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Ethics: New Jersey's Conflict of Interest Definition

This page is intended to provide general information and does not necessarily address all aspects of this topic.  Because the facts of each situation may vary, this information may need to be supplemented by consulting legal advisors.  It reflects in summary form statutes/constitutional provisions/legislative chamber rules in effect as of 5/31/2008 or statutes set to take effect shortly thereafter.

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New Jersey's Policy	Statutory Reference
TITLE 52.  STATE GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICERS   SUBTITLE 2.  STATE LEGISLATURE   CHAPTER 13D.  CONFLICT OF INTEREST § 52:13D-13. Definitions ... (g) "Interest" means (1) the ownership or control of more than 10% of the profits or assets of a firm, association, or partnership, or more than 10% of the stock in a corporation for profit other than a professional service corporation organized under the "Professional Service Corporation Act," P.L. 1969, c. 232 (C. 14A:17-1 et seq.); or (2) the ownership or control of more than 1% of the profits of a firm, association, or partnership, or more than 1% of the stock in any corporation, which is the holder of, or an applicant for, a casino license or in any holding or intermediary company with respect thereto, as defined by the "Casino Control Act," P.L. 1977, c. 110 (C. 5:12-1 et seq.). The provisions of this act governing the conduct of individuals are applicable to shareholders, associates or professional employees of a professional service corporation regardless of the extent or amount of their shareholder interest in such a corporation.	N.J. Stat. § 52:13D-13 (2008).
TITLE 52.  STATE GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICERS   SUBTITLE 2.  STATE LEGISLATURE   CHAPTER 13D.  CONFLICT OF INTEREST § 52:13D-23. Codes of ethics    (a) (1) The head of each State agency, or the principal officer in charge of a division, board, bureau, commission or other instrumentality within a department of State Government designated by the head of such department for the purposes hereinafter set forth, shall within six months from the date of enactment, promulgate a code of ethics to govern and guide the conduct of the members of the Legislature… … (e) A code of ethics for officers and employees of a State agency shall conform to the following general standards: (1) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in any business or transaction or professional activity, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest. (2) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should engage in any particular business, profession, trade or occupation which is subject to licensing or regulation by a specific agency of State Government without promptly filing notice of such activity with the State Ethics Commission, if he is an officer or employee in the Executive Branch, or with the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, if he is an officer or employee in the Legislative Branch. (3) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should use or attempt to use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or advantages for himself or others. (4) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should act in his official capacity in any matter wherein he has a direct or indirect personal financial interest that might reasonably be expected to impair his objectivity or independence of judgment. (5) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should undertake any employment or service, whether compensated or not, which might reasonably be expected to impair his objectivity and independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties. (6) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should accept any gift, favor, service or other thing of value under circumstances from which it might be reasonably inferred that such gift, service or other thing of value was given or offered for the purpose of influencing him in the discharge of his official duties. (7) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should knowingly act in any way that might reasonably be expected to create an impression or suspicion among the public having knowledge of his acts that he may be engaged in conduct violative of his trust as a State officer or employee or special State officer or employee. (8) Rules of conduct adopted pursuant to these principles should recognize that under our democratic form of government public officials and employees should be drawn from all of our society, that citizens who serve in government cannot and should not be expected to be without any personal interest in the decisions and policies of government; that citizens who are government officials and employees have a right to private interests of a personal, financial and economic nature; that standards of conduct should separate those conflicts of interest which are unavoidable in a free society from those conflicts of interest which are substantial and material, or which bring government into disrepute. (f) The code of ethics for members of the Legislature shall conform to subsection (e) hereof as nearly as may be possible.	N.J. Stat. § 52:13D-23 (2008).

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Center for Ethics in Government