Bill Text: NJ A217 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires legislators to certify in writing, upon introduction of legislation, that no monetary benefit will be derived from it; requires certification be filed with the Legislative Ethics Commission.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A217 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A217-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman THOMAS P. GIBLIN
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Handlin
SYNOPSIS
Requires legislators to certify in writing, upon introduction of legislation, that no monetary benefit will be derived from it; requires certification be filed with the Legislative Ethics Commission.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning certain certifications by members of the Legislature and amending P.L.1971, c.82.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 7 of P.L.1971, c.82 (C.52:13D-18) is amended to read as follows:
7. a. No member of the Legislature shall participate by voting or any other action, on the floor of the General Assembly or the Senate, or in committee or elsewhere, in the enactment or defeat of legislation in which he has a personal interest.
b. A member of the Legislature shall be deemed to have a personal interest in any legislation within the meaning of this section if, by reason of his participation in the enactment or defeat of any legislation, he has reason to believe that he, or a member of his immediate family, will derive a direct monetary gain or suffer a direct monetary loss. No member of the Legislature shall be deemed to have a personal interest in any legislation within the meaning of this section if, by reason of his participation in the enactment or defeat of any legislation, no benefit or detriment could reasonably be expected to accrue to him, or a member of his immediate family, as a member of a business, profession, occupation or group, to any greater extent than any such benefit or detriment could reasonably be expected to accrue to any other member of such business, profession, occupation or group.
c. Upon the introduction of legislation, all the sponsors shall sign a certification, provided to them by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate, attesting to the fact that they or any individuals on their behalf will not derive any monetary gain, whether direct or indirect, by reason of the enactment of the legislation. If monetary gain is derived, it shall be reported to the Legislative Ethics Commission. The certification signed by the legislators sponsoring the bill shall read: "In introducing this legislation, I will not derive any direct or indirect monetary gain for myself or for any other individual on my behalf. If in the future such monetary gain is received because of enactment of this legislation, I will report such gain to the Legislative Ethics Commission." A complaint or evidence of a violation of the terms of the certification shall be submitted to the Legislative Ethics Commission which shall have the power to hold a hearing and impose a penalty consistent with section 22 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-22).
(cf:P.L.2004, c.23, s.7)
2. This act shall take effect immediately
STATEMENT
This bill requires legislators, when introducing legislation, to sign a certification attesting that they have not and will not receive any direct or indirect monetary gain as a result of the enactment of the legislation, whether for themselves or for any other individual on their behalf. In addition, the bill requires a legislator to report any monetary gains received in the future to the Legislative Ethics Commission. A violation of this bill would be handled by the Legislative Ethics Commission.
