New York State Assembly

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua), along with the entire Assembly Minority Conference, today unveiled a comprehensive legislative package of anti-corruption measures that would institute unprecedented reforms to state government. The 'Public Officers Accountability Act of 2013' (A.7393) establishes new standards, increases penalties and sets requirements to govern the conduct of individuals who serve the people of New York State.

In a letter to Governor Cuomo, state legislative leaders, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Leader Kolb outlined sweeping reforms aimed at mitigating corruption and holding public officials accountable for behavior that undermines their offices.

"The Assembly Minority Conference has introduced comprehensive legislation that calls for unprecedented reforms to the laws, regulations and requirements that guide the conduct of state officials," Kolb wrote. "I am proud that every member of our Conference has signed onto this comprehensive bill package. In doing so, the Assembly Minority Conference has made a steadfast commitment to bringing real change to Albany that will foster greater integrity, transparency and accountability, which our constituents expect and deserve."

The Public Officers Accountability Act of 2013 (A.7393) contains a host of legislative initiatives aimed at restoring the confidence of voters in their elected officials. It calls for the implementation of meaningful reforms to the requirements that guide public officials and heightens the consequences faced by individuals who violate the public trust. The Public Officers Accountability Act of 2013 contains proposals that will:

• Ban individuals convicted of felonies related to official duties from future public employment, lobbying activity or bidding on state contracts;

• Replace the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) with a new Commission on Official Conduct - a five-member panel made up of individuals appointed by State Court of Appeals jurists charged with oversight and investigation of public corruption matters;

• Implement eight-year term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs;

• Institute member-item reforms that require every appropriation to be named and itemized in the State Budget; require the Governor or legislator requesting an appropriation to notify the Attorney General that no conflict of interest exists; and prohibit any appropriation when a conflict of interest exists - including appropriations to organizations that employ or compensate the Governor, a legislator, a family member, or any person sharing the home of the Governor or legislator;

• Create new crimes and increase penalties for those who act against the public trust or fail to report corruption;

• Limit the use of campaign funds to only campaign activities, prohibiting the use of funds for criminal defenses, salary payments to staff or family, vehicle purchases or leases and several other activities; and

• Require that the campaign funds of public officials convicted of a felony are returned to donors or turned over to charity.

The Public Officers Accountability Act of 2013 complements anti-corruption proposals that were introduced earlier this year. Leader Kolb and other Assembly Minority members have already proposed legislation to remove pensions from convicted public officials and to provide the voting public with greater powers through recall elections. The Assembly Majority voted against advancing both measures.

"Proposals to address public corruption have been discussed for several weeks. But recent events have only magnified the need for effective solutions and swift, decisive action to clean up Albany," Leader Kolb said. "Corruption, cover-ups and compromising the public trust must stop. We have an opportunity and an obligation to restore the confidence of the people we serve. The time is now. Public officials should be held to higher standards - so let's finally set some."

A copy of Leader Kolb's letter is attached, along with a summary of the provisions contained in the Public Officers Accountability Act of 2013. The bill can be viewed in its entirety on the Assembly website.