Statement on the Impact of the Commission’s Scholarly Capacity Rule on State Ethics Rules and Codes

On November 19, 2007, the N.J. State Ethics Commission promulgated final amendments to its regulations, N.J.A.C. 19:61-6.1, et seq., providing special provisions for State College/University employees acting in a scholarly capacity for their institutions.

These special provisions, however, do not eliminate the usual ethical responsibilities placed on State college/university employees under the Commission’s regulations and Uniform Ethics Code when they are not acting in a scholarly capacity for their institutions.

State college/university employees must still abide by the reporting and documentation requirements under the Commission’s regulations, the State Uniform Ethics Code and any Supplemental Ethics Code issued by their institutions when attending events, accepting benefits or engaging in secondary employment or activities outside their scholarly capacity.

As a matter of first course, employees are urged to contact their college/university ethics liaison officer if they have any questions regarding the application of the above-noted rules and ethics codes.