File #: Int 1295-2025    Version: * Name: Prohibiting policy making for two years after the termination of their employment by public servants with substantial policy discretion who worked for private entities.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation
On agenda: 5/28/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation prohibiting policy making for two years after the termination of their employment by public servants with substantial policy discretion who worked for private entities
Sponsors: Lincoln Restler, Chris Banks
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would prohibit public employees who have substantial policy discretion, other than elected officials, from determining policy regarding their former private sector employer for two years after leaving that employer. It would also prohibit public servants who were previously lobbyists from making policy related to any of their former clients. Public servants would be permitted to determine policy if they receive written approval from the head of their agency and the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB). The bill would require COIB to issue a public, written determination. Public servants could also determine policies for firms in which their spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, or sibling has an interest. All public servants, other than elected officials, would be required to disclose their previous employers to COIB.
Indexes: Agency Rule-making Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1295, 2. Int. No. 1295, 3. May 28, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5-28-25

Int. No. 1295

 

By Council Members Restler and Banks

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation prohibiting policy making for two years after the termination of their employment by public servants with substantial policy discretion who worked for private entities

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subdivision b of section 2604 of the New York city charter, as amended by a vote of the electors on November 5, 2019, is amended to read as follows:

16. (a) No public servant, other than any elected official, with substantial policy discretion, as determined by the board, shall participate in determining policy regarding a firm in which such public servant had an interest, or a firm or person with which such public servant was previously employed or associated for a period of 2 years after divestment or termination of such interest, association, or employment. Any such public servant shall not participate in determining policy for any matter involving any client of a lobbyist, as such terms are defined in subchapter two of chapter two of title three of the administrative code, where such public servant was previously employed as a lobbyist for that client, within a period of 2 after termination of such employment.

(b) Such participation is permissible where:

1. The spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, or sibling of a public servant holds an interest, association, or employment; or

2. Such participation would not be in conflict with the purposes and interests of the city, if, after written approval by the head of the agency or agencies involved, the board determines that the action involves no such conflict. Such findings shall be in writing and made public by the board.

(c) A public servant, other than any elected official, upon entering public service shall disclose all prior employer to the board in a form determined by the board.

§ 2. This bill takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

JG

LS #16734

5/21/25 1:10 PM