LBD15272-03-2
A. 10512 2
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
WAY OF THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE USING PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, ROADS OR STREETS;
AND
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(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
THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OR BODY ARE INSUFFICIENT IN NUMBER OR
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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:
S 806. [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
other provision of this article to the contrary, a fire district code of
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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:
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(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-
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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. 10512 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. 10512 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. 10512 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. 10512 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. 10512 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. 10512 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 2013 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, 2014.