As chair of the Assembly Ethics Committee, I co-authored and sponsored major ethics reform legislation (A. 9544) this session. The Legislation called for increased disclosure of outside income for legislators, enhanced enforcement and creation of independent ethics entities. This sweeping campaign finance and ethics reform called for stiffer penalties, greater oversight and increased disclosure to make government more accountable. 

The bill:
 * Set clear guidelines on creating three independent legislative and investigative bodies to oversee ethics reform. 

* Detailed increased financial disclosure requirements for lobbyists, consulting clients and professional relationships 

* Created an enforcement unit to strengthen the state’s campaign finance laws and implement increased penalties Good-government groups like the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), Citizens Union, and the League of Women Voters supported this legislation as far-reaching ethics reform that would help restore public confidence in our democratic processes in Albany. 

The bill passed both the Assembly and Senate.