A 1268: Establishes a joint commission on public transparency and sexual harassment to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations defining sexual harassment for state agencies, offices, and branches of government and develop recommendations for the uniform distribution of such definitions and policies, and to receive complaints and referrals alleging violations by certain state officials.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1268 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY January 9, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, ROZIC, WILLIAMS, SEAWRIGHT, HYNDMAN, WEPRIN, RIVERA, LUPARDO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DAVILA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to establishing a joint commission on public transparency and sexual harassment The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The public officers law is amended by adding a new section 2 75-b to read as follows: 3 § 75-b. Commission on public transparency and sexual harassment. 1. 4 When used in this section the following terms shall have the following 5 meanings: 6 (a) "statewide elected official" shall mean the governor, lieutenant 7 governor, comptroller, or attorney general; 8 (b) "state officer or employee" shall mean: 9 (i) heads of state departments and their deputies and assistants who 10 serve at the discretion of the statewide elected official; and 11 (ii) officers and employees of statewide elected officials who serve 12 at the discretion of the statewide elected official; 13 (c) "legislative employee" shall mean any officer or employee of the 14 legislature; and 15 (d) "legislative member" shall mean a senator or member of the assem- 16 bly. 17 2. There is hereby established within the department of state a 18 commission on public transparency and sexual harassment which shall 19 consist of nine members and shall have and exercise the powers and the 20 duties set forth in this section with respect to statewide elected offi- 21 cials, state officers and employees, legislative employees, and legisla- 22 tive members. This section shall not be deemed to have revoked or 23 rescinded any regulations or advisory opinions issued by the legislative 24 ethics commission, the commission on public integrity, the state ethics 25 commission, or the state office for human rights in effect upon the 26 effective date of this section to the extent that such regulations or 27 opinions are not inconsistent with any law of this state, but such regu- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00501-01-5 
 A. 1268 2 1 lations and opinions shall apply only to matters over which such commis- 2 sions had jurisdiction at the time such regulations and opinions were 3 promulgated or issued. The commission shall undertake a comprehensive 4 review of the current sexual harassment policies in the legislature and 5 executive agencies. The commission shall, before February first, two 6 thousand twenty-six, report to the governor and the legislature regard- 7 ing this review and recommendations for any regulatory or statutory 8 guidance for consistency and transparency. 9 3. The commission shall consist of nine members of whom one shall be 10 appointed by the governor, four by the chief judge of the court of 11 appeals, and one each by the speaker of the assembly, the temporary 12 president of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, and the 13 minority leader of the assembly. Of the four members appointed by the 14 chief judge of the court of appeals, no more than two shall be enrolled 15 in the same political party, two shall be attorneys licensed to practice 16 law in this state, and two shall not be attorneys. No member of the 17 commission shall hold any office in any political party. Members of the 18 commission shall be appointed based on their actual experience in the 19 establishment of institutional policies, sexual harassment claims, and 20 legal matters regarding sexual harassment issues, sex crimes, and 21 reporting. Appointing authorities shall coordinate appointments to 22 include, but not be limited to, an attorney actually employed in the 23 area of sexual harassment litigation and similar legal matters who has 24 demonstrated outstanding service and contributions to this legal area, a 25 human resources or labor relations representative who has demonstrated 26 actual service in the establishment of effective sexual harassment poli- 27 cies in the workplace, a member of law enforcement who has work experi- 28 ence in relation to sex crimes and harassment, and a member of the judi- 29 cial branch who has had experience in the consideration of civil claims 30 related to sexual harassment and sex discrimination. In the event that a 31 vacancy arises with respect to a member of the commission first 32 appointed pursuant to this section by a legislative leader, the legisla- 33 tive leaders of the same political party in the same house shall appoint 34 a member to fill such vacancy irrespective of whether that legislative 35 leader's political party is in the majority or minority. No individual 36 shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the commission who 37 currently or within the last three years is or has been a member of the 38 New York state legislature or has been a legislative employee, or a 39 statewide officer or elected official or a commissioner of an executive 40 agency appointed by the governor, or has held judicial office. Members 41 of the commission shall be residents of the state. 42 4. Members of the commission shall serve for terms of five years; 43 provided, however, that the member first appointed by the governor shall 44 serve for three years and the members first appointed by the temporary 45 president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the minority 46 leaders of the senate and assembly shall serve for four years. 47 5. Members of the commission shall designate a chair from the member- 48 ship thereof for a term of two years or until such member's term 49 expires, whichever period is shorter. The chair or a member of the 50 commission may call a meeting. 51 6. Any vacancy occurring on the commission shall be filled within 52 thirty days of its occurrence in the same manner as the member whose 53 vacancy is being filled was appointed. A person appointed to fill a 54 vacancy occurring other than by expiration of a term of office shall be 55 appointed for the unexpired term of the member such person succeeds. 
 A. 1268 3 1 7. Members of the commission may be removed by the appointing authori- 2 ty solely for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, 3 violation of the confidentiality, inability to discharge the powers or 4 duties of office or a violation of this section, after written notice 5 and opportunity for a reply. 6 8. Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for all reasonable 7 expenses actually and necessarily incurred by such members in the 8 performance of such members' duties under this section. 9 9. Seven members shall constitute a quorum. 10 10. The commission shall: 11 (a) adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations defining sexual 12 harassment for state agencies, offices, and branches of government and 13 develop recommendations for the uniform distribution of the definitions 14 and policies developed pursuant to this section; 15 (b) make available forms for complaints of sexual harassment and sex 16 discrimination involving statewide elected officials, state officers or 17 employees, legislative members and employees; 18 (c) review sexual harassment filing procedures in accordance with the 19 provisions of this section; 20 (d) receive complaints and referrals alleging violations of section 21 two hundred ninety-six of the executive law, or provisions of article 22 one hundred thirty of the penal law by a statewide elected official, a 23 state officer or employee, legislative employee or legislative member; 24 (e) immediately report any allegations that, if true, would constitute 25 a crime, to law enforcement for investigation; 26 (f) for all other matters the commission shall determine whether a 27 complaint is "founded" or "unfounded" and shall issue a recommendation, 28 in accordance with the confidentiality provisions contained in this 29 section and consistent with all other laws, including awards to crime 30 victims under article twenty-two of the executive law, to the appointing 31 authority as to the basis of the claims, recommendations for appropriate 32 resolution, and whether the commission approves of the use of public 33 monies, including funds of the legislature, to resolve specific claims 34 raised by the claimant. The recommendations of the commission shall be 35 fully and properly considered by the appointing authority but shall not 36 be binding. There shall be a rebuttable presumption assumed by the 37 commission that any statewide elected official, state officer or employ- 38 ee, or legislative member or employee who makes a good faith effort at 39 reporting or addressing sexual harassment shall not be held individually 40 liable under any claim or settlement; 41 (g) prepare and submit an annual report to the governor and the legis- 42 lature summarizing the activities of the commission during the previous 43 year including, but not limited to, (i) an accounting of founded and 44 unfounded claims of sexual harassment organized by legislative branch 45 and executive office or agency, and (ii) where a matter has been 46 resolved, the date and nature of the disposition and any sanctions or 47 recommendations of the commission, subject to the confidentiality 48 requirements of this section; 49 (h) provide notification to any person who has filed a sexual harass- 50 ment claim of the determination of the commission's review as well as 51 the individual's right to appeal the commission's determination pursuant 52 to subdivision twelve of this section; 53 (i) appoint an executive director who shall act in accordance with the 54 policies of the commission. The appointment and removal of the executive 55 director shall be made solely by a vote of a majority of the commission, 56 which majority shall include at least one member appointed by a legisla- 
 A. 1268 4 1 tive leader from each of the two major political parties. The commission 2 may delegate authority to the executive director to act in the name of 3 the commission between meetings of the commission provided such deleg- 4 ation is in writing, the specific powers to be delegated are enumerated, 5 and the commission shall not delegate any decisions specified in this 6 section that require a vote of the commission. The executive director 7 shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on 8 the basis of fitness to perform the duties assigned by this article, and 9 shall be a qualified, independent professional. The commission may 10 remove the executive director for neglect of duty, misconduct in office, 11 violation of the confidentiality, or inability or failure to discharge 12 the powers or duties of office, including the failure to follow the 13 lawful instructions of the commission; 14 (j) review and approve a staffing plan provided and prepared by the 15 executive director which shall contain, at a minimum, a list of the 16 various units and divisions as well as the number of positions in each 17 unit, titles and their duties, and salaries, as well as the various 18 qualifications for each position including, but not limited to, educa- 19 tion and prior experience for each position; 20 (k) appoint such other staff as are necessary to carry out its duties 21 under this section; and 22 (l) develop and administer an online sexual harassment orientation 23 course to be made available across the legislative and executive branch- 24 es for the purposes of a uniform and consistent policy across govern- 25 ment. 26 11. (a) When an individual becomes a member or staff of the commis- 27 sion, that individual shall be required to sign a non-disclosure state- 28 ment. 29 (b) Except as otherwise required or provided by law, testimony 30 received or any other information obtained by a commissioner or staff of 31 the commission shall not be disclosed by any such individual to any 32 person or entity outside the commission during the pendency of any 33 matter. Any confidential communication to any person or entity outside 34 the commission related to the matters before the commission may occur 35 only as authorized by the commission. 36 (c) The commission shall establish procedures necessary to prevent the 37 unauthorized disclosure of any information received by any member of the 38 commission or staff of the commission. Any breaches of confidentiality 39 shall be investigated by the inspector general and appropriate action 40 shall be taken. Any commissioner or person employed by the commission 41 who intentionally and without authorization releases confidential infor- 42 mation received by the commission shall be guilty of a class A misdemea- 43 nor. 44 12. The commission shall be deemed to be an agency of the state within 45 the meaning of article three of the state administrative procedure act 46 and shall adopt rules governing the conduct of adjudicatory proceedings 47 and appeals taken pursuant to a proceeding commenced under article 48 seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules relating to the 49 assessment of penalties or findings authorized in this section. Such 50 rules, which shall not be subject to the approval requirements of the 51 state administrative procedure act, shall provide for due process proce- 52 dural mechanisms substantially similar to those set forth in article 53 three of the state administrative procedure act but such mechanisms need 54 not be identical in terms of scope. 55 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to settle- 56 ments entered into on and after such date.