Senate Bill S4366

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S4366

SPONSOR: GAUGHRAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to prohibiting
certain municipal employees from serving as political party officers

 
PURPOSE:

This bill prohibits municipal appointees, who are not members of a
collective bargaining unit, from serving as political party officers
during their tenure with the municipality.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends General Municipal Law Section 806, which relates to
local governmental codes of ethics, to explicitly prohibit appointed
municipal employees, who are not members of a collective bargaining
unit, from also serving as a political party officer in any capacity.

              

Section 2: Establishes the Effective Date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The governing body of each county, city, town, village, school districts
and fire district in our state is empowered to adopt a local code of
ethics, setting forth guidance for its officers and employees regarding
the standards of conduct reasonably expected of them. Many governing
bodies have taken steps to prohibit their employees from engaging in
certain political activities that create a conflict, or even the percep-
tion of a conflict, with their roles as municipal employees.

Political party officers often assist with the organization of, and
fundraising for, political campaigns. It is improper for municipal
employees, especially those with supervisory roles, to solicit political
donations or request that a subordinate volunteer to engage in a poli-
tical activity. Even when these solicitations occur outside of the work-
place, subordinates may feel pressure to participate. These types of
solicitations raise questions of favoritism, quid-pro-quo, and at the
very least, create a perceived conflict of interest.

By limiting the ability of a governmental appointee from simultaneously
serving as a political officer, assurance can be had that no govern-
mental subordinates will feel unwanted pressure to engage in political
activities in order to maintain or advance their employment.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.