ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [AI] IS NOT USED IN COMPOSING NYPPL SUMMARIES OF JUDICIAL AND QUASI-JUDICIAL DECISIONS.

Oct 23, 2023

State Commission on Judicial Conduct determined a Town Court justice should be removed from office

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct determined that a Justice of a Town Court committed certain acts of misconduct and should be removed from office, citing Article VI, §22 of New York State's Constitution and Judiciary Law §44.

In lieu of a hearing, the Justice entered into an agreed statement of facts indicating that he had:

[1] "Brandished a loaded firearm at a litigant who was waiting for his case to be called; and

[2] Engaged in "improper fundraising".  

Finding that the "the record amply supports the conclusion that the Justice's misconduct 'transcends poor judgment' and warrants removal", the Court of Appeals held that the State Commission on Judicial Conduct's "determined sanction", removal from office, should be implemented.

Click HERE to access the Court of Appeals decision posted on the Internet.

 

Oct 21, 2023

Selected links to items focusing on government operations posted on the Internet during the week ending October 20, 2023

AI: 'A Helping Hand from Our Robot Overlords'
Arizona Chief Information Security Officer Ryan Murray sees two significant opportunities for artificial intelligence in cybersecurity. READ MORE

Cyber.Org Expands Initiative to Bring High Schoolers into Cyber
The group Cyber.org recently expanded its Project REACH program to more schools, as it looks to help create a more diverse cyber career pipeline. Many students are simply unaware of the career potential in the industry. READ MORE

Disaster Zone Podcast: A New Model for Emergency Management
How to do it differently. READ MORE

Ethical AI Procurement Requires Collaboration, Accountability
As state and local governments cautiously pursue AI, they must prioritize ethics, transparency and accountability in procurement to protect public interests and deliver on the technology's potential. READ MORE

FEMA Increases Climate Aid to Disadvantaged Communities
In FEMA’s desire to focus more on disadvantaged communities, the BRIC and FMA projects aim to deliver 40 percent of their overall benefits to communities that are “marginalized, overburdened by pollution and underserved.” READ MORE

How Should Public Libraries Leverage AI Technology?
A new report released last week by the Urban Libraries Council outlines five recommendations of how public libraries can use artificial intelligence technologies in their work to serve communities. READ MORE

NASCIO 2023 State CIO Survey Weighs IT Financial Models
The 2023 survey, released at the group’s annual conference, digs into several key issues for state CIOs: Are general funds better than chargebacks? Is cybersecurity insurance worth it? READ MORE

NYC Releases AI Action Plan, Business-Focused AI Chatbot
New York City has launched the MyCity Business Services chatbot in a beta form to help residents get information about starting or operating their businesses. The city also released an AI Action Plan to guide responsible city government use of the tech. READ MORE

One Year in, Public Safety Threat Alliance Plans for Growth
The Public Safety Threat Alliance plans to offer cybersecurity tabletop exercises and a real-time automated threat intelligence feed, and build up its international membership. READ MORE

Public Sector Tech Trends: A Modernization Guidebook
Learn how to build a more resilient, data-driven organization so you can meet demands like remote work, digital services, and risk management.
GET THE GUIDE

Redesigned Website Helps Org Better Respond to Disasters
Healthcare Ready has relaunched its website with new tools to help the public, the health-care sector and emergency managers to keep up with disasters and other health matters, including making it mobile friendly. READ MORE

Skills-Based Hiring Widens Potential Government Workforce
States and city governments are rethinking job requirements, replacing four-year degrees with proven skill applications to bring in new applicants.
READ MORE

State Data on Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline, HBI Road Map Webinar and New International Report of Risk Factors - READ MORE

Sustainability Is Key to State Plans for Federal Cyber Funds
As federal funding for local government cybersecurity comes down through state governments, North Carolina CIO James Weaver explains why it’s essential that projects aren’t just “one and done.” READ MORE

 


Oct 20, 2023

Municipal and School Audits released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli

On October 18, 2023 New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced the following local government and school audits were issued.

Click on the text highlighted in color to access both the summary and the complete audit report

 

Baldwin Union Free School District – Sexual Harassment Prevention (SHP) Training (Nassau County)

SHP training was not provided to all employees or any board members. Of the 120 total individuals tested (115 selected employees and all five board members), 17 employees and the five volunteer board members did not complete the annual training.

 

Burnt Hills – Ballston Lake Central School District – Employee Benefit Plan Forfeited Funds (Saratoga County)

District officials were not aware that the Health Flexible Spending Arrangement and Dependent Care Assistance Program administrator did not return forfeited funds totaling $25,701 to the district, as required. Because officials did not ensure the forfeited funds were returned, the funds were not available for the district’s use.

 

Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services – Information Technology (IT) (Suffolk County)

Although BOCES officials restricted user account access to the financial application, they did not adequately manage user account access to the network. As a result, BOCES had an increased risk that the network could be accessed by unauthorized individuals. In addition to sensitive IT control weaknesses that were confidentially communicated to BOCES officials, auditors found that officials did not disable 681 network user accounts that were not needed or logged in to for at least six months.

 

South Kortright Central School District – Claims Audit (Delaware County)

Although the board and district officials generally ensured claims were adequately supported and properly audited prior to payment, certain purchases of goods and services auditors reviewed lacked necessary supporting documentation. In addition, the board did not comply with state law when it appointed the clerk of the board as the deputy claims auditor. The claims auditor and deputy claims auditor, as part of their claims audit process, did not verify that requests for proposals were solicited for seven professional service providers and an insurance provider that were paid a total of $205,042 during the audit period. Auditors found 18 claims totaling $20,834 were approved without documentation to verify compliance with the district’s procurement policy.

 

Village of Remsen – Clerk-Treasurer’s Records and Reports Audit Follow-Up (Oneida County)

The purpose of the review was to assess the village’s progress in implementing our recommendations in the audit report released in January 2021. Based on limited procedures, auditors found the village has not made progress implementing corrective action, as none of the nine audit recommendations were implemented. The board was unable to provide a reasonable explanation for taking no corrective action.

 

Uniondale Union Free School District – Information Technology (Nassau County)

District officials did not adequately manage nonstudent network user accounts and permissions. As a result, the district had an increased risk of unauthorized access to and use of the network and could potentially lose important data. In addition to sensitive IT control weaknesses that were confidentially communicated to officials, auditors found that the technology supervisor did not establish written procedures for granting, changing and disabling nonstudent network user account access or regularly review the accounts to ensure they are necessary. Additionally, they did not disable 3,471  of the enabled nonstudent network user accounts that were not needed.

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Editor in Chief Harvey Randall served as Director of Personnel, State University of New York Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor's Office of Employee Relations; Principal Attorney, Counsel's Office, New York State Department of Civil Service; and Colonel, JAG, Command Headquarters, 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.

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