The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics introduced a new feature on the state Lobbying Application.

Their aim is to minimize the risk of duplicate profiles and improve functionality.

Additionally, this feature allows creating or claiming an organization profile (lobbyist, client, public corporation, or coalition).

In turn, this allows information to prepopulate a client’s semiannual report, provide more transparency, increase reliability, and reduce filing delays.

JCOPE also announced the mechanism to assign an individual as a Chief Administrative Officer and Delegated Administrator has changed.

To authorize an individual for either of these specific roles, the individual’s user identification number must be provided.

The ability to assign an individual as the CAO or the DA merely by entering their first and last name in a search field has been eliminated.

Any questions about navigating the Lobbying Application may be directed to the JCOPE Lobbying Helpdesk at (518) 474-3973 or by emailing helpdesk@jcope.ny.gov.

The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics announced an extension for the submission of bimonthly lobbyist activity reports.

This will allow the due date for the January to February reporting period to extend until Tuesday, March 31.

JCOPE extended the deadline due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

Effective immediately, JCOPE also suspended hand-delivery of paper filings to their Albany office until March 31.

As an alternative, filers may submit filings using the online filing system or via regular mail, provided filers use a sponge to seal the envelope.

This extension does not affect clients of lobbyists as statutory filings for client semiannual reports are not due until July 15.

The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announced their policy on COVID-19 and lobbying filings.

Upon request, JCOPE will grant reasonable extensions to filers who may not be able to meet the upcoming filing deadline due to a COVID-19 issue.

If a filer misses the deadline due to COVID-19 related issues, please contact the JCOPE help desk at:

• • • (518) 408-3976
    • helpdesk@jcope.ny.gov

Please contact as soon as possible to discuss a reasonable accommodation.

The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics will be enabling the ability to file client semiannual reports and source funding disclosures through the online Lobbying Application on July 8.

Due to the short time frame of enabling the ability to file online and the statutory due date, JCOPE has granted an extension to submit client reports until July 31.

The extension only applies to semiannual reports and source of funding disclosures; lobbyist bimonthly reports are still due on July 15.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) has formally accused former Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak of using his government office to aid his reelection campaign, as well as sexually harassing several female staff members.

JCOPE’s investigators found Gabryszak used his office resources, including phones, computers, and printers to aid his political campaigns. The commission also determined Gabryszak used his position to “create and perpetuate an environment in which he could engage in sexually inappropriate behavior.”

The commission accused Gabryszak of at least five violations of New York’s Public Officers Law in what a commission spokesman called “a deplorable exhibition of how not to act in public service.”

The case will now move to the Legislative Ethics Commission, which will decide whether and how much to fine Gabryszak. Each violation of the Public Officers Law carries a penalty of up to $10,000.