AND HARASSMENT, AND A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH WHO
 HAS HAD EXPERIENCE IN THE CONSIDERATION OF CIVIL CLAIMS RELATED TO SEXU-
 AL HARASSMENT AND SEX DISCRIMINATION. IN THE EVENT THAT A VACANCY ARISES
 WITH RESPECT TO A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION FIRST APPOINTED  PURSUANT  TO
 THIS  SECTION  BY  A  LEGISLATIVE LEADER, THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS OF THE
 SAME POLITICAL PARTY IN THE SAME HOUSE SHALL APPOINT A  MEMBER  TO  FILL
 SUCH VACANCY IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THAT LEGISLATIVE LEADER'S POLITICAL
 PARTY  IS  IN  THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY. NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE ELIGIBLE
 FOR APPOINTMENT AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION WHO  CURRENTLY  OR  WITHIN
 THE  LAST  THREE  YEARS  IS  OR  HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK STATE
 LEGISLATURE OR HAS BEEN A LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE, OR A  STATEWIDE  OFFICER
 OR  ELECTED  OFFICIAL OR A COMMISSIONER OF AN EXECUTIVE AGENCY APPOINTED
 BY THE GOVERNOR, OR HAS HELD JUDICIAL OFFICE. MEMBERS OF THE  COMMISSION
 SHALL BE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE.
   4.  MEMBERS  OF  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS OF FIVE YEARS;
 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED BY THE  GOVERNOR,
 ONE  SHALL  SERVE  FOR  ONE YEAR, ONE SHALL SERVE FOR TWO YEARS, AND ONE
 SHALL SERVE FOR THREE YEARS, AS DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNOR; THE  MEMBERS
 FIRST  APPOINTED  BY  THE  TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND BY THE
 SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY SHALL SERVE FOR FOUR YEARS AND THE MEMBERS FIRST
 APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADERS OF THE SENATE AND THE  ASSEMBLY  SHALL
 SERVE FOR TWO YEARS.
   5.  MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL DESIGNATE A CHAIR FROM THE MEMBER-
 SHIP THEREOF FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS OR UNTIL HIS OR HER  TERM  EXPIRES,
 WHICHEVER PERIOD IS SHORTER. THE CHAIR OR A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION MAY
 CALL A MEETING.

 S. 7337                             3
 
   6.  ANY  VACANCY  OCCURRING  ON  THE COMMISSION SHALL BE FILLED WITHIN
 THIRTY DAYS OF ITS OCCURRENCE IN THE SAME MANNER  AS  THE  MEMBER  WHOSE
 VACANCY  IS  BEING  FILLED  WAS  APPOINTED. A PERSON APPOINTED TO FILL A
 VACANCY OCCURRING OTHER THAN BY EXPIRATION OF A TERM OF OFFICE SHALL  BE
 APPOINTED FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE MEMBER HE OR SHE SUCCEEDS.
   7. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION MAY BE REMOVED BY THE APPOINTING AUTHORI-
 TY  SOLELY  FOR SUBSTANTIAL NEGLECT OF DUTY, GROSS MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE,
 VIOLATION OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY, INABILITY TO DISCHARGE THE  POWERS  OR
 DUTIES  OF  OFFICE  OR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, AFTER WRITTEN NOTICE
 AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A REPLY.
   8. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE REIMBURSED  FOR  ALL  REASONABLE
 EXPENSES ACTUALLY AND NECESSARILY INCURRED BY HIM OR HER IN THE PERFORM-
 ANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION.
   9. EIGHT MEMBERS SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM.
   10. THE COMMISSION SHALL:
   (A)  ADOPT,  AMEND  AND  RESCIND RULES AND REGULATIONS DEFINING SEXUAL
 HARASSMENT FOR STATE AGENCIES, OFFICES, AND BRANCHES OF  GOVERNMENT  AND
 DEVELOP  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF THE DEFINITIONS
 AND POLICIES DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION;
   (B) MAKE AVAILABLE FORMS FOR COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT  AND  SEX
 DISCRIMINATION  INVOLVING STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS, STATE OFFICERS OR
 EMPLOYEES, LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES;
   (C) REVIEW SEXUAL HARASSMENT FILING PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH  THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION;
   (D)  RECEIVE  COMPLAINTS  AND REFERRALS ALLEGING VIOLATIONS OF SECTION
 TWO HUNDRED NINETY-SIX OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW, OR  PROVISIONS  OF  ARTICLE
 ONE  HUNDRED  THIRTY OF THE PENAL LAW BY A STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL, A
 STATE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE OR LEGISLATIVE MEMBER;
   (E) IMMEDIATELY REPORT ANY ALLEGATIONS THAT, IF TRUE, WOULD CONSTITUTE
 A CRIME, TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR INVESTIGATION;
   (F) FOR ALL OTHER MATTERS THE COMMISSION  SHALL  DETERMINE  WHETHER  A
 COMPLAINT  IS "FOUNDED" OR "UNFOUNDED" AND SHALL ISSUE A RECOMMENDATION,
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE  CONFIDENTIALITY  PROVISIONS  CONTAINED  IN  THIS
 SECTION  AND  CONSISTENT  WITH ALL OTHER LAWS, INCLUDING AWARDS TO CRIME
 VICTIMS UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW, TO THE APPOINTING
 AUTHORITY AS TO THE BASIS OF THE CLAIMS, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROPRIATE
 RESOLUTION, AND WHETHER THE COMMISSION APPROVES OF  THE  USE  OF  PUBLIC
 MONIES,  INCLUDING  FUNDS OF THE LEGISLATURE, TO RESOLVE SPECIFIC CLAIMS
 RAISED BY THE CLAIMANT. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION  SHALL  BE
 FULLY  AND PROPERLY CONSIDERED BY THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY BUT SHALL NOT
 BE BINDING. THERE SHALL BE  A  REBUTTABLE  PRESUMPTION  ASSUMED  BY  THE
 COMMISSION THAT ANY STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL, STATE OFFICER OR EMPLOY-
 EE,  OR  LEGISLATIVE MEMBER OR EMPLOYEE WHO MAKES A GOOD FAITH EFFORT AT
 REPORTING OR ADDRESSING SEXUAL HARASSMENT SHALL NOT BE HELD INDIVIDUALLY
 LIABLE UNDER ANY CLAIM OR SETTLEMENT;
   (G) PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  LEGISLATURE
 SUMMARIZING  THE  ACTIVITIES  OF THE COMMISSION DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR
 INCLUDING, BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO,  (I)  AN  ACCOUNTING  OF  FOUNDED  AND
 UNFOUNDED  CLAIMS  OF  SEXUAL HARASSMENT ORGANIZED BY LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
 AND EXECUTIVE OFFICE OR  AGENCY,  AND  (II)  WHERE  A  MATTER  HAS  BEEN
 RESOLVED,  THE  DATE  AND NATURE OF THE DISPOSITION AND ANY SANCTIONS OR
 RECOMMENDATIONS  OF  THE  COMMISSION,  SUBJECT  TO  THE  CONFIDENTIALITY
 REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION;
   (H)  PROVIDE NOTIFICATION TO ANY PERSON WHO HAS FILED A SEXUAL HARASS-
 MENT CLAIM OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION'S REVIEW  AS  WELL  AS

