Many Public Authorities Must Comply with “Project Sunlight” in Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011
Late today, Governor Cuomo signed the Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011. Among other things, the new ethics law creates a disclosure program named “Project Sunlight” which requires public agencies, including public benefit corporations and public authorities that have at least one of their members appointed by the governor, to provide the Office of General Services (OGS) with a list of all individuals, firms, or other entities (other than state or local governmental agencies) who have appeared before the corporation or authority in a representative capacity on behalf of a client or customer for purposes of: “(a) procuring a state contract for real property, goods or services for such client; representing such client or customer in a proceeding relating to rate making; (c) representing such client in a regulatory matter; (d) representing such client or customer in a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding; or (e) representing such client or customer in the adoption or repeal of a rule or regulation.” OGS is to collect the information and post it a readily searchable and available on-line database. This section of the new law takes effect January 1, 2013. The Governor’s press release describing the various provisions of the new law is available here.