The bill amends Section 4 of P.L.1981, c.142 (C.52:13D-17.2) to permit spouses of certain State officers or employees to hold interests in regulated businesses related to casino and cannabis activities, which was previously restricted. The new language clarifies that while State officers and employees, along with their immediate family members, are generally prohibited from engaging with entities involved in casino licensing or cannabis operations, spouses are exempt from this prohibition, contingent upon approval from the State Ethics Commission. This ensures that such engagements do not interfere with the official responsibilities of the State officer or employee or create conflicts of interest.

Furthermore, the bill removes the existing requirement that the exemption for spouses only applies if the marriage occurred after the State officer or employee's appointment or employment, thus allowing spouses to engage in these interests regardless of the marriage date, provided the State officer or employee does not have relevant responsibilities. It also specifies that spouses must not be directly employed by any entity in the cannabis or casino industries. Additionally, the bill mandates the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards and the State Ethics Commission to maintain and periodically update a list of State government 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, P.L.2021, c.16.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:13D-17.2