Bill > A1581

Introduced Session

This bill would prohibit an elected local government officer from accepting employment with a law firm if the officer voted to award that firm a contract with the local government. This prohibition would apply for the duration of the contract and for a period of one year thereafter. To address situations in which an elected local government officer leaves office after voting to award a contract to a law firm, the bill would also prohibit a local government from continuing that contract, or from entering into a new contract for a period of one year thereafter, if the former elected officer accepts employment with the law firm. This prohibition would apply to contracts for which the restriction was included in the resolution required for professional services contracts or the bid specification, as applicable, entered into after the date of enactment. The bill would add these prohibitions to the list of ethical requirements under the "Local Government Ethics Law," P.L.1991, c.29 (C.40A:9-22.1 et seq.). Although this law may already prohibit such practice in some cases through its restrictions against local officers securing unwarranted privileges, advantages, or financial gain for themselves, there may be some circumstances in which such practice is permissible or in which a violation may be difficult to prove. By establishing a flat ban on this practice, this bill would help prevent abuses of office from occurring and help eliminate the appearance of such abuse.

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Jay Webber (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 01/27/2016)