Politics & Government

Ciattarelli Bill Takes Aim at Officials Using Public Resources in Emergencies

After reports of some using generators following Superstorm Sandy, assembyman acts.

Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli has introduced legislation that will make it a crime for public officials and employees to use public resources for their personal benefit during a declared state of emergency.

In the immediate aftermath of Super Storm Sandy and its massive power outages, it was reported that several New Jersey public officials and employees used municipal/county electrical generators for their personal use and benefit while millions of residents remained in the dark and cold.

“Public officials are supposed to serve, not be self-serving,” said Ciattarelli, R-Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer and Middlesex. “The arrogance and selfishness of public officials to personally use and benefit from using municipal- and county-owned generators is an unconscionable breach of the public trust.”

Find out what's happening in Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Those who hold public office and work in government are held to a different standard, especially during states of emergency,” he continued. “This legislation ensures that the punishment for violating that standard will fit the crime.”

The measure makes it a crime of the fourth degree for a public servant, during a state of emergency, to knowingly use a public resource in an unauthorized manner with purpose to obtain a benefit for himself or another.

Find out what's happening in Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Under the statute, a person holding any public office, position or employment, elective or appointive, will have to forfeit the office, position or employment if convicted of “an offense involving or touching such office, position or employment.” In addition, such person would be barred from any future public employment and would be subject to a jail term of up to 18 months or a $10,000 fine or both.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here