19:7.2 Scope
19:7.3 Definitions
19:7.4 Situations where recusal is required
19:7.5 Procedure for recusal
The purpose of this subchapter is to provide State officials with guidance regarding the circumstances under which a State official must recuse himself or herself and procedures as to properly effectuating a recusal.
19:61-7.2 Scope
The rules in this subchapter apply to all State officers and employees and to all special State officers and employees as defined in the Conflicts of Interest Law, N.J.S.A. 52:13D-13(b) and (e), which definitions are incorporated in N.J.A.C. 19:61-1.10.
19:61-7.3 Definitions
The following words and terms, as used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
"Recusal" means the process by which a person is disqualified, or disqualifies himself or herself, from a matter because of a conflict of interest.
"Relative" means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, father-in-law, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, or first cousin, whether in whole or half blood, by marriage, adoption or natural relationship, and the spouse of any such person.
19:61-7.4 Situations where recusal is required
(a) A State official is required to recuse himself or herself from an official matter that involves any private sector individual, association, corporation or other entity that employed or did business with the State official during the one year prior to the official's commencement of State service. This recusal shall remain in effect for one year after the commencement of the official's State service.
(b) A State official is required to recuse himself or herself on an official matter if he or she had any involvement in that matter, other than on behalf of the State, prior to commencement of his or her State service. The recusal shall remain in effect until the agency no longer has any interest in the matter.
(c) A State official must recuse himself or herself from a matter if he or she has:
1. Any financial interest, direct or indirect, that is incompatible with the discharge of the State official's public duties; or
2. Any personal interest, direct or indirect, that is incompatible with the discharge of the State official's public duties.
(d) For purposes of (c) above, an incompatible financial or personal interest includes, but is not limited to, outside employment; a debtor/creditor relationship; a fiduciary relationship; a source of income; any matter pertaining to or involving a relative or cohabitant; a relationship with a person providing funds, goods or services without compensation; any matter pertaining to or involving a business associate or business investment; and a leadership role in a professional or trade organization, which interest might reasonably be expected to impair a State official's objectivity and independence of judgment in the exercise of his or her official duties or might reasonably be expected to create an impression or suspicion among the public having knowledge of his or her acts that he or she may be engaged in conduct violative of his or her trust as a State official.
(e) An incompatible financial or personal interest may exist in other situations which are not clearly within the provisions of (c) and (d) above, depending on the totality of the circumstances. A State official should contact his or her agency ethics liaison officer or the Commission for guidance in such cases.
(f) A State official must seek the advice of the State agency's counsel, agency ethics liaison officer or the Commission as to the propriety of participation in a matter if any person requests that a State official recuse himself or herself from that matter. Oral advice, followed up by a writing, may be provided by the agency's counsel, the agency ethics liaison officer or the Commission to avoid delay. Oral advice should subsequently be memorialized by a writing or by inclusion in public minutes.
The Director of a program that regulates health insurance carriers has been approached about possible employment by a regulated entity. The entity does not currently have any specific cause, proceeding, application or other matter pending. The solicitation must immediately be disclosed to the Director's supervisor and the Department Ethics Liaison Officer to avoid a situation where the State official may appear to be using his/her official position to gain an unwarranted advantage. The circumstances surrounding the solicitation and the State official's official interactions with the entity must be reviewed before the official proceeds with any job-seeking activities. If it is determined that the State official may respond to the solicitation, he must recuse himself from any involvement with the entity in his official capacity. Such recusal must conform to the standards of N.J.A.C. 19:61-7.5(b).
Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 19:61-3.1(e), if a member of the Commission holds office or employment in the same Department which employs a State official named in an allegation, he or she must disqualify himself or herself from participation in any decisional process relating to that particular case. One of the Commission meeting agenda items is an allegation that a Department of Personnel employee has violated the Conflicts of Interest Law. Because the Commission Chairwoman is the Commissioner of the Department of Personnel, materials associated with this matter would not be forwarded to her. In addition, the Chairwoman would place her recusal and the reason for such recusal on the record at the meeting and leave the room during non-public deliberations.
