BILL NUMBER:  S920

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to prohibitions
on former members of the joint commission on public ethics

 PURPOSE :

This bill bans departing members of JCOPE from appearing or practicing
before any state agency, for which it had jurisdiction over, for a
period of two years. Further, this bill prohibits members from JCOPE
from transferring their state service to the Executive Chamber for a
period of two years.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section one bans former members of JCOPE from appearing or practicing
before any state agency, for which it had jurisdiction over, for a
period of two years. Further, this bill prohibits members from JCOPE
from transferring their state service to the Executive Chamber for a
period of two years.

Section two provides that this act shall take effect on the ninetieth
day after it shall become law.

              

 JUSTIFICATION :

JCOPE, established in 2011, is the watchdog for the operation and
oversight of state government. As JCOPE itself states, their mission
is to promote integrity, help those in public service understand their
ethical obligations, ensure transparency through rigorous public
reporting disclosures, and providing accountability through
enforcement actions to address ethical misconduct.

However, a very troubling trend has emerged within this very important
ethical watchdog. All too often, we see members of the commission
leaving the service of the commission to instead work for the
Executive Chamber or take other high level jobs within one of the
state agencies they oversaw.

The appearance of impropriety and the opportunity for corruption are
far too high when the very people, who are supposed to be
investigating state ethical matters, are simultaneously negotiating
their own employment contracts with the officials and public servants
that it oversees.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S7471 of 2015/16: Referred to Finance

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

No cost to the state.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect the sixtieth day after it shall have become
law.