An Act concerning financial disclosure requirements for certain State public employees and officers and the members of the Legislature, and amending and supplementing P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et seq.).

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. (New section) Every public employee, public officer and legislator, as such terms are defined in section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall file a sworn and duly notarized financial disclosure statement, or other such authentication as the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, as appropriate, may require to facilitate electronic filing, which is current as of five days prior to the date of filing. Each statement shall include the following information:

a. the name and position of the public employee, public officer or legislator;

b. any occupation, trade, business, profession of employment engaged in by the public employee, public officer or legislator, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union and dependent children;

c. (1) a list of all assets having a value of more than $1,000, both tangible and intangible, in which a direct or indirect interest is held as of the date of the statement by the public employee, public officer or legislator, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union and dependent children. Where stocks and bonds are involved, there shall be included the name of the company, mutual fund, holding company or government agency issuing them. Whenever such interest exists through ownership in a mutual fund or holding company, the individual stocks held by such mutual fund or holding company need not be listed; whenever such interest exists through a beneficial interest in a trust, the stocks and bonds held in such trust shall be listed only if the public employee, public officer or legislator has knowledge of what stocks and bonds are held. Where more than 10 percent of the stock of the corporation is held, the percentage of ownership shall be stated. The list shall include any direct or indirect interest, whether vested or contingent, in any contract made or executed by a government instrumentality. In the case of real estate interests, there shall be given the location, general nature and acquisition date of any real property in New Jersey in which any direct, indirect, vested or contingent interest is held, together with the names of all individuals or entities who share a direct or indirect interest therein and the name of any government instrumentality that is tenant of such property or that has before it an application, complaint or proceeding directly affecting such property.

(2) The value of assets of a public employee or legislator and his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union shall be listed according to the following value categories:

(a) greater than $1,000 but not more than $5,000; (b) greater than $5,000 but not more than $25,000; (c) greater than $25,000 but not more than $50,000; (d) greater than $50,000 but not more than $100,000; (e) greater than $100,000 but not more than $250,000; (f) greater than $250,000 but not more than $500,000; and (g) greater than $500,000.

These assets shall be valued as of the statement date; provided, however, that when the value cannot be determined as of that date, a separate valuation date shall be specified for the particular asset.

(3) The value of assets of (a) the dependent children of a public employee or legislator or (b) a public officer, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union and dependent children need not be disclosed unless specifically requested by the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.

d. (1) A list of all liabilities of the public employee, public officer or legislator, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union and dependent children, except liabilities which are:

(a) less than $10,000 and owed to a relative as defined in section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

(b) less than $1,000 and owed to any other person;

(c) loans secured by a personal motor vehicle, household furniture or appliances where the loan did not exceed the purchase price of the item and the outstanding balance did not exceed $10,000 as of the close of the preceding calendar year; and

(d) revolving charge accounts where the outstanding liability does not exceed $10,000 as of the close of the preceding calendar year.

(2) The value of liabilities shall be listed by category in the same manner as required by paragraph (2) of subsection c. of this section. The value of the liability of a dependent child of a public employee, public officer or legislator need not be disclosed unless specifically requested by the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.

e. A list of all liabilities otherwise subject to disclosure pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection d. of this section of the public employee, public officer or legislator, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union and dependent children which have been forgiven by the creditor within 12 months of the statement date. For each such forgiven liability so listed, the name of the creditor to whom such a liability was owed shall be stated;

f. A list of all sources of income of the public employee, public officer or legislator, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union and dependent children, including all directorships or other fiduciary positions for which compensation has or will be claimed, all capital gains including a description of the individual sources of such gains, all contractual arrangements producing or expected to produce income, and all honoraria, lecture fees, gifts and other cash or non-cash gratuities, and other miscellaneous sources of income including, but not limited to, interest, dividends royalties and rents. The amount of such income received shall be listed and valued by category in the same manner of assets as set forth in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection c. of this section. However, the amount of income of (1) dependent children of a public employee or legislator, or (2) a public officer, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union and dependent children need not be disclosed unless specifically requested by the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards. Sources of income that are not required to be reported are:

(1) cash gifts in an aggregated amount of less than $100 received during the preceding twelve months from a person;

(2) non-cash gifts with an aggregated fair market value of less than $200 received during the preceding twelve months from a person; and

(3) gifts with an aggregated cash or fair market value of less than $3,000 received during the preceding twelve months from a relative as defined in section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

g. A list of any offices, trusteeships, directorships or positions of any nature, whether compensated or uncompensated, held by the public employee, public officer or legislator, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union and dependent children with any firm, corporation, association, partnership or business. If any firm, corporation, association, partnership or business does business with or is licensed, regulated or inspected by a State agency or does business with a casino license holder or applicant, the State agency, casino or applicant shall be identified.

Each statement shall contain a certification by the public employee, public officer or legislator that he or she has read the statement, that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and that he or she has not transferred and will not transfer any asset, interest or property for the purpose of concealing it from disclosure while retaining an equitable interest therein.

2. (New section) a. Within 120 days from the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), each public employee, public officer or legislator who has not already done so shall file the signed and notarized financial disclosure statement required by section 1 of that act or other such authentication as the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards may require to facilitate electronic filing with the commission or committee, as appropriate. In furtherance of their duties under the "New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law," P.L.1971, c.182 (52:13D-12 et seq.), and pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the State Ethics Commission and the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards shall review each statement to determine its conformity with the applicable provisions of law. Upon approving such a statement for filing, the commission or committee shall file and maintain a copy of it for public inspection and copying in accordance with the procedures set forth in P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) and P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.) and shall post the statement on the appropriate website pursuant to subsection (n) of section 10 of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-21) or subsection (k) of section 11 of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-22).

b. Each person who becomes a public employee, public officer or legislator after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall satisfy the filing requirements of that act within 120 days of assuming office or commencing employment.

c. Updated statements shall be filed on the May 15 next succeeding the submission of the original statement and each May 15 thereafter.

d. The State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards shall keep the approved statements on file for so long as the person submitting such statements is a public employee, public officer or legislator of this State, and for five years thereafter.

3. (New section) The State Ethics Commission and the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards shall have the primary responsibility for assuring the proper administration and implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and shall have the power to perform acts necessary and convenient to this end, including, but not limited to, preparing and distributing forms and instructions to be utilized by public employees, public officers or legislators.

4. (New section ) As used in sections 1, 2 and 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

a. "Public employee" shall mean any person holding any of the following offices in the Executive Branch of the State Government:

(1) The Governor;

(2) The Lieutenant Governor;

(3) The head of each principal department;

(4) The chiefs of staff and assistant or deputy heads of each principal department to include all assistant and deputy commissioners of such departments;

(5) The head and the assistant heads of a division of each principal department, or any person exercising substantially similar authority for any board or commission which is organized as in but not of a principal department or any independent authority;

(6) The executive or administrative head and assistant heads of:

(i) any board or commission which is organized in but not of a principal department or

(ii) any independent authority;

(7) The following members of the staff of the Office of the Governor:

(i) Chief of Staff;

(ii) Chief Counsel to the Governor;

(iii) Director of Communications;

(iv) Deputy Chiefs of Staff;

(v) Deputy Chief Counsel;

(vi) Director of the Authorities Unit;

(vii) Appointments Counsel;

(viii) Director of Operations; and

(ix) Any deputy or principal administrative assistant to any of the foregoing members of the staff of the Office of the Governor;

(8) Chief Executive Officers and Deputy Chief Executive Officers of the psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers administered by the Department of Human Services;

(9) Members of the State Board of Agriculture;

(10) Members of the State Board of Education;

(11) Members of the State Board of Public Utilities;

(12) Members of the State Parole Board;

(13) Presidents of the State Colleges and Universities;

(14) State Comptroller; and

(15) Inspector General.

b. "Public officer" shall mean:

(1) the members of the following boards, commissions, independent authorities and public corporations:

(i) Agricultural Development Committee;

(ii) Atlantic City Convention Center Authority;

(iii) Capital City Redevelopment Corporation;

(iv) Casino Reinvestment Development Authority;

(v) Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund;

(vi) Civil Service Commission;

(vii) Commission on Higher Education;

(viii) Commission on Spinal Cord Research;

(ix) Council Affordable Housing;

(x) Development Authority for Small Business, Minorities and Women Enterprises;

(xi) Educational Facilities Authority;

(xii) Election Law Enforcement Commission;

(xiii) Garden State Preservation Trust;

(xiv) Government Records Council;

(xv) Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse;

(xvi) Health Care Administration Board;

(xvii) Health Care Facilities Financing Authority;

(xviii) Higher Education Student Assistance Authority;

(xix) Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council;

(xx) Individual Health Coverage Board;

(xxi) Local Finance Board;

(xxii) Motor Vehicle Commission;

(xxiii) New Jersey Building Authority;

(xxiv) New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research;

(xxv) New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology;

(xxvi) New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities;

(xxvii) New Jersey Cultural Trust;

(xxviii) New Jersey Economic Development Authority;

(xxix) New Jersey Historic Trust Commission;

(xxx) New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Financing Agency;

(xxxi) New Jersey Marine Science Consortium;

(xxxii) New Jersey Meadowlands Commission;

(xxxiii) New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority;

(xxxiv) New Jersey Racing Commission;

(xxxv) New Jersey Real Estate Commission;

(xxxvi) New Jersey Redevelopment Authority;

(xxxvii) New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority;

(xxxviii) New Jersey State Council on the Arts;

(xxxix) New Jersey Technology Governing Board;

(xl) New Jersey Transit Corporation;

(xli) New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority;

(xlii) New Jersey Turnpike Authority;

(xliii) New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority;

(xliv) North Jersey District Water Supply Commission;

(xlv) Office of Information Technology Governing Board;

(xlvi) Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission;

(xlvii) Passaic Valley Water Commission;

(xlviii) Pinelands Commission;

(xlix) Public Employment Relations Commission;

(1) School Ethics Commission;

(1i) Schools Development Authority;

(1ii) Shell Fisheries Council;

(1iii) Small Employer Health Benefits Program;

(1iv) South Jersey Port Corporation;

(1v) South Jersey Transportation Authority;

(1vi) State Athletic Control Board;

(1vii) State Board of Mediation;

(1viii) State Economic Recovery Board for Camden;

(1ix) State Ethics Commission;

(1x) State Investment Council;

(1xi) State Lottery Commission;

(1xii) State Planning Commission;

(1xiii) Tidelands Resource Council;

(1xiv) Urban Development Corporation;

(1v) Wastewater Treatment Trust; and

(1vi) Water Supply Authority.

(2) The members of the governing boards of State Colleges and Universities.

(3) Individuals appointed as a New Jersey member to the following agencies:

(i) Atlantic Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact;

(ii) Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission;

(iii) Clean Ocean and Shore Trust Committee

(iv) The Delaware River and Bay Authority;

(v) Delaware River Basin Commission;

(vi) Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission;

(vii) Delaware River Port Authority;

(viii) Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission;

(ix) Interstate Environmental Commission;

(x) Palisades Interstate Park Commission;

(xi) Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; and

(xii) Waterfront and Airport Commission of New York and New Jersey.

c. "Legislator" shall mean any person elected to serve as a member of the General Assembly or the Senate of the New Jersey Legislature.

d. "Government instrumentality" shall mean the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive Branches of State government including any office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, council, authority or agency therein and any county, municipality, district, public authority public agency or other political subdivision or public body in the State;

e. "State agency" shall mean any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch of State government, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission, or other instrumentality within or created by such department, and any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency;

f. "Relative" shall mean a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, great-grandfather, great-grandmother, brother, sister, nephew, niece, uncle or aunt. Relatives by adoption, half-blood, marriage or remarriage shall be treated as relatives of the whole kinship.

f. "Domestic partner" shall mean "domestic partner" as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3).

g. "Partner in a civil union" shall mean "one partner in a civil union couple" as defined in section 2 of P.L.2006, c.103 (C.37:1-29).

5. (New section) For those situations where a blind trust may be utilized by a public employee, public officer or legislator, his or her spouse, domestic partner or partner in a civil union or dependent children, and approved by the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, as may be appropriate, such trust shall contain the following characteristics:

a. The trust shall not contain investments or assets in which the holder's ownership right or interest is required to be recorded in a public office or those assets whose permanency makes transfer by the trustee improbable or impractical; these investments or assets would include, but not be limited to, businesses, real estate, security interests in personal property and mortgages;

b. The trust shall contain a clear statement of its purpose, namely, to remove from the grantor control and knowledge of investment of trust assets so that conflicts between grantor's responsibilities and duties as a public employee, public officer or legislator and his or her private business or financial interests will be eliminated;

c. The trust shall be irrevocable, and shall be terminated only upon the death of the public employee, public officer or legislator or upon termination of his or her status as a public employee, public officer or legislator whichever shall occur first;

d. The trustee shall be directed not to disclose to the grantor any information about any of the assets in the trust;

e. The trustee shall be required either to:

(1) prepare and file the grantor's personal income tax returns, withholding from distribution of the trust's net income amounts sufficient to pay the grantor's tax; and further to participate in the audit of the grantor's returns during the period of the trust with authority to compromise the grantor's tax liability; or

(2) submit to the grantor, for income tax purposes, a certification of income paid without identifying the assets producing such income;

f. Among its other powers, the trustee shall have authority to determine whether any of the assets originally transferred to the trustee are to be sold and, if so, when;

g. A provision shall be included in the trust agreement prohibiting the trustee from investing the trust property in corporations or businesses which do a significant amount of business with the State of New Jersey or from knowingly making any investment in a corporation, business or venture over which the grantor has regulatory or supervisory authority by virtue of his or her official position;

h. The grantor shall retain no control over the trustee nor shall he or she be permitted to make any recommendations or suggestions as to the trust property;

i. The trustee may be a commercial trustee or a natural person;

j. The principal benefit to be retained by the grantor shall be the right to receive income from the assets transferred to the trust;

k. The trust shall not become effective until submitted and approved by the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards;

l. The trust agreement shall provide the trustee will give the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards access to any records or information related to the trust which is necessary for the performance of the duties of the commission or committee; and

m. A copy of the executed blind trust agreement shall be filed with the State Ethics Commission, and with the head of the department in which the State employee holds his or her position, or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, as appropriate. Attached to such copy shall be a brief statement outlining the business or financial interests from which the regular State employee seeks to remove himself or herself and the actual or potential conflicts of interest, or appearance of such conflicts, which he or she seeks to avoid by use of the trust agreement.

6. (New section) a. (1) No regular State employee or legislator who is required to submit a financial disclosure statement pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, as may be appropriate, shall be permitted to retain any interest in any closely held corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or similar business entity doing business with any New Jersey State, interstate or local government entity, except as provided in subsections b. and c. of this section.

(2) A person who, after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), becomes a regular State employee or legislator required to submit a financial disclosure statement, pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), to the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards and who retains any interest in any closely held corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or similar business entity doing business with any New Jersey State, interstate or local government entity, shall disclose such interest in the person's financial disclosure statement. The State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards shall review this disclosure statement to determine whether the business entities in which the employee or legislator has an interest are engaged in government-related business within the meaning of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and whether the holdings are in compliance with the Conflicts of Interest Law, P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et seq.), and this section. No later than 120 days from the receipt by the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards of the financial disclosure statement, the commission or committee shall notify the employee or legislator of its findings. The employee or legislator shall be afforded 120 days after the date of notification to effectuate the orderly disposition of any asset, except as may be further extended by the commission or committee or to demonstrate to the commission or committee that the business entity has ceased to do business with a government entity in a manner prohibited by this section.

(3) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection a. of this section shall not apply to any purchase, sale, contract or agreement with any government entity other than a State, agency, which is made or awarded after public notice and competitive bidding as provided by the Local Public Contracts Law, P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), or such similar provisions contained in other applicable public bidding laws or regulations, provided that any such purchase, sale, contract or agreement, including a change or orders and amendments thereto, shall receive the prior approval of the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards. The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) do apply where the purchase, sale, contract or agreement is authorized by any of the exceptions, such as professional or technical services, emergent matters, and unique compatibility, provided by the Local Public Contracts Law or such similar provisions contained in other applicable public bidding laws or regulations.

b. (1) No regular State employee or special State officer or legislator who is required to submit a financial disclosure statement pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards shall be permitted to retain any interest in any closely held corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or similar business entity unless the commission or committee shall have first determined that the employee, officer or legislator may retain such an interest in such business entity.

(2) A person who, after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), becomes a regular State employee, special State officer or legislator required by P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to submit a financial disclosure statement to the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards and who retains any interest in any closely held corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or similar business entity shall disclose such interest in the financial disclosure statement of the employee, officer or legislator. The State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards shall review the disclosure statement and shall determine whether the employee, officer or legislator may retain such interest in the business entity consistent with the standards set forth in the Conflicts of Interest Law, P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et seq.), and P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards shall notify the State employee, officer or legislator of its findings no later than 120 days from the receipt of the financial disclosure statement by the commission or committee. The employee, officer or legislator shall be afforded 120 days after the date of notification to effectuate the orderly disposition of any asset, except as may be further extended by the commission or committee or to demonstrate to the commission or committee that the business entity has ceased the business activity in question.

c. The State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards shall review all financial disclosure statement as they may from time to time be submitted by regular State employees, special State officers or legislators to determine whether the covered persons have obtained ownership or interest in any assets that give rise to a present or potential conflict of interest, or present a potential appearance of conflict of interest, within the meaning of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

d. Each regular State employee, special State officer or legislator shall amend his or her financial disclosure statement within 30 days of gaining knowledge of (1) his or her, or his or her spouse's, acquisition of any interest in any closely held corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or similar business entity; or (2) the commencement of any business activity covered by the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

e. Any regular State employee, special State officer or legislator subject to this section who acquires an interest prohibited under P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) by way of inheritance, bequest or similar circumstances beyond his or her control shall follow the procedures for disclosure and disposition set forth in subsections a. and b. of this section.

f. All required divestitures shall be subject to the following conditions:

(1) divestiture shall occur within the time periods prescribed above, unless other wise extended by the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards;

(2) ownership or control of the asset shall not be transferred to a member of the immediate family of the regular State employee, special State officer or legislator; and

(3) the terms and conditions of any conveyance of ownership and control of the asset shall not contain any provision regarding the return of the asset to the regular State employee, special State officer or legislator subsequent to his or her State service.

c. For the purpose of subsections a. and b. of this section:

(1) "Regular State employee" shall have the same meaning as "State officer or employee" as set forth in subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-13).

(2) "Special State officer" shall have the same meaning as "Special State officer or employee" as set forth in subsection e. of section 2 of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-13).

(3) "Legislator" shall mean any person elected to serve as a member of the General Assembly or the Senate of the New Jersey Legislature.

(4) "Member of the immediate family" shall mean a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, child, parent or sibling residing in the same household.

(5) "Domestic partner" shall mean "domestic partner" as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3).

(6) "Partner in a civil union" shall mean "one partner in a civil union couple" as defined in section 2 of P.L.2006, c.103 (C.37:1-29).

(7) "Asset" shall mean property of any kind, real and personal, tangible and intangible, having a value greater than $1,000.

(8) "Interest" in a closely held corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or similar business entity shall mean any ownership or control of any profits or assets of such a business entity.

(9) "Doing business" with any New Jersey State, interstate or local government entity shall mean business or commercial transactions involving the sale, conveyance or rental of any goods or services, and shall not include such activities as compliance with regulatory procedures.

(10) "State agency" shall mean any of the principal departments of State government and any entity allocated therein in conformance with the New Jersey Constitution, Article V, Sec. IV, par.1.

7. Section 10 of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-21) is amended to read as follows:

10. (a) The Executive Commission on Ethical Standards created pursuant to P.L.1967, c.229, is continued and established in the Department of Law and Public Safety and shall constitute the first commission under P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.).

Upon the effective date of P.L.2005, c.382, the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards shall be renamed, and thereafter referred to, as the State Ethics Commission. For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the State Ethics Commission is allocated in, but not of, the Department of Law and Public Safety, but notwithstanding that allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision and control by the department or by any board or officer thereof.

(b) The commission shall be composed of seven members as follows: three members appointed by the Governor from among State officers and employees serving in the Executive Branch; and four public members appointed by the Governor, not more than two of whom shall be of the same political party.

Each member appointed from the Executive Branch shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor during the term of office of the Governor appointing the member and until the member's successor is appointed and qualified. The public members shall serve for terms of four years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors, but of the public members first appointed pursuant to P.L.2003, c.160, one shall serve for a term of two years and one shall serve for a term of four years, and of the two public members first appointed pursuant to P.L.2005, c.382, one shall serve for a term of one year and one shall serve for a term of three years. The Governor shall designate one public member to serve as chairman and one member to serve as vice-chairman of the commission.

The members of the State Ethics Commission who were appointed by the Governor from among the State officers and employees serving in the Executive Branch serving on January 17, 2006 are terminated as of that day. A member terminated pursuant to this paragraph shall be eligible for reappointment.

Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments but, in the case of public members, for the unexpired term only. None of the public members shall be State officers or employees or special State officers or employees, except by reason of their service on the commission. A public member may be reappointed for subsequent terms on the commission.

(c) Each member of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the member's duties.

(d) The Attorney General shall act as legal adviser and counsel to the commission. The Attorney General shall upon request advise the commission in the rendering of advisory opinions by the commission, in the approval and review of codes of ethics adopted by State agencies in the Executive Branch and in the recommendation of revisions in codes of ethics or legislation relating to the conduct of State officers and employees in the Executive Branch.

(e) (1) The commission may, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for the purpose, employ such other professional, technical, clerical or other assistants, excepting legal counsel, and incur such expenses as may be necessary for the performance of its duties.

(2) The commission shall employ a training officer who shall be in the unclassified service of the civil service of this State. The training officer shall devote full-time to the creation, maintenance and coordination of a training program on ethical standards. The program shall be established for the purpose specified in section 2 of P.L.2005, c.382 (C.52:13D-21.1). The program shall be provided by the training officer or assistants or deputies of such officer, or by such other persons as may be designated by the commission. The commission shall approve the form and content of the training program created by the training officer and shall determine when and at what intervals State officers and employees and special State officers and employees in a State agency in the Executive Branch shall be required to complete such a program. The training program may include content which in particular addresses the situations of certain identified groups of officers or employees such as those who are involved in contracting processes.

(3) The commission shall employ a compliance officer who shall be in the unclassified service of the civil service of this State. The compliance officer shall devote full-time to the creation, maintenance, monitoring and coordination of procedures to ensure that all State officers and employees and special State officers and employees in State agencies in the Executive Branch comply fully with all reporting and training requirements and that all materials, forms, codes, orders and notices are distributed to and acknowledged by appropriate individuals, as may be required. In addition, the compliance officer shall conduct, on such regular basis as determined by the commission, systematic audits of State agencies in the Executive Branch for compliance with the laws, regulations, codes, orders, procedures, advisory opinions and rulings concerning the ethical standards for State employees and officers and special State officers and employees.

(f) The commission, in order to perform its duties pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.), shall have the power to conduct investigations, hold hearings, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production before it of such books and papers as it may deem necessary, proper and relevant to the matter under investigation. The members of the commission and the persons appointed by the commission for that purpose are hereby empowered to administer oaths and examine witnesses under oath.

(g) The commission is authorized to render advisory opinions as to whether a given set of facts and circumstances would, in its opinion, constitute a violation of the provisions of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.) or of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.).

(h) The commission shall have jurisdiction to initiate, receive, hear and review complaints regarding violations, by any current or former State officer or employee or current or former special State officer or employee, in the Executive Branch, of the provisions of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.) or of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.). Any complaint regarding a violation of a code of ethics may be referred by the commission for disposition in accordance with subsection (d) of section 12 of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-23).

An investigation regarding a violation committed during service by a former State officer or employee or special State officer or employee shall be initiated by the commission not later than two years following the termination of service.

The commission shall have the authority to dismiss a complaint that it determines to be frivolous.

(i) Any current or former State officer or employee or current or former special State officer or employee found guilty by the commission of violating any provision of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.) or of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.) shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $10,000, which penalty may be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), and may be suspended from office or employment by order of the commission for a period of not in excess of one year. If the commission finds that the conduct of the officer or employee constitutes a willful and continuous disregard of the provisions of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.) or of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.), it may order that person removed from office or employment and may further bar the person from holding any public office or employment in this State in any capacity whatsoever for a period of not exceeding five years from the date on which the person was found guilty by the commission.

In addition, for violations occurring after the effective date of P.L.2005, c.382, the commission may order restitution, demotion, censure or reprimand, or for a failure to file an appropriate financial disclosure statement or form, shall impose a civil penalty of $50 for each day of the violation, which penalty may be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

(j) The remedies provided herein are in addition to all other criminal and civil remedies provided under the law.

(k) The commission shall promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et al.).

(l) (1) The commission shall communicate periodically with the State Auditor, the State Inspector General, the State Commission of Investigation and the Office of Government Integrity, or its successor, in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

(2) The Executive Director of the commission shall meet with the head of each principal department of the Executive Branch of State Government, each board member if a board is considered the head of a principal department, and the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Education, and the Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, within 30 days after the head, member, secretary or commissioner takes office, and shall meet annually with these individuals as a group, to inform them of the laws, regulations, codes, orders, procedures, advisory opinions and rulings concerning applicable ethical standards.

(m) The commission shall create and maintain a toll-free telephone number to receive comments, complaints and questions concerning matters under the jurisdiction of the commission. Information or questions received by the commission by this means shall be confidential and not accessible to the public pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.).

(n) Financial disclosure statements required to be submitted to the commission by law, regulation or executive order shall be filed with the commission not later than May 15 of each calendar year and be made available to the public, promptly after receipt, on the Internet site of the commission, [commencing with submissions for 2005] except that a person who accepts office or employment, after the 120th day preceding May 15 in a calendar year, which makes that person subject to financial disclosure, shall file a financial disclosure statement with the commission no later than 120 days after commencing service in the office or employment. Neither the Governor nor the commission, nor any other official, shall grant an extension of these deadlines. Income information reported in a financial disclosure statement filed on or before May 15 shall be for the prior calendar year. Income information reported in a financial disclosure statement filed after May 15 shall be for the prior calendar year and for the period between January 1 and the fifth day preceding the date of filing in the current calendar year.

(o) The commission shall prepare and ensure the distribution to each State officer and employee and special State officer and employee in a State agency in the Executive Branch of a plain language ethics guide which provides a clear and concise summary of the laws, regulations, codes, orders, procedures, advisory opinions and rulings concerning ethical standards applicable to such officers and employees. The guide shall be prepared to promote ethical day-to-day decision making, to give general advice regarding conduct and situations, to provide easy reference to sources, and to explain the role, activities and jurisdiction of the State Ethics Commission. Each State officer and employee and special State officer and employee shall certify that he or she has received the guide, reviewed it and understands its provisions.

(p) The commission shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of an Executive Order that specifically provides for enforcement by the commission.

(cf: P.L.2005, c.382, s.1)

8. During 2010, any person who files a financial disclosure statement with the State Ethics Commission, as required by law, regulation or executive order, after May 15 shall include income information for the period commencing January 1, 2009 and ending on the fifth day preceding the filing of the statement.

9. Section 11 of P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-22) is amended to read as follows:

11. (a) There is established a Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards in the Legislative Branch of State Government.

(b) Commencing on the 30th day after the effective date of P.L.2008, c.16, the joint committee shall be composed of eight members of the public as follows: two appointed by the President of the Senate, two appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, two appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, and two appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. No member of the Senate or of the General Assembly shall be eligible to serve as a member of the joint committee. No more than two members of the joint committee may be former members of the Senate or of the General Assembly. The members shall be full-time residents of the State and available throughout the year to attend, in person, the meetings of the joint committee.

No member shall be a lobbyist or governmental affairs agent as defined by the "Legislative and Governmental Process Activities Disclosure Act," P.L.1971, c.183 (C.52:13C-18 et seq.), a full-time State employee or an officer or director of any entity which is required to file a statement with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, and no former lobbyist or governmental affairs agent shall be eligible to serve as a member for one year following the cessation of all activity by that person as a governmental affairs agent or lobbyist. Notwithstanding the above restrictions, among the members appointed pursuant to this section, one may be a full-time faculty member of a State public institution of higher education having a doctoral degree and expertise in the areas of ethics, philosophy and government with extensive experience in State legislative organization and procedures. No person who served as a member of the joint committee at any time prior to the 30th day after the effective date of P.L.2008, c.16 shall be eligible to serve as a member of the joint committee as constituted under this subsection. The members shall serve for terms of two years.

The terms of the members shall run from the second Tuesday in January of an even-numbered year to the second Tuesday in January of the next even-numbered year, regardless of the original date of appointment.

Vacancies in the membership of the joint committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments, but for the unexpired term only. The members of the joint committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(c) Commencing on the 30th day after the effective date of P.L.2008, c.16, the chairman of the joint committee shall be selected jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, when the President and Speaker are members of the same political party, from among the members of the joint committee. The first chairman to be selected jointly shall be a full-time faculty member of a State public institution of higher education having a doctoral degree and expertise in the areas of ethics, philosophy and government with extensive experience in State legislative organization and procedures. The vice chairman shall be selected jointly by the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, when the Minority Leaders are members of the same political party, from among the members of the joint committee. When the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly are not members of the same political party, the President and Speaker shall alternate in selecting the chairman of the joint committee with the President of the Senate selecting the chairman first, and then, at the next organization of the joint committee if the President and the Speaker are not members of the same political party, the Speaker of the General Assembly selecting the chairman. When the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly are not members of the same political party, the Minority Leaders shall alternate in selecting the vice chairman of the joint committee with the Minority Leader of the Senate selecting the vice chairman first, and then, at the next organization of the joint committee if the Minority Leaders are not members of the same political party, the Minority Leader of the General Assembly selecting the vice chairman. The alternating method of selection shall continue regardless of intervening periods when joint selections are made.

The chairman and the vice chairman shall not be members of the same political party.

(d) The Legislative Counsel in the Office of Legislative Services shall act as legal adviser to the joint committee. The Executive Director of the Office of Legislative Services shall appoint another attorney in the Office of Legislative Services to serve as Ethics Counsel to the individual members of the Legislature and officers and employees in the Legislative Branch. The Ethics Counsel shall provide informal ethics advice to individual members of the Legislature and officers and employees in the Legislative Branch upon request, when the request is one fully answered by the New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law or the Legislative Code of Ethics or is on a subject previously determined by the Joint Committee. Informal ethics advice from the Ethics Counsel to a member of the Legislature or an officer or employee in the Legislative Branch shall be confidential and subject to the attorney-client privilege. The Ethics Counsel may also assist members of the Legislature and officers or employees in the Legislative Branch in requesting formal advisory opinions from the joint committee on novel subject matters. The Legislative Counsel shall, upon request, assist and advise the joint committee in the rendering of formal advisory opinions by the joint committee, in the approval and review of codes of ethics adopted by State agencies in the Legislative Branch, and in the recommendation of revisions in codes of ethics or legislation relating to the conduct of members of the Legislature or State officers and employees in the Legislative Branch.

(e) The joint committee may, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise available to it for the purpose, employ other professional, technical, clerical or other assistants, excepting legal counsel, and incur expenses as may be necessary to the performance of its duties.

(f) The joint committee shall have all the powers granted pursuant to chapter 13 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

(g) The joint committee is authorized to render formal advisory opinions as to whether a given set of facts and circumstances would, in its opinion, constitute a violation of the provisions of this act, of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this act or of any rule of either or both Houses which gives the joint committee jurisdiction and the authority to investigate a matter.

(h) (1) The joint committee shall have jurisdiction to initiate, receive, hear and review complaints regarding violations of the provisions of this act or of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this act. It shall further have such jurisdiction as to enforcement of the rules of either or both Houses of the Legislature governing the conduct of the members or employees thereof as those rules may confer upon the joint committee. A complaint regarding a violation of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this act may be referred by the joint committee for disposition in accordance with subsection 12(d) of this act.

(2) The joint committee shall not accept a complaint against a member of the Legislature submitted within 90 days of a primary or general election in which the member is a candidate. An attempt to file a complaint during this period shall toll any statute of limitations. This paragraph shall not bar the joint committee from initiating a complaint during this period.

A complaint that is filed within seven days following a primary or general election shall be considered by the joint committee in an expedited manner that results in a final determination by the end of the annual session of the Legislature.

(3) The joint committee, when reviewing a complaint, shall have the authority to require a member of the Legislature who is the subject of a complaint to submit detailed financial disclosures containing information that is in addition to the information required to be disclosed by a law, rule or code of ethics. Such additional information shall remain confidential, unless the joint committee, by a vote of at least three-fourths of the total membership, directs that the information be made public.

(4) The joint committee shall inform a complainant of the time, date, and location of any meeting at which the joint committee will discuss or make a determination on any aspect of the complaint.

(i) Any State officer or employee or special State officer or employee in the Legislative Branch found guilty by the joint committee of violating any provisions of this act, of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this act or of any rule of either or both Houses which gives the joint committee jurisdiction and the authority to investigate a matter shall be fined not less than $500.00 nor more than $10,000, which penalty may be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), and may be reprimanded and ordered to pay restitution where appropriate and may be suspended from office or employment by order of the joint committee for a period not in excess of one year. If the joint committee finds that the conduct of the officer or employee constitutes a willful and continuous disregard of the provisions of this act, of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this act or of any rule of either or both Houses which gives the joint committee jurisdiction and the authority to investigate a matter, it may order that person removed from office or employment and may further bar the person from holding any public office or employment in this State in any capacity whatsoever for a period not exceeding five years from the date on which the person was found guilty by the joint committee.

(j) A member of the Legislature who shall be found guilty by the joint committee of violating the provisions of this act, of a code of ethics promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this act or of any rule of either or both Houses which gives the joint committee jurisdiction and the authority to investigate a matter shall be fined not less than $500.00 nor more than $10,000, which penalty may be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), and shall be subject to such further action as may be determined by the House of which the person is a member. In such cases the joint committee shall report its findings to the appropriate House and shall recommend to the House such further action as the joint committee deems appropriate, but it shall be the sole responsibility of the House to determine what further action, if any, shall be taken against such member.

(k) Financial disclosure statements required to be submitted to the committee pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be filed with the commission not later than May 15 of each calendar year and be made available to the public, promptly after receipt, on the Internet site of the committee except that a member of the Legislature who commences office, after the 120th day preceding May 15 in a calendar year, which makes that member subject to financial disclosure, shall file a financial disclosure statement with the committee no later than 120 days after commencing service in the office. Neither the committee nor any other official shall grant an extension of these deadlines. Income information reported in a financial disclosure statement filed on or before May 15 shall be for the prior calendar year. Income information reported in a financial disclosure statement filed after May 15 shall be for the prior calendar year and for the period between January 1 and the fifth day preceding the date of filing in the current calendar year.

(cf: P.L.2008, c.99, s.1)

10. During 2010, any person who files a financial disclosure statement with the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, as required by law or the Legislative Code of Ethics pursuant to concurrent resolution, after May 15 shall include income information for the period commencing January 1, 2009 and ending on the fifth day preceding the filing of the statement.

11. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill requires that certain State public employees and State public officers as well as the members of the Legislature file a financial disclosure statement annually with the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, as appropriate. The bill outlines the details of and procedures for the financial disclosure statements and provides guidelines for establishing blind trusts and for divesture of certain assets, when determined as appropriate by the relevant commission or committee. A list of specific positions defines who is considered a State public employee. A member of certain listed boards, commissions, independent authorities and other public entities is defined as a State public officer. The provisions of the bill are parallel to those of Governor Christie's Executive Order No.24 of 2010.

In addition, the bill provides that financial disclosure statements which are required to be submitted to the State Ethics Commission and to the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethics must be filed with the commission or committee not later than May 15 of each calendar year. A person who accepts an office or employment after the 120th day preceding May 15 in a calendar year, which makes that person subject to financial disclosure, will file a financial disclosure statement with the commission no later than 120 days after commencing service in the office or employment. The bill also provides that income information reported in a financial disclosure statement filed on or before May 15 in any calendar year will be for the prior calendar year, while information filed after May 15 will be for the prior calendar year and for the period between January 1 and the fifth day preceding the date of filing of the current calendar year.

The bill also specifically provides that during 2010, any person who files a required financial disclosure statement with the State Ethics Commission or the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards after May 15 must include income information for the period commencing January 1, 2009 and ending on the fifth day preceding the filing of the statement.