N.J. Admin. Code § 19:61-5.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 19:61-5.9 - Outside Activity and conflict of interest questionnaires

(a) Every State officer and employee shall obtain the approval of his or her agency's Ethics Liaison Officer prior to engaging in any of the following outside activities:

1. Any business, trade, profession or other compensated employment including the acceptance of compensation for a speech or published work;

2. Any uncompensated or volunteer work for or with any entity;

3. Serving in any office or title in the governing or advisory board of any entity; or

4. Serving in any elected or appointed public office in any unit of government, except in an ex-officio capacity.

(b) Notwithstanding the requirement in (a) above, a State agency, upon notification to the Commission, may exempt disclosure of specific kinds of outside employment or activities if the agency and the Commission conclude that such employment or activity would not likely present a conflict of interest.

(c) Every State employee and officer is required to complete and file with his or her agency's Ethics Liaison Officer the Commission's Outside Activity Questionnaire upon commencing State employment and at such intervals as required by his or her agency and the Commission. Every State employee and officer shall, however, at a minimum complete and file a new Outside Activity Questionnaire with his or her agency's Ethics Liaison Officer every three years, and whenever there is a change in the employee or officer's outside activity or State employment.

(d) A State agency may require disclosure of additional information regarding the outside activities of its employees as necessary to address the particular needs of the agency.

(e) Each State agency shall develop and distribute a conflict of interest questionnaire for special State officers and special State employees of the agency.

(f) It is the responsibility of each agency to develop a process for the review and retention of both the Outside Activity Questionnaire and conflict of interest questionnaire.

(g) Each agency Ethics Liaison Officer shall review Outside Activity Questionnaires and conflict of interest questionnaires submitted by employees of the agency to determine whether the outside activities are permissible in accordance with the Conflicts of Interest Law, the Uniform Ethics Code and other applicable agency supplemental code or authority. A State officer or employee, or special State officer or employee, may appeal an agency Ethics Liaison Officer's decision to disapprove an outside activity. Such appeal shall be submitted in writing to the Commission within 60 days of the employee's receipt of the agency decision. The appeal shall cite the relevant section(s) of the Conflicts Law, Uniform Ethics Code and supplemental agency code or other authority which supports the position of the employee that such outside activity should be permitted.

N.J. Admin. Code § 19:61-5.9

New Rule, R.2012 d.045, effective 2/21/2012.
See: 43 N.J.R. 1515(a), 44 N.J.R. 519(a).