Ethics in NYS Government

Ethics laws were enacted to prevent both actual and apparent conflicts of interest between official duties and private interests. 

  • The Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011 (PIRA) became effective on August 15, 2011. It established the Joint Commission of Public Ethics (JCOPE) which expanded the existing functions and jurisdiction of the former Commission on Public Integrity.
  • On April 9, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Ethics Commission Reform Act of 2022 (ECRA). ECRA repealed operative provisions of the Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011 and established the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) to replace JCOPE. 
  • The jurisdiction of COELIG includes all SUNY employees. 
  • Read more in the Ethics Handbook - Plain Language Guide to the Public Officers Law and Related Ethics Laws.

Ethic laws and regulations applicable to SUNY employees include:

Public Officers Law Section 73


Public Officers Law Section 73 - Business or professional activities by state officers, state employees and party officers

Public Officers Law Section 73-A

Public Officers Law Section 73-A - Financial Disclosure 

Public Officers Law Section 74

Public Officers Law Section 74 - Code of Ethics

Civil Services Law 107

Civil Services Law 107 - Prohibition against certain political activities; improper influence

 

 

  • Also required to file an FDS:
    • Individuals designated as policy makers by their Agency; and
    • Employees with an annual salary rate in excess of the "filing rate" of a SG-24 CSEA equivalent (see current CSEA Salary Schedule)
    • In general, part-time employees who serve in a position with an annual full time salary that exceeds the "filing rate" are still required to file an FDS even if they actually receive less than the "filing rate" amount in any year.
    • Mandatory Ethics Trainings for FDS Filers:
      • COELIG Online Ethics Trainings for all FDS Filers (Available on SLMS)
        • Individuals who are newly-subject to the FDS filing requirement are required to complete the COELIG Online Ethics Orientation within three months from they date they became a Policy Maker or a Threshold Filer (either through being newly-hired, promoted or transferred).
      • Comprehensive Ethics Training Course: Two-hour Live
        • FDS Filers are required to complete the Comprehensive Ethics Training Course ("CETC") within two years from the date they became a Policy Maker or Threshold Filer (either through being newly-hired, promoted or transferred).
        • New FDS Filers who complete the CETC within three months from the date they became a Policy Maker or Threshold Filer are not required to take the Online Ethics Orientation.
      • Ethics Seminar: 90 minute, Live
        • On a continuing basis, FDS Filers are required to complete the Ethics Seminar every three years from the date they completed the CETC.
        • The Ethics Seminar is an update on any changes in the applicable ethics laws, regulations and policies.

Requests Employees Must Make In Advance of Receiving Payment or Performing Service:

 

Honoraria

An honorarium is any payment made in exchange for rendering a service or activity that is not part of your official duties. Examples include: delivering a speech, writing or publishing an article, or participating in a public or private conference, convention, meeting, or similar event.

An honorarium may also include payment or reimbursement of expenses for travel, lodging, or meal(s) related to the service performed.

A request for approval of an honorarium must be submitted in writing to your agency's Ethics Officer or his or her designated approving authority before performing the service or activity.  Statewide elected officials and State agency heads (including civil department heads) must submit an honorarium approval request to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying.

Request Form

Honoraria Policy PDF

All faculty members of SUNY and CUNY (except SUNY community colleges) and State officers and employees with certain titles (research scientist; cancer research scientist; research physician; research psychiatrist; psychiatrist) are exempt from the Honorarium approval procedures (including the conditions for approval), provided that the service performed is within the subject matter of their official academic or research discipline.

Official Activity Expense Payment

An Official Activity Expense Payment is a payment or reimbursement for the cost of attendance, registration, travel, food, or lodging related to a person’s official activity. Official activity is a person’s attendance or service at a meeting, conference, seminar, convention, or professional program that is part of his or her official duties and benefits their State agency. Please use this form to request approval of Official Activity Expense Payment. 

Request Form

Activity Expense Policy PDF

Outside Activity (for policymakers only)

Within the University, policy-makers generally are considered to be those employees at the level of Dean and above at the campuses and Associate vice chancellor and above in the system administration. All policy-makers are prohibited from serving as an officer of a political party or political organization or as a member of a national committee of a political party. The regulations further require that salaried policy-makers obtain the prior approval of their appointing authority (campus or system administration) and the State Ethics Commission before:

  • Holding other public office or engaging in other public employment for more than nominal compensation;
  • Engaging in any private employment, business or other activity (including not-for-profit) for more than the defined nominal compensation; and
  • Serving as director or officer of a for-profit corporation or institution, regardless of compensation.

Please use the applicable form to request approval for Outside Activity. 

Campus Request Form

COELIG Request Form (if over $5,000)

Outside Activity Policy PDF

Gifts

State officers and employees generally are prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts of more than “nominal value” from individuals and entities that do business with the State. There are several exceptions to this prohibition. The rules on whether the acceptance of a gift is permissible are contained in the regulation 19 NYCRR Part 933. 

Gifts - An overview on the gift restrictions for State officers and employees.

Agency Ethics Officers

Each agency designates an Ethics Officer to provide guidance to these individuals on compliance with the ethics laws. In addition, the Ethics Officer has the responsibility to ensure that both the agency and its personnel comply with the legal obligations related to the following subjects:

  1. Requirements to File an Annual Financial Disclosure Statement
  2. Mandatory Ethics Training for FDS Filers
  3. Approvals for Outside Activities
  4. Approvals for Honoraria
  5. Approvals for Official Activity Expense Payments
  6. Acceptance of Gifts (including Widely Attended Events)

Please contact the Geneseo Ethics Officer, Julie Briggs, with any questions. 

Julie Briggs
Office Phone: (585)245-5616
E-Mail: briggsja@geneseo.edu

Ethics Tips

Writing a letter? Avoid using agency letterhead!

Check here before working or volunteering outside the office.

Read this before your agency contracts with a former employee.