News In Brief

The Commission on Public Integrity said yesterday the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and two other lobbying groups are suspected of holding receptions where lawmakers were offered food and drink in excess of the value allowed by law. The commission’s acting executive director, Barry Ginsburg, said the panel has found “sufficient evidence” to indicate ethics rules may have been violated by the bar group, which held a Dec. 19, 2008, Albany reception for lawmakers. The Association of Police Benevolent Associations and the Uniformed Firefighters Association were also notified they are under investigation for holding similar gatherings.

Under 2007 ethics reforms, the previous $75 value limit on gifts and other considerations legislators can accept was rescinded. They are now limited to accepting only items of “nominal” value, such as a cup of coffee. Walter Ayres, a spokesman for the integrity commission, said the three groups are the first to be investigated for a possible violation of the nominal value rule at receptions for legislators.