All New York State employees, and employees of the Research Foundation of SUNY, are bound by the Code of Ethics set forth in the Public Officers Law. Under this law, employees shall not have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in any business or transaction or professional activity or incur any obligation of any nature, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his (or her) duties in the public interest.
The Secretary of State is required by law to obtain and file an Oath of Office for New York State employees (labor class is exempt), along with a signed statement that employees have received, read, and will conform to the provisions of Sections 73s-78 of the Public Officers Law.
The Code of Ethics contains nine standards of conduct. Each standard examines the types of conflicts that State officers and employees are prohibited from engaging in while in State service, and post-employment. These nine standards fall into the following:
- Impartiality
- Disclosing Confidential Information
- Securing privileges or favors based on your State job
- Business with the State
- “Integrity Standards”
- Financial Conflicts
Additional details of these provisions are set forth in a publication titled “Plain Language Guide to the Public Officers Law and Other Related Ethics Laws.”