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

                                 5159--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 12, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE, STECK, SKOUFIS, McDONALD, MILLER, JAFFEE,
  COLTON,  KEARNS,  BUCHWALD,  ARROYO,  MONTESANO,  HAWLEY, RAIA, FINCH,
  CURRAN, DUPREY, ZEBROWSKI, HOOPER, GALEF, WRIGHT, PICHARDO, SCHIMEL --
  Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GARBARINO, LAWRENCE, SIMON -- read once
  and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations --  recommit-
  ted  to  the  Committee  on Governmental Operations in accordance with
  Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
  reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to  requiring  the  joint
  commission on public ethics to develop and maintain an ethics training
  course  for  members  and  staff  of the legislature; and to amend the
  legislative law, in relation to requiring all members of the  legisla-
  ture  to successfully complete the ethics training course on an annual
  basis

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

  Section  1.  Paragraph  (m)  and subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (n) of
subdivision 9 of section 94 of  the  executive  law,  paragraph  (m)  as
amended  and subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (n) as added by section 6 of
part A of chapter 399 of the laws of 2011 are amended and  a  new  para-
graph (o) is added to read as follows:
  (m)  Determine  a  question  common  to a class or defined category of
persons or items of information required to be disclosed, where determi-
nation of the question will prevent undue  repetition  of  requests  for
exemption  or  deletion  or prevent undue complication in complying with
the requirements of such section; [and]
  (iv) if thereafter sufficient cause exists, the commission shall  take
additional actions, as appropriate and consistent with law[.]; AND
  (O)  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  DEVELOP  AND  MAINTAIN AN ETHICS TRAINING
COURSE FOR MEMBERS AND STAFF OF THE LEGISLATURE. SUCH  COURSE  SHALL  BE
DESIGNED  TO  HELP  LEGISLATORS AND STAFF IN UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLYING

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD08838-03-6
              

A. 5159--A                          2

WITH CURRENT ETHICAL AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE  LAW,
LEGISLATIVE  RULES  AND FEDERAL LAW. THE COURSE WHICH SHALL BE AVAILABLE
TO MEMBERS AND STAFF OF THE LEGISLATURE AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE
INTERNET, SHALL INCLUDE TRAINING MATERIALS AND EXERCISES TO BE COMPLETED
AS  PART OF THE COURSE AND SHALL INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR VERIFYING WHEN A
LEGISLATOR HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED KEY TRAINING EXERCISES.
  S 2. Article 5 of the legislative law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
section 81 to read as follows:
  S 81. ETHICS TRAINING COURSE. 1. EACH MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE SHALL:
  A. ANNUALLY COMPLETE THE ETHICS TRAINING COURSE DEVELOPED BY THE JOINT
COMMISSION  ON  PUBLIC  ETHICS  PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (O) OF SUBDIVISION
NINE OF SECTION NINETY-FOUR OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW;
  B. SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE KEY TRAINING EXERCISES OF THE COURSE; AND
  C. VERIFY THE COMPLETION ON HIS OR HER  ANNUAL  LEGISLATIVE  FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE FORM.
  2. NEWLY ELECTED LEGISLATORS SHALL COMPLETE THE ETHICS TRAINING COURSE
WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF BEING SWORN INTO OFFICE.
  3.  FAILURE  TO  COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE A
CLASS A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF  FIVE  THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
  S  3.  If  any part or provision of this act is adjudged by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such
judgment shall not affect or impair any other part or provision of  this
act, but shall be confined in its operation to such part or provision.
  S 4. This act shall take effect January 1, 2017.