A member of the Real Estate Commission (REC) is a Director and past President of the New Jersey Association of Realtors (NJAR). The NJAR currently opposes a regulation proposed by the REC, has submitted a letter outlining its position, and plans to attend the REC meeting to express its opposition to the regulation. Because the REC member is an officer of the NJAR, he must recuse himself from discussions and voting on the regulation in question.
19:61-7.5 Procedure for recusal
(a) If a State official finds, or is advised by agency counsel or the agency ethics liaison officer, that an incompatible financial or personal interest exists on a matter, the State official must recuse himself or herself from that matter or seek advice from the Commission. The recusal must be absolute, that is, the State official must have no involvement with the matter from which he or she has recused himself or herself.
(b) All recusals, other than those provided for in (c) below, must be memorialized in writing. See the subchapter Appendix for samples. The writing must:
1. Specify the reason for and the date of the recusal;
2. Specify the duration of the recusal (which may be expressed in terms related to the pendency of the matter in the State agency);
3. Specify the effect of the recusal on the State official and his or her State agency (for example, that the State official is not to be contacted or involved or participate in any manner concerning the matter from which he or she has been recused);
4. Name the person who is to assume responsibility and authority for the matter from which the State official has been recused (if applicable); and
5. Be disseminated to all persons who might be affected by the State official's recusal and to the agency ethics liaison officer, who shall maintain the writing for as long as the State official serves in his or her position.
(c) In the case of a State agency that maintains a public record of a proceeding, that is, a Board or Commission meeting, formal written recusal is not required; however, the following procedures must be followed:
1. To the extent feasible, meeting materials involving a matter from which the State official must recuse himself or herself should not be distributed to the State official;
2. At the subject meeting, the State official must place his or her recusal and the reason for such recusal on the record prior to any discussion of the matter; and
3. The State official must leave the room at a non-public portion of the meeting while the matter in question is under discussion.
Sample Recusal Statement: Seeking Employment
DATE: _______________________
TO: Agency Ethics Liaison Officer
State Ethics Commission
FROM: Name of Employee
SUBJECT: Recusal - Seeking Employment with (Name of Outside Organization)
This is to notify you that I am (seriously considering employment with, discussing employment with, or seeking employment with) (Name of Outside Organization).
My seeking employment may present an actual or appearance of a conflict of interest; therefore, I must disqualify/recuse myself from any official duties that involve the above organization. I understand that I may not participate in any way as a State official in any matters regarding the above organization. Furthermore, I understand that it would be appropriate for any matters specifically involving the above-named organization to be referred to my supervisor (or subordinate, if no other option) without consulting me or informing me that such matters are pending. This action is taken with the concurrence of my supervisor (or subordinate), as indicated below.
I understand that this recusal will remain in effect until I inform you in writing that all employment seeking activity has terminated and I receive written permission from
the agency ethics liaison officer to resume interactions with the outside organization.
______________________________
Employee's Name
Recommend: _________________________________ ____________
(Name of Employee's Director/Supervisor) Date
Approve: _________________________________ ____________
Ethics Liaison Officer Date
Sample Recusal Statement Conflicts
DATE: _______________
TO: Designee(s)
FROM: Name of Employee
SUBJECT: Recusal
Because I may be seen to have a conflict of interest in matters affecting (name of entity or individual) relating to (family relationship, former affiliation with firm, etc.), I am delegating all responsibility and authority for handling any such matters to you. Please ensure that I am screened from any information or communications on any such matters.
By copy of this memorandum, I am instructing (appropriate contacts in office) to ensure that I do not receive any communications on any matters affecting (name of entity or individual). This recusal will remain in effect until (state duration of recusal).
Dls
c: subordinates responsible for screening communications
Ethics Liaison Officer
State Ethics Commission
