BILL NUMBER:  S917

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
requiring the joint commission on public ethics to oversee the conduct
of commission members in their interactions with certain public
officials and public servants

 PURPOSE :

This bill directs the joint commission on public ethics to develop
internal guidelines that govern members' conduct and interaction with
public officials and public servants.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section one directs the joint commission on public ethics to develop
internal guidelines that govern members' conduct and interaction with
public officials and public servants. Further, this section requires
that the guidelines be published on the commissions website.

Section two provides that this act shall take effect sixty days after
becoming law.

 JUSTIFICATION :

After reviewing the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, the New York
              

Ethics Review Commission issued a report and recommendations on
November 1, 2015. One of the complaints that the Review Commission
heard was that firewalls should be erected between JCOPE members and
their appointing authorities. In their report, the Commission stated
that they understand why the erection of firewalls was suggested, and
that they believed that the suggestion would be best accomplished by
JCOPE developing internal guidelines for JCOPE members' conduct in
their interactions with public officials and public servants, with
whom they come into contact in the course of their own public and
professional lives, while at the same time having oversight of these
same officials and public servants.

By directing JCOPE to issue guidelines, which are available for the
public to review, we can help restore public trust in our government.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S.7633 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.