SENATE, No. 1700

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 25, 1996

By Senator CODEY

An Act concerning commissioners of principal departments in the Executive branch of State government and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. As used in this act:

    "commissioner" means the head of a principal department in the Executive branch of State government, or the principal executive officer of a department when a board, commission or other body is the head of a principal department in the Executive branch of State government; and

    "direct and substantial contact" means participation in the selection of a vendor, including negotiating or determining the scope of a contract with a vendor.

    2. A commissioner of a principal department in the Executive branch of State government who has direct and substantial contact with any vendor doing business with the department shall refrain from discussing or seeking employment with that vendor until such contact ceases.

    3. If a commissioner of a principal department in the Executive branch of State government is solicited for potential employment by a vendor with whom the commissioner has direct and substantial contact, that solicitation shall be immediately disclosed by the commissioner to the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    The purpose of this bill is to prevent conflicts of interest in the awarding of contracts. It provides that a commissioner of a principal department in the Executive branch of State government who has direct and substantial contact with any vendor doing business with the department shall refrain from discussing or seeking employment with that vendor until such contact ceases. It also stipulates that if a commissioner is solicited for potential employment by a vendor with whom the commissioner has direct and substantial contact, that solicitation shall be immediately disclosed by the commissioner to the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards.