Thomas Giblin, Sr. Co-Sponsored (Introduced) this Legislation.
Title: Increases Oversight of the Port Authority
Vote to override a veto of a bill that increases oversight of the Port Authority.
Authorizes the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority to fulfill certain duties, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 4):
Execute direct oversight of the Port Authority’s chief executive and other management;
Adopt a code of ethics applicable to each officer, director, and employee that includes the applicable standards established in the ethics law of both states;
Understand, review, and monitor the implementation of fundamental financial and management controls and operational decisions of the authority; and
Establish written policies and procedures on personnel, including protection for employees from retaliation for disclosing information concerning acts of wrongdoing or misconduct.
Authorizes the board to establish an audit committee comprising of at least 3 independent members to fulfill duties including compensation, oversight of auditing, and recommendation of a certified independent accounting firm (Sec. 4):
Defines an “independent member” as an individual who fulfills the following requirements (Sec. 4):
Has not been employed by the Port Authority or an affiliate within the past 2 years;
Has not been employed by an entity that received more than $15,000 for goods and services provided to the Port Authority;
Is not a relative of an executive officer or employee in an executive position of the Port Authority or an affiliate; and
Is not a lobbyist registered under a state or local law and paid by a client to influence the management decisions, contract awards, or rate determinations of the Port Authority.
Authorizes the board to establish a governance committee, comprising of at least 3 independent members who will fulfill duties including self-evaluations, professional relationship monitoring, and preventing conflicts of interest g (Sec. 4):
Prohibits a board member from serving as the Port Authority’s chief executive officer, executive director, chief financial officer, or comptroller while serving on the board (Sec. 4).
Requires the Port Authority to annually submit to the governor, the state comptroller, and the legislature of each state, reports on the authority’s operations, finances, bookkeeping and other accounting-related documents (Secs. 8-9):
Establishes the position of Inspector General, an individual appointed by the board, to fulfill certain duties, including, but not limited to, the following (Secs. 10 & 12):
Develop a whistleblower access and assistance program;
Receive and investigate complaints from any source, or upon own initiative, concerning allegations of corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest, or abuse in the authority;
Establish programs for training officers of port authority and its employees regarding the prevention and elimination of corruption; and
Subpoenaing and enforcing the attendance of witnesses.
Requires all Port Authority meetings to be open to the public at all times, except in certain situations, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 17):
The matter discussed would endanger the public safety;
Impair a right to receive funds from the United States government; or
Involves the employment, appointment, or termination of employment of an individual.
Title: Increases Oversight of the Port Authority
Title: Increases Oversight of the Port Authority
Title: Increases Oversight of the Port Authority