Public Ethics, Joint Commission on
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: https://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, JCOPE was granted broad oversight over the executive and legislative branches of government.
Organization and Staffing
The Commission consists of 14 members. Appointing authority and terms for the commissioners vary according to the law. A Chairperson is selected and appointed by the Governor. JCOPE maintains a statewide presence with offices in Albany, New York City and Buffalo. The commissioners appoint the Executive Director, responsible for overseeing JCOPE's day-to-day operation and core functions. The Executive Director is also charged with establishing an organization plan to streamline operations and improve efficiency and effectiveness. JCOPE’s mission is carried out by five divisions: Ethics, Lobbying, Investigations/Enforcement, Communications/Public Information, and Administration.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2021 Executive Budget recommends $5.6 million All Funds appropriation and a workforce of 52 FTEs, unchanged from the previous fiscal year.
Program Highlights
JCOPE has jurisdiction over executive and legislative officials and employees, who file approximately 35,000 financial disclosure statements annually, as well as approximately 7,800 lobbyists and their 5,000 clients who reported spending $262 million for their lobbying efforts during 2018. 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, upon request, provides the public with required disclosures filed by those under its jurisdiction.
| Category | Available FY 2020 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2021 |
Change From FY 2020 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 5,582,000 | 5,582,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 5,582,000 | 5,582,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Program | FY 2020 Estimated FTEs 03/31/20 |
FY 2021 Estimated FTEs 03/31/21 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Ethics | |||
| General Fund | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2020 |
Recommended FY 2021 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 5,582,000 | 5,582,000 | 0 |
| Total | 5,582,000 | 5,582,000 | 0 |
| Program | Available FY 2020 |
Recommended FY 2021 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Ethics | |||
| General Fund | 5,582,000 | 5,582,000 | 0 |
| Total | 5,582,000 | 5,582,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Public Ethics | 4,682,000 | 0 | 4,637,000 | 0 |
| Total | 4,682,000 | 0 | 4,637,000 | 0 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Public Ethics | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Public Ethics | 900,000 | 0 | 80,000 | 0 |
| Total | 900,000 | 0 | 80,000 | 0 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Public Ethics | 40,000 | 0 | 730,000 | 0 |
| Total | 40,000 | 0 | 730,000 | 0 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Public Ethics | 50,000 | 0 |
| Total | 50,000 | 0 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/29/2020