NY.Gov Profile Merger
Information for Lobby Application Filers
Beginning on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 8:00 p.m. – 11:55 p.m., the JCOPE Online Lobbying Application ("LA") is scheduled to participate in the NY.gov account consolidation initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to allow users to merge multiple personal NY.gov accounts into a primary account that requires only a single username and password. More information is provided in the NY.gov Profile Merger Information linked below.
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Investigations and Enforcement
Outage Latest
JCOPE Lobbying Application, FDS System Restored - Posted 3/9/22
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (“JCOPE”) authorized the State Office of Information Technology Services (“ITS”) to restore the online Lobbying Application (“LA”) and Financial Disclosure Statement (“FDS”) systems on March 9, 2022. The target of this cybersecurity incident, the pre-2019 legacy online lobbying filing system, will remain offline until further notice. Data from the legacy online filing system will also not be available until further notice.
Any filings due between February 17 and March 9 will be automatically granted an extension to March 31. Additionally, the March 15 lobbying bi-monthly report deadline is also extended to March 31.
The information security officials at ITS have completed their forensic review process, which attempts to retrace the malicious activity step-by-step. Although no direct or circumstantial evidence of any unauthorized access of user data or credit card information has been found, any evidence or other indication suggesting unlawful use of user information will be handled in accordance with state cyber-security laws.
JCOPE will continue to work with other state agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, to ensure that any affected users are contacted and all legal obligations are met.
Any filings due between February 17 and March 9 will be automatically granted an extension to March 31. Additionally, the March 15 lobbying bi-monthly report deadline is also extended to March 31.
The information security officials at ITS have completed their forensic review process, which attempts to retrace the malicious activity step-by-step. Although no direct or circumstantial evidence of any unauthorized access of user data or credit card information has been found, any evidence or other indication suggesting unlawful use of user information will be handled in accordance with state cyber-security laws.
JCOPE will continue to work with other state agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, to ensure that any affected users are contacted and all legal obligations are met.
Hand Delivery of Filings
COVID-19 and Lobbying, FDS Filings
JCOPE accepts hand delivered filings by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please contact our Reception desk at (518) 408-3976 or [email protected] We encourage filers to mail any checks for filing fees or to consider submitting filings through our online Lobbying Application and using a credit card to pay the submission fee.
Security Upgrades
Web Browser Requirements
On December 1, 2021, New York State will upgrade security protections to our websites and applications. Access to government websites and applications will now require the use of up-to-date and secure web browsers. If you are using an older web browser, you will need to upgrade to a current web browser prior to December 1. To verify that your browser meets the new requirements, visit https://encryption.ny.gov.
The following popular web browsers are among many capable of supporting up-to-date security protocols:
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Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 |
Microsoft Edge version 12 and above |
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Google Chrome version 30 and above |
Mozilla Firefox 27 and above |
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Opera 17 and above |
Apple Safari 7 and above |
Public Information
New Communications Policy on Investigations
At its July 2021 meeting, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (“Commission”) approved a new communications policy to authorize the release of information about the status of investigations in limited circumstances. The policy was set as part of an effort to improve public awareness of Commission activities and address or correct inaccuracies in the public arena about those activities.
Under this new policy, the Commission has authorized staff, when the existence of a complaint or matter is already public and certain other conditions are met, to:
- Publicly acknowledge receipt of a complaint (the complaint itself, including the identity of the complainant if not public, remains a confidential record and cannot be disclosed);
- Publicly acknowledge that a matter is pending before JCOPE for the duration of the matter;
- Publicly acknowledge that a matter is no longer pending before JCOPE after it has been closed for any reason; and
- Publicly acknowledge if the Commission has received a request from law enforcement to defer its inquiry in a matter.
The Commission must still rigorously adhere to the confidentiality provisions in Executive Law, but it hopes that this will improve understand of its process and activities.