New York Public Personnel Law: The Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption to hold its first round of public hearings across the State

July 16, 2013

The Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption to hold its first round of public hearings across the State

The Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption to hold its first round of public hearings across the State

The Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption has announced the first round of its public hearings to be held across the state. The first three hearing are to be held in New York City, Buffalo, and Albany and will focus on three issues:

1. The adequacy of existing state laws, regulations and procedures involving unethical and unlawful misconduct by public officials.

2. The electoral process.

3. Campaign finance laws

Members of the public, as well as public officials, public policy experts, advocacy organizations and others are invited to testify or attend the hearings and are asked to address these issues.

Individuals unable to present testimony in person may also submit testimony before or after the hearings at: comments@moreland.ny.gov

The New York City Moreland Commission Public Hearing will commence at 6 p.m., Tuesday, September 17, 2013 (Doors open at 5 p.m.) at Pace University, NY Campus - Multipurpose Room, 1 Pace Plaza, NYC

The Western New York Moreland Commission Public Hearing will commence at 6 p.m., Wednesday, September 18, 2013 (Doors open at 5 p.m.) at the Senator Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building – Hearing Room #4 – 65 Court Street, Buffalo

The Capital Region Moreland Commission Public Hearing will commence at 6 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2013 (Doors open at 5 p.m.) The Crossings of Colonie Meeting Room, 580 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville

The Commission said that additional hearings will be announced in the near future.

Areas where the Commission will focus its investigation include but are not limited to:

1. Criminal statutes for corruption and misconduct by public officials, such as bribery laws.

2. Campaign financing including but not limited to contribution limits and other restrictions; disclosure of third-party contributions and expenditures; and the effectiveness of existing campaign finance laws.

3. Compliance of outside organizations and persons with existing lobbying laws, including but not limited to organizations engaged in lobbying and other efforts to influence public policies and elections, and the effectiveness of such laws.

4. Adequacy and enforcement of the State’s election laws and electoral process including: the structure and composition of the State and County Boards of Elections, the Board of Elections’ enforcement, and the effectiveness of and compliance with existing election laws.

On July 2, 2013, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo established the Commission under the Moreland Act (Section 6 of the New York State Executive Law) (“Moreland Commission”) and Executive Law Section 63(8) to probe systemic public corruption and the appearance of such corruption in state government, political campaigns and elections in New York State. Executive Order 106 which created the Commission is posted on the Internet at http://www.governor.ny.gov/executiveorder/106

The Commission’s website is www.publiccorruption.moreland.ny.gov

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NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.