S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
764
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to municipal
offices of the inspector general
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new arti-
cle 4-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4-A
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
SECTION 60. ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
61. FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.
62. POWERS.
63. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY AND ITS OFFICERS AND
EMPLOYEES.
§ 60. ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION. 1. NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, EACH MUNICIPALITY HAVING A POPU-
LATION OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PERSONS OR MORE SHALL ESTABLISH AN
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR SUCH MUNICIPALITY. THE HEAD OF THE
OFFICE SHALL BE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
2. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL HOLD OFFICE FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD OF
FOUR YEARS AND UNTIL THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND
HAS QUALIFIED.
3. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL REPORT TO THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERN-
ING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00350-01-5
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4. THE SALARY OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE
GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY WITHIN THE LIMIT OF FUNDS AVAILABLE
THEREFOR.
§ 61. FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL HAVE THE
FOLLOWING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. RECEIVE AND INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS FROM ANY SOURCE, OR UPON THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OWN INITIATIVE, CONCERNING ALLEGATIONS OF
CORRUPTION, FRAUD, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR ABUSE IN
ANY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OR AGENCY OF THE MUNICIPALITY;
2. DETERMINE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ALLEGATIONS WHETHER DISCIPLINARY
ACTION, CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, OR FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY AN
APPROPRIATE FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL AGENCY IS WARRANTED, AND TO ASSIST
IN SUCH INVESTIGATIONS;
3. PREPARE AND RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC WRITTEN REPORTS OF SUCH INVESTI-
GATIONS, AS APPROPRIATE AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SUBJECT TO
REDACTION TO PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF WITNESSES. THE RELEASE OF
ALL OR PORTIONS OF SUCH REPORTS MAY BE DEFERRED TO PROTECT THE CONFIDEN-
TIALITY OF ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS;
4. REVIEW AND EXAMINE PERIODICALLY THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE
DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES AND AGENCIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY WITH REGARD TO THE
PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CORRUPTION, FRAUD, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY,
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR ABUSE;
5. RECOMMEND REMEDIAL ACTION TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE CORRUPTION,
FRAUD, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR ABUSE IN THE DEPART-
MENTS, OFFICES OR AGENCIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY;
6. ESTABLISH PROGRAMS FOR TRAINING MUNICIPAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES IN
REGARD TO THE PREVENTION AND ELIMINATION OF CORRUPTION, FRAUD, CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR ABUSE IN THE DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES AND
AGENCIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY; AND
7. MAKE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE MAYOR, THE COMPTROLLER AND THE GOVERN-
ING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY CONCERNING ITS WORK DURING THE PRECEDING
YEAR. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE NUMBER OF
CASES INVESTIGATED, AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS RECEIVED. SUCH INITIAL
REPORT SHALL BE DUE NO LATER THAN THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND
TWENTY-SEVEN, AND THEN BY THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL EACH YEAR THEREAFTER.
SUCH REPORT SHALL BE MADE PUBLIC AND PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ON THE WEBSITE OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
§ 62. POWERS. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO:
1. SUBPOENA AND ENFORCE THE ATTENDANCE OF WITNESSES;
2. ADMINISTER OATHS OR AFFIRMATIONS AND EXAMINE WITNESSES UNDER OATH;
3. REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF ANY BOOKS AND PAPERS DEEMED RELEVANT OR
MATERIAL TO ANY INVESTIGATION, EXAMINATION OR REVIEW;
4. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY, EXAMINE AND COPY OR REMOVE
DOCUMENTS OR RECORDS OF ANY KIND PREPARED, MAINTAINED OR HELD BY ANY
DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OR AGENCY OF THE MUNICIPALITY;
5. REQUIRE ANY MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
CONCERNING ANY MATTER RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH PERSON'S OFFI-
CIAL DUTIES. NO STATEMENT OR OTHER EVIDENCE DERIVED THEREFROM MAY BE
USED AGAINST SUCH OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE IN ANY SUBSEQUENT CRIMINAL PROSE-
CUTION OTHER THAN FOR PERJURY OR CONTEMPT ARISING FROM SUCH TESTIMONY.
THE REFUSAL OF ANY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SHALL BE
CAUSE FOR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER APPROPRIATE PENAL-
TY;
6. MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANY RECOMMENDA-
TIONS MADE BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL; AND
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7. PERFORM ANY OTHER FUNCTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE TO
FULFILL THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE.
§ 63. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY AND ITS OFFICERS AND
EMPLOYEES. 1. EVERY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL REPORT
PROMPTLY TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING CORRUPTION,
FRAUD, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR ABUSE BY ANOTHER
OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE RELATING TO SUCH PERSON'S OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, OR
BY A PERSON HAVING BUSINESS DEALINGS WITH THE MUNICIPALITY RELATING TO
THOSE DEALINGS. THE KNOWING FAILURE OF ANY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE TO SO
REPORT SHALL BE CAUSE FOR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER
APPROPRIATE PENALTY UNDER THIS ARTICLE. ANY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WHO ACTS
PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION BY REPORTING TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OR
OTHER APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL IMPROPER GOVERNMENTAL ACTION
AS DEFINED IN SECTION SEVENTY-FIVE-B OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW SHALL NOT
BE SUBJECT TO DISMISSAL, DISCIPLINE OR OTHER ADVERSE PERSONNEL ACTION.
2. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL ADVISE THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNING BODY
OF THE MUNICIPALITY WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE ISSUANCE OF A REPORT BY
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AS TO THE REMEDIAL ACTION THAT THE MUNICIPALITY
HAS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO ANY RECOMMENDATION FOR SUCH ACTION CONTAINED IN
SUCH REPORT.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.