Emily DeSantis

As part of the settlement agreement, Ms. Beattie admitted that her conduct violated POL § 74(3) and will pay a fine of $5,000. The investigation found that Ms. Beattie brought on her friend, who was a registered lobbyist, to serve as a voluntary consultant on a COVID-related project. The lobbyist then went on to become a paid subcontractor for a company that had been involved in that same project. The state paid the Company and the registered lobbyist for this work, and Ms. Beattie approved the invoice while the lobbyist was actively lobbying the DOB. In addition, Ms. Beattie stayed at the Florida residence of the registered lobbyist while he was engaged in lobbying the DOB and was feted and appeared as a featured speaker at events held by the registered lobbyist for his clients and prospective clients.

#NYEthicsNews: COELIG and @NewYorkStateIG Lucy Lang (IG) announced a settlement in the matter of former NYS Acting State Budget Director Sandra Beattie related to alleged violations of the Public Officers Law (POL). COELIG also settled three additional ethics cases. The four settlements resulting in $10,900 total in penalties. Read the full release: ethics.ny.gov/news/nys-coeli… “We are grateful to the Office of the Inspector General for its collaboration in pursuing Ms. Beattie’s case, and in helping us to advance integrity, trust, and transparency in government,” COELIG Executive Director Berland said. “Ms. Beattie positioned a registered lobbyist, with whom she had a personal friendship and from whom she received personal favors, in a position to benefit greatly from contract work for the Office of Information Technology Services and its vendors. State ethics laws and regulations exist to ensure that this kind of behavior is brought to light and properly penalized. Ms. Beattie violated the duties of her office and the public trust. This settlement brings her to account for her conduct.” “State officers must uphold the highest ethical standards and should provide an example of principled adherence to the state’s ethics laws,” Chair Seymour W. James, Jr. said. “COELIG’s Investigation and Enforcement staff, along with the IG, found that Ms. Beattie’s conduct did not meet the standards expected of public officers in New York State. The Public Officers Law prohibits certain conduct to ensure the public can trust its government. Ms. Beattie’s conduct undermined that trust. The settlement announced today provides an appropriate conclusion to the allegations against her.” “Good government both needs and breeds public trust,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “I am proud of the oversight work our dedicated team at the Offices of the Inspector General does every day to earn that trust, and I thank our colleagues at COELIG for their continued partnership in this shared goal.”

#SaveTheDate: COELIG will hold its fourth annual public hearing at the NYC Bar Association on Wednesday, September 30 at 10 a.m.! Those wishing to provide in-person or remote testimony are asked to sign up in advance by sending an email to [email protected] by September 22, 2026. Written testimony may be submitted to [email protected] by October 7, 2026. Learn more about the purpose of the hearing and find more detailed information at ethics.ny.gov/news/nys-commi…

The Commission and @NewYorkStateIG Lucy Lang (IG) today announced a settlement in the matter of former NYS Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Rajiv Rao related to alleged violations of the Public Officers Law. Specifically, while Rao served as ITS CTO, he participated as a special guest and spoke at multiple events, hosted and paid for by a registered lobbyist and attended by clients of the lobbyist, and he did so without obtaining approval from or informing ITS. Read the full release by visiting ethics.ny.gov/news/nys-coeli…

#COELIGAtWork: The Commission released its 2025 Annual Report today! In line with its mission to increase accuracy and transparency in the reports filed by those who seek to influence government decision-making, the Commission identified $23.47 million in lobbying compensation discrepancies in 2025 and resolved 92.4% of the discrepancies. Additionally, final data shows spending to influence government decision-making rose slightly in 2025 to a record high of more than $384.8 million, up 0.69% from 2024 and the fourth consecutive year of record lobbying spending. Read the full release and view the complete report here: ethics.ny.gov/news/fourth-co… “The people of New York are entitled to have a clear, accurate, and timely view of the efforts being made to influence government decision-making, and the Commission requires lobbying filings to be complete, accurate, and filed when due,” Executive Director Berland said. “Over the past four years, we have seen considerable growth in lobbying spending and activity. We have increased and adjusted staffing across the agency, tightened regulations, prioritized aggressive enforcement, and expanded outreach and training. Our objective is to increase the thoroughness and effectiveness of our agency in every area of its operations, and we believe we are achieving that.” “Lobbying spending reached a new record level in 2025 led by spending on gaming and housing,” Chair Seymour W. James said. “With the increased lobbying spending, the agency’s efforts to ensure accuracy in lobbying reporting is more important now than ever. To that end, staff conducted hundreds of audits with thousands of findings and identified more than $24 million in discrepancies. The agency’s diligence resulted in amendments to hundreds of filings. COELIG continues to strive to foster public confidence in our state’s government.”

The Commission accepts tips concerning possible violations of law under its jurisdiction. Submit a tip anonymously by calling 1-800-87-ETHICS or visit ethics.ny.gov/form/report-a-… for more information.

Happy Public Service Recognition Week from COELIG! Thank you to all New York State employees who keep the state moving forward- your hard work does not go unnoticed! #PSRW2026

#COELIGAtWork: More than 266,000 executive branch employees completed the live CETC or the on-demand ethics training course in 2025, marking a 49.2% increase from 2024 and 78.7% increase from 2023. Read the full release at ethics.ny.gov/news/coelig-se…

#COELIGAtWork: The Commission reached settlements in three ethics cases recently, resulting in $26,800 in penalties and lost pay. The settlements will resolve matters relating to alleged violations of the Public Officers Law (POL). The Commission’s Investigations and Enforcement Division investigated these matters. Read the full release by visiting ethics.ny.gov/news/coelig-re…

#NYEthicsNews: The Commission has reached a conclusion in the Klein investigation. View the Commission’s letter at ethics.ny.gov/system/files/d…

#COELIGAtWork: The Commission’s focus on increasing compliance and transparency, and ensuring full and accurate data reporting resulted in resolving 99.5%, or $17.97 million, out of $18.1 million in lobbying filing discrepancies, in 2024. Final data on lobbying activity shows that for the third consecutive year, spending to influence government decision making in New York rose to a record high, totaling more than $382.1 million in 2024, a 5.97% increase over last year, 15.26% over 2022 spending, and 30.48% - nearly $90 million - over the 2021 figure of $292.9 million. Read the full release and view the Commission’s 2024 Annual Report at ethics.ny.gov/news/coelig-en… “The Commission prioritizes data integrity and strives to ensure that statewide ethics and lobbying activity is fully and accurately reported,” Executive Director Berland said. “Working with lobbyists and clients, nearly $18 million in reporting discrepancies were resolved, providing the public with more transparent and accurate lobbying data.” “In another record year for lobbying spending, an increasingly higher volume of lobbying filings and inquiries, the busiest year yet for ethics training, and nearly 170 matters processed by investigations and enforcement, 2024 was an active year for the Commission,” Chair Seymour W. James, Jr. said. “The Annual Report puts into black and white the vital work being done each day by Commission staff.”

#ICYMI: Executive Director Sanford N. Berland spoke with Shantel Destra from @NYNOW_PBS about the Cuomo decision, COELIG’s budget and 2025 Legislative Agenda, more timely lobbying data releases, and COELIG’s 2024 actions! Watch the complete interview at nynow.wmht.org/blogs/full-ep…