A lawsuit has been filed against the Joint Commission on Public Ethics to stop the commission’s Comprehensive Lobbying Regulations from going into effect on January 1, 2019.

David Grandeau, a former lobbying enforcement official and one of three petitioners in the lawsuit, argue the commission lacks the authority to create regulations that expand and amend New York’s Lobbying Act.

The lawsuit, York Group Associates LLC v. Joint Commission on Public Ethics was filed in state Supreme Court in Albany on November 28, 2018.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics is aware there are duplicate profiles in the new lobbying reporting system. Duplicate profiles only impact those who utilized the old reporting system.

If you are an existing filer attempting to claim your organization profile in the new system and notice duplicate profiles, JCOPE does not want another new organization profile to be created.

Instead, call the JCOPE helpdesk at (518) 474-3973 and speak with a Filings Specialist.

The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics has launched a new lobbyist reporting system. The Organization Profile section has gone live.

All Organization Profiles from the previous system have been transferred to the new lobbying application and require an update to ensure all the information is correct.

The Commission has created an informational page to help users navigate the new system.

New York City voters approved a ballot measure related to campaign finance on Tuesday.

Proposal 1 amends the City Charter by reducing contribution limits for all candidates and amending public matching funds for candidates participating in the public financing program.

Contributions for non-participating candidates will be reduced as follows:

• Citywide offices, from $5,100 to $3,500
• Borough President, from $3,950 to $2,500
• City Council, from $2,850 to $1,500

The amendments will apply to participating candidates who choose to have the amendments apply to their campaigns beginning with the 2021 primary election and would then apply to all candidates beginning in 2022.

Got a minute?! (and a 1/2) Here are four stories from this week in campaign finance and advocacy that you don’t want to miss.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics will be launching a new online lobbying reporting system to coincide with the new lobbying regulations, effective January 1, 2019. The new system is expected to launch in November.

Reports covering 2018 must be submitted though the current system.

All filings covering 2019 activity, including registration and reportable business relationship forms, must be submitted through the new system.

Registrations for the 2019-20 biennial period may be submitted through the new system in early December.

The Commission will inform users when the registration function becomes available.

The New York City Council passed legislation establishing a Charter Revision Commission (Commission) to draft a new or revised City Charter in April 2018.

On September 4, the Commission approved three ballot questions to be approved by voters in November.

One ballot measure would reduce contribution limits for all candidates and amend public matching funds for candidates participating in the public financing program.

The other ballot measures involve civic engagement and community boards.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Assembly Bill 3137 into law on August 21, 2018.

The bill bans the use of placement agents by the New York State Common Retirement Fund.

The bill codifies existing policies into law, as the State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli banned the use of placement agents in 2009.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has stated he will call a special election to fill U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter’s term.

Slaughter served as a U.S. Rep. for New York’s 25^th District for over three decades and passed away on March 16, 2018.

The special election will coincide with the general election on November 6, 2018.

The FEC voted unanimously 4-0 to allow New York Congressional candidate Liuba Grechen Shirley to spend her campaign funds on childcare.

In her petition, she cited two cases where male candidates requested to use donor funds for limited childcare expenses.

The FEC ruled in an advisory opinion that Shirley’s expenses would not have existed if it weren’t for her run for office, and will therefore apply to any future candidates who may run for office.

Shirley said, “This groundbreaking decision will remove a major financial obstacle for working families and mothers at a time when women are increasingly considering elected office.”

Photo of Liuba Grechen Shirley via Facebook

On April 24, the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics adopted Part 943, commonly referred to as the Comprehensive Lobbying Regulations. The rules were originally introduced in October 2016 and have gone through several revisions.

The adopted regulations compile existing guidelines and advisory opinions regarding rules and requirements related to lobbying. For example, the adopted revised rules include an online ethics training requirement for lobbyists and provide further clarification regarding reportable expenses attributable to social media activities and grassroots lobbying.

The adopted rules will become effective January 1, 2019, and are available at the JCOPE website.

The New York City Council passed several bills designed to provide greater protections against workplace sexual harassment.

One measure requires annual training for all private employers with 15 or more employees.

Additionally, the City Council passed legislation establishing a Charter Revision Commission to draft a new or revised City Charter. The last Charter Revision Commission submitted changes to voters in November 1988.

The voter-approved amendments strengthened campaign finance and conflict of interest laws.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has 30 days to sign, veto the bills, or take no action.

On March 2, 2018, Assembly Bill 9968 was introduced by Assemb. Sandy Galef.

The bill prohibits business entities with state contracts of more than $15,000 from making monetary, in-kind contributions, or a pledge of contribution in excess of $1,000 to an individual who holds a position of an elected state public office, a candidate for an elected state public office, or a state, county, or municipal political party, if the contract will be voted on or approved by such an individual.

The prohibition is for the preceding 12-month period before a contract is awarded. If passed, the bill will become effective 90 days after becoming law.

On January 30, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) submitted a Notice of Revised Rulemaking for Part 943, commonly referred to as Comprehensive Lobbying Regulations, to the New York Department of State. The revised rules include an online ethics training requirement for lobbyists.

Additionally, the revised rules provide further clarification regarding reportable expenses attributable to social media activities and grassroots lobbying.

New York’s rule making process requires an additional comment period once a Notice of Revised Rulemaking is filed and published in the New York State Register.

The new comment period expires on March 16, and the revised rules are available at http://www.jcope.ny.gov/advice/complobbyregulations.html.