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 20,000 financial disclosure statements annually, as well as approximately 6,200 lobbyists and their 3,600 clients who reported spending $166 million for their lobbying efforts during the first three quarters of 2013. The Commission also makes available to the public required disclosures filed by those under its jurisdiction.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $4.4 million, which includes an increase of $200,000 to support the creation of a phone hotline and website for the public to report violations of Public Officers Law, including allegations by State employees of sexual harassment. The workforce of 44 FTEs for JCOPE is increased by one position for this purpose, for a total of 45 FTEs in 2014-15.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/20/2014

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables