§ 806. Code of ethics. 1. (a) The governing body of each county, city, town, village, school district and fire district shall and the governing body of any other municipality may by local law, ordinance or resolution adopt a code of ethics setting forth for the guidance of its officers and employees the standards of conduct reasonably expected of them. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, a fire district code of ethics shall also apply to the volunteer members of the fire district fire department. Codes of ethics shall provide standards for officers and employees with respect to disclosure of interest in legislation before the local governing body, holding of investments in conflict with official duties, private employment in conflict with official duties, future employment and such other standards relating to the conduct of officers and employees as may be deemed advisable. Such codes may regulate or prescribe conduct which is not expressly prohibited by this article but may not authorize conduct otherwise prohibited. Such codes may provide for the prohibition of conduct or disclosure of information and the classification of employees or officers.(b) Effective on and after January first, nineteen hundred ninety-one, such codes of political subdivisions, as defined in section eight hundred ten of this article, may contain provisions which require the filing of completed annual statements of financial disclosure with the appropriate body, as defined in section eight hundred ten of this article. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict any political subdivision or any other municipality from requiring such a filing prior to January first, nineteen hundred ninety-one. Other than as required by subdivision two of section eight hundred eleven of this article, the governing body of any such political subdivision or other municipality may at any time subsequent to the effective date of this paragraph, adopt a local law, ordinance or resolution pursuant to subdivision one of section eight hundred eleven of this article and any such political subdivision or municipality, acting by its governing body, may take such other action as is authorized in such subdivision. Any political subdivision or other municipality to which all of the provisions of section eight hundred twelve of this article apply may elect to remove itself from the ambit of all (but not some) provisions of such section in the manner authorized in subdivision three