Bill Text: NJ S320 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits certain persons convicted of certain crimes from serving as governmental affairs agents.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S320 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S320-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator RICHARD J. CODEY
District 27 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits certain persons convicted of certain crimes from serving as governmental affairs agents.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning governmental affairs agents and supplementing P.L.1971, c.183 (C.52:13C-18 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A person shall not be eligible to serve as a governmental affairs agent if the person:
(1) holds or has held any public office, position, or employment, elective or appointive, under the government of this State or any agency or political subdivision thereof, and who is or was convicted of any crime under the laws of this State, or of any substantially similar offense under the laws of another state or the United States which would have been such a crime under the laws of this State, which crime or offense involves or touches such office, position or employment; or
(2) is or was convicted of any crime of the first, second, or third degree under the laws of this State, or of any substantially similar offense under the laws of another state or the United States which would have been such a crime under the laws of this State.
As used in this subsection, a crime or offense that "involves or touches such office, position, or employment" means that the crime or offense was related directly to the person's performance in, or circumstances flowing from, the specific public office, position, or employment held by the person.
b. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of subsection a. of this section shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $10,000.
Upon receiving evidence of any violation of subsection a. of this section, the Election Law Enforcement Commission shall have the power to hold, or to cause to be held, hearings about the violation and, upon finding any person to have committed a violation, to assess such penalty, within the limits prescribed herein, as it deems proper under the circumstances, which penalty may be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits a person from serving as a governmental affairs agent (1) if the person holds or has held any public office, position, or employment, elective or appointive, with the State or a political subdivision thereof, and is or was convicted of a crime under the laws of this State that involves or touches such office, position, or employment, or (2) if the person is or was convicted of a crime under the laws of this State that is of the first, second, or third degree. This prohibition also applies if there is a conviction for a substantially similar offense committed under the laws of another state or the United States.
A person who violates this provision would be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000. The Election Law Enforcement Commission would be responsible for enforcing this provision.
