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What is the Conflicts of Interest Board? |
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 The Conflicts of Interest Board is the ethics board for the City of New York and was created by the 1988 Charter revision as the successor to the former Board of Ethics, which had been in operation since 1959. The Conflicts of Interest Board is the independent, non-mayoral City agency charged with interpreting and enforcing the Conflicts of Interest Law, found in chapter 68 of the New York City Charter, and the City's Financial Disclosure Law, set forth in section 12-110 of the New York City Administrative Code. The Board is composed of five members appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the City Council, to staggered six-year terms. A staff of 23, divided into six units, tends to the daily business of the Board. These units are Legal Advice, Training and Education, Enforcement, Financial Disclosure, Management Information Systems, and Administration. [Back to Top] |
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How does the Board function? |
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The Board meets once each month to consider cases brought before it and to issue opinions and orders and impose penalties for violation of the Conflicts of Interest Law or Financial Disclosure Law. On a daily basis, staff attorneys provide oral and written legal advice on those laws and prosecute violations. Staff trainers and writers teach City employees about the Conflicts of Interest law. The Financial Disclosure Unit administers the City's Financial Disclosure Law for the 8,000 City employees who file annual financial disclosure forms with the Board. [Back to Top] |
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What is Chapter 68, the City's "Ethics Law"? |
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The conflicts of interest law was enacted to preserve the public trust, to promote public confidence in government, to protect the integrity of government decision-making, and to enhance government efficiency. It established a basic set of rules regarding, among other things:
- Gifts [Back to Top] |
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Who is covered by Chapter 68? |
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All paid City officers, employees, and officials, regardless of salary or rank, whether full-time, part-time, or per diem, are covered by the Conflicts of Interest Law. Some of these rules also apply to those who are not paid for City service, but who play an important role in government, such as members of Community Boards. Additionally, there are Post-Employment restrictions that apply to former public servants. There also restricitions on the giving of gifts by lobbyists to public servants. [Back to Top] |
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What is the Financial Disclosure Law? |
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As required by New York State, the City’s Financial Disclosure Law provides for annual financial disclosure by elected officials, agency heads, deputy agency heads, assistant agency heads, compensated members of boards and commissions, policymakers, members of the Management Pay Plan M4 and above, employees whose duties involve the negotiation, authorization, or approval of contracts, local political party officials and candidates for elective office. These officials’ annual disclosure reports are filed with the Board. [Back to Top] |
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What does the Training and Education Unit do? |
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The Training and Education Unit conducts interactive classes in the conflicts of interest law, free of charge, for any City agency that requests them. It also publishes educational material available to anyone who requests them. (See Publications of the Conflicts of Interest Board.) [Back to Top] |
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What can happen if I violate Conflicts of Interest Rules? |
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You may face severe penalties if you violate the City's conflicts of interest rules. Under your agency's disciplinary process, you may be suspended for some period or even fired. The Conflicts of Interest Board may fine you up to $10,000 for each violation of the Conflicts of Interest Law and recommend to your agency that you be suspended or fired. A violation of the Conflicts of Interest Law is also a crime, a misdemeanor that the District Attorney's office may prosecute. Upon conviction, you may be fined and sent to jail and lose your City job. The Conflicts of Interest Board may also void any contract or transaction that violates the Conflicts of Interest Law. (See Enforcement) [Back to Top] |
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How can address a potential conflicts of interest, in order to make sure I don't violate the law? |
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Call (212) 442-1400 or write the Conflicts of Interest Board, 2 Lafayette Street, Suite 1010, New York, NY 10007. All inquiries are confidential. If you call, just ask for the attorney of the day. You do not even have to give your name. Often a phone call will answer your question, but sometimes you will need to write a letter. [Back to Top] |
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If I write to the Board, what should I include in my letter? |
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Your Letter should include the following information:
- Your name and City agency For example: if you are asking for advice about a second job, first give your City job title and duties and then describe the job you want to take, including the name of the company, the position and duties you will have, the person you will work for, how much you will be paid, when you will work, how long the job will last (if it is temporary), and whether or not the company does business with the City. The more complete the information in your request, the quicker we can send you an answer. [Back to Top] |
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How do I get an Order or Waiver from the Board? |
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Sometimes you need an order or waiver from the Board before you can take a particular job. For example, if you are a full-time City employee who wishes to work part-time as an electrician for a company that does business with the City, you would need a waiver from the Board. Under the law, the Board cannot grant a waiver unless the City employee's own agency head first approves the request. Therefore, before coming to the Board for the waiver, you must obtain approval from your agency head (not just your supervisor). For information on how to obtain that approval, contact your agency's general counsel or personnel office. When you write to the Board, make sure to include the necessary information. [Back to Top] |
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How do I report a possible conflicts of interest violation? |
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To report a conflict of interest violation, call the Inspector General of your agency, or call the Department of Investigation, 24 hours a day, at (212) 825-5959. All complaints are confidential. [Back to Top] |
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If I file a complaint, will I lose my job? |
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City employees who file reports of possible ethical violations are protected by the Administrative Code of the City of New York Section 12-113, commonly called the Whistleblower Statute. This law was designed to prevent retaliation in the form of any adverse personnel action by one City employee against another who reports corruption, criminal activity, or a conflict of interest. [Back to Top] |
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