The New Ethics Reform Law: How Will It Change Albany?

On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an ethics reform bill that aims to put Albany on the path from dysfunctional nightmare to a wonderland of legislative bliss.

Or so he claims. It remains to be seen how things actually shake down in New York’s capital, but here are a few things you should know about the law Cuomo just signed.

• The law aims to create more financial disclosure in Albany. Financial disclosure filings will be posted online, complete with dollar amounts of donations.
• In addition, legislators will also disclose people or firms that they have done business with in the past, or are currently doing business with, to help sniff out conflicts of interest in state business.
• Public officials convicted of a felony will be forced to forfeit their pension, or have pensions reduced significantly.
• The bill also creates a new Joint Commission On Public Ethics, to oversee all elected officials, their employees and lobbyists.
• The bill will create a public database of those appearing before any state committee.

Cuomo said he feels the law will go far to clean up Albany, and its image.

"This new ethics reform law brings an aggressive new approach to returning integrity to the halls of our Capitol. It provides for much-needed disclosure of outside income by lawmakers, creates an independent monitor to investigate corruption, and issues strong new rules for lobbyists,” Cuomo said at the signing.

Locally, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, D-Forest Hills, said he would like to see the law go even farther.

“While the new ethics reform law will address the need for greater financial disclosure, more information on lobbyists and penalties for certain criminal activity by elected officials, I believe more needs to be done to give people a more transparent and accountable state government,” Addabbo said. “When we start our legislative session in January, I will once again support legislation that seeks to change the way we currently conduct our state elections and explore the means necessary to improve the campaign process.”