 S. 7337                             4
 
 THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO APPEAL THE COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION PURSUANT
 TO SUBDIVISION TWELVE OF THIS SECTION;
   (I) APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO SHALL ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
 POLICIES OF THE COMMISSION. THE APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE
 DIRECTOR SHALL BE MADE SOLELY BY A VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION,
 WHICH MAJORITY SHALL INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVER-
 NOR  FROM  EACH  OF  THE  TWO  MAJOR  POLITICAL  PARTIES, AND ONE MEMBER
 APPOINTED BY A LEGISLATIVE LEADER FROM EACH OF THE TWO  MAJOR  POLITICAL
 PARTIES. THE COMMISSION MAY DELEGATE AUTHORITY TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
 TO  ACT IN THE NAME OF THE COMMISSION BETWEEN MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION
 PROVIDED SUCH DELEGATION IS IN WRITING, THE SPECIFIC POWERS TO BE DELEG-
 ATED ARE ENUMERATED, AND THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT DELEGATE ANY DECISIONS
 SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION THAT REQUIRE A VOTE   OF THE  COMMISSION.  THE
 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL BE APPOINTED WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL AFFIL-
 IATION AND SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF FITNESS TO PERFORM THE DUTIES ASSIGNED
 BY THIS ARTICLE, AND SHALL BE A QUALIFIED, INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL. THE
 COMMISSION  MAY  REMOVE  THE  EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR  FOR  NEGLECT OF DUTY,
 MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE, VIOLATION OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY, OR INABILITY  OR
 FAILURE TO DISCHARGE THE POWERS OR DUTIES OF OFFICE, INCLUDING THE FAIL-
 URE TO FOLLOW THE LAWFUL INSTRUCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION;
   (J)  REVIEW  AND  APPROVE A STAFFING PLAN PROVIDED AND PREPARED BY THE
 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHICH SHALL CONTAIN, AT A  MINIMUM,  A  LIST  OF  THE
 VARIOUS  UNITS  AND DIVISIONS AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN EACH
 UNIT, TITLES AND THEIR DUTIES, AND SALARIES,  AS  WELL  AS  THE  VARIOUS
 QUALIFICATIONS  FOR  EACH POSITION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, EDUCA-
 TION AND PRIOR EXPERIENCE FOR EACH POSITION;
   (K) APPOINT SUCH OTHER STAFF AS ARE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT ITS  DUTIES
 UNDER THIS SECTION; AND
   (L)  DEVELOP  AND  ADMINISTER  AN ONLINE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ORIENTATION
 COURSE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH-
 ES FOR THE PURPOSES OF A UNIFORM AND CONSISTENT  POLICY  ACROSS  GOVERN-
 MENT.
   11.  (A)  WHEN  AN INDIVIDUAL BECOMES A MEMBER OR STAFF OF THE COMMIS-
 SION, THAT INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A NON-DISCLOSURE  STATE-
 MENT.
   (B)  EXCEPT  AS  OTHERWISE  REQUIRED  OR  PROVIDED  BY  LAW, TESTIMONY
 RECEIVED OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION OBTAINED BY A COMMISSIONER OR STAFF OF
 THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT BE DISCLOSED BY  ANY  SUCH  INDIVIDUAL  TO  ANY
 PERSON  OR  ENTITY  OUTSIDE  THE  COMMISSION  DURING THE PENDENCY OF ANY
 MATTER. ANY CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION TO ANY PERSON OR  ENTITY  OUTSIDE
 THE  COMMISSION  RELATED  TO THE MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMISSION MAY OCCUR
 ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION.
   (C) THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE
 UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED BY ANY MEMBER OF THE
 COMMISSION OR STAFF OF THE COMMISSION. ANY BREACHES  OF  CONFIDENTIALITY
 SHALL  BE  INVESTIGATED  BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND APPROPRIATE ACTION
 SHALL BE TAKEN. ANY COMMISSIONER OR PERSON EMPLOYED  BY  THE  COMMISSION
 WHO INTENTIONALLY AND WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION RELEASES CONFIDENTIAL INFOR-
 MATION RECEIVED BY THE COMMISSION SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS A MISDEMEA-
 NOR.
   12. THE COMMISSION SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE AN AGENCY OF THE STATE WITHIN
 THE  MEANING  OF ARTICLE THREE OF THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT
 AND SHALL ADOPT RULES GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF ADJUDICATORY  PROCEEDINGS
 AND  APPEALS  TAKEN  PURSUANT  TO  A  PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER ARTICLE
 SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL  PRACTICE  LAW  AND  RULES  RELATING  TO  THE
 ASSESSMENT  OF  PENALTIES  OR  FINDINGS AUTHORIZED IN THIS SECTION. SUCH

 S. 7337                             5
 
 RULES, WHICH SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL  REQUIREMENTS  OF  THE
 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT, SHALL PROVIDE FOR DUE PROCESS PROCE-
 DURAL  MECHANISMS  SUBSTANTIALLY  SIMILAR  TO THOSE SET FORTH IN ARTICLE
 THREE OF THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT BUT SUCH MECHANISMS NEED
 NOT BE IDENTICAL IN TERMS OF SCOPE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to settle-
 ments entered into on and after such date.

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Senate Bill S7337

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

co-Sponsors

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7337

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

co-Sponsors

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7337 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments