Public Ethics, Joint Commission on

Agency Web Site: http://www.jcope.ny.gov

Mission

The mission of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) is to promote public trust in government by ensuring compliance with the State's ethics and lobbying laws. Established in 2011 by the Public Integrity Reform Act, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics assumed and continued the business of the Commission on Public Integrity in addition to being granted broader regulatory and oversight authority to include responsibility for legislative employees, as well as executive branch employees and elected officials.

JCOPE provides information, education and guidance regarding current ethics and lobbying laws, and ensures compliance with these laws through audits, investigations and enforcement proceedings. JCOPE has jurisdiction over 200,000 Executive and Legislative officials and employees, who file approximately 30,000 financial disclosure statements annually, as well as approximately 6,100 lobbyists and their 3,500 clients who reported spending $220 million for their lobbying efforts in 2012. The Commission also the required disclosures filed by those under its jurisdiction available tot he public.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $4.9 million for JCOPE, an increase of $831,000 from the 2012-13. This increase provides for costs associated with the Commission's broader mandate.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 53 FTEs, an increase of 8 FTEs from 2012-13.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/22/2013

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables