(a)Approving authority , for a policy maker, shall mean:
(1)the head of a State agency employing such policy maker;
(2)the appropriate designee of the head of such State agency;
(3)the individual or body that has the authority to appoint such policy maker to a position; or
(4)the appropriate designee of such individual or body.
(b)Commission shall mean the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics and, where applicable, its predecessor agencies.
(c)Compensation shall mean the financial consideration received in exchange for services rendered,
e.g.
, wages, salaries, benefits, professional fees, royalties, bonuses, or commissions on sales. Compensation shall also include income received from any business venture, whether or not incorporated, that is owned or controlled by an individual who is subject to this Part. Notwithstanding the foregoing, income received from transactions involving such individual’s own securities, personal property, or real estate is not included in the term compensation.
(d)Outside activity approval form shall mean a form designated by the commission as the outside activity approval form and available on the commission’s website.
(e)Party shall mean:
(1)any organization which at the last preceding election for Governor of the State of New York polled at least 50,000 votes for its candidate for governor; or
(2)the national political entity affiliated with such organization.
(f)Party committee shall mean any State committee, county committee, and such other committee (including national committee) as the rules of the party may allow.
(g)Policy maker shall mean an officer, employee, director, commissioner, or member of a State agency (other than a multi-state authority) who has been determined to hold a policy-making position pursuant to Public Officers Law section 73-a(1)(c).
(h)Political organization shall mean any organization that is affiliated with, or subsidiary to, a party. The term does not include campaign or fundraising committees.
(i)State agency shall mean any State department, or division, board, commission, or bureau of any State department, any public benefit corporation, public authority, or commission at least one of whose members is appointed by the Governor.
State agency shall also include the State University of New York or the City University of New York, including all their constituent units except:
(1)community colleges of the State University of New York; and
(2)the independent institutions operating statutory or contract colleges on behalf of the State.
(j)Statewide elected official shall mean the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, or Comptroller of the State of New York.