This bill amends existing legislation to allow spouses of certain State officers or employees to hold interests in regulated businesses related to casino and cannabis activities. It modifies Section 4 of P.L.1981, c.142 (C.52:13D-17.2) to clarify the definition of "person" concerning these activities and introduces provisions permitting State officers or employees, along with their immediate family members, to be employed by holders or applicants for casino licenses and cannabis-related permits, provided that such employment does not interfere with their official responsibilities or create a conflict of interest. The bill also removes previous prohibitions that restricted State officers and employees, as well as their immediate family members, from holding interests in or being employed by businesses involved in these sectors.

Furthermore, the bill amends 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 sectors without conflict, removing the previous stipulation that the exemption only applied if the marriage occurred after the officer's appointment. It clarifies 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 positions with responsibilities related to these activities. The bill is retroactive to the effective date of the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act, ensuring that the changes apply to past situations as well.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:13D-17.2