N.Y. Pub. Auth. Law § 1232-P

Current through 2024 NY Law Chapter 553

Section 1232-P - Code of ethics

1. Definition. As used in this section the term "authority member" shall mean any officer or member of the board of the authority.

2. No authority member shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in any business, transaction or professional activity, or incur any obligation of any nature, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties in the public interest.

(a) No authority member shall accept other employment, which will impair his or her independence of judgment in the exercise of his or her official duties.

(b) No authority member shall accept employment or engage in any business or professional activity which will require the member to disclose confidential information which he or she has gained by reason of his or her official position or authority.

(c) No authority member shall disclose confidential information acquired by the member in the course of his or her official duties nor use such information to further his or her personal interests.

(d) No authority member shall use or attempt to use his or her official position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for him or herself or others.

(e) No authority member shall engage in any transaction as representative or agent of the authority with any business entity in which he or she has a direct or indirect financial interest that might reasonably tend to conflict with the proper discharge of his or her official duties.

(f) An authority member shall not by his or her conduct give reasonable basis for the impression that any person can improperly influence such member or unduly enjoy his or her favor in the performance of his or her official duties, or that he or she is affected by the kinship, rank, position or influence of any party or person.

(g) An authority member shall abstain from making personal investments in enterprises which he or she has reason to believe may be directly involved in decisions to be made by the member or which will otherwise create substantial conflict between his or her duty in the public interest and his or her private interest.

(h) An authority member shall endeavor to pursue a course of conduct which will not raise suspicion among the public that he or she is likely to be engaged in acts that are in violation of his or her trust.

(i) No authority member employed on a full-time basis nor any firm or association of which such a member is a member nor a corporation a substantial portion of the stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such member, shall sell goods or services to any person, firm, corporation or association which is licensed or whose rates are fixed by the authority in which such member serves or is employed.

(j) If any authority member shall have a financial interest, direct or indirect, having a value of ten thousand dollars or more in any activity which is subject to the jurisdiction of a regulatory agency, he or she shall file with the secretary of state a written statement that he or she has such a financial interest in such activity which statement shall be open to public inspection.

4. In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, any such authority member who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any of the provisions of this section may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment.

5. All members of the authority shall be deemed to be public officers and shall, notwithstanding any other ethical requirements established by state or local law, and when not inconsistent with the provisions of this title, comply with sections seventy-three, seventy-three-a and seventy-four of the public officers law. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the filing of a Nassau county financial disclosure statement, pursuant to the Nassau county code of ethics as set forth in section twenty-two hundred eighteen of the county charter, by a member of the authority shall constitute and be deemed in compliance with the financial disclosure requirements imposed by this section and section seventy-three-a of the public officers law.

N.Y. Pub. Auth. Law § 1232-P