Legislative Ethics Commission Identifies ‘Pre-Cleared’ Widely Attended Events

The Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) has begun identifying specific “widely attended events,” as defined in Legislative Law § 1-c(j)(ii), and which are thus excluded from the definition of a gift and can be attended by legislators and legislative staff who have the approval of their supervisor. (See the October 2014 calendar, which currently identifies one event.)

This is a very good idea. It should benefit the regulated community (which wants to be able to invite legislators and staff to “widely attended events”), as well as legislators and staff, who may want to attend them.