The bill amends Section 4 of P.L.1981, c.142 (C.52:13D-17.2) to allow spouses of certain State officers or employees to hold interests in regulated businesses related to casino and cannabis activities. It clarifies that, with specific exceptions, State officers or employees, their immediate family members, and associated entities are generally prohibited from holding interests in or being employed by holders of casino licenses or cannabis-related permits. However, the bill introduces provisions that permit such employment under certain conditions, ensuring it does not interfere with the responsibilities of the State officer or employee or create a conflict of interest. Additionally, it removes previous prohibitions that restricted State officers and employees from holding interests in these regulated businesses, thereby increasing employment opportunities for their immediate family members.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the New Jersey Conflict of Interest Law to allow spouses of State officers or employees, who do not have responsibilities for regulating cannabis or casino activities, to hold interests in those areas without conflict, removing the previous requirement that the marriage must have occurred after the officer's appointment. It specifies that the spouse must not be directly employed by any entity in the cannabis or casino industries and mandates the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards and the State Ethics Commission to maintain and update a list of State government positions related to these activities. The bill is retroactive to the effective date of the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act, P.L.2021, c.16.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:13D-17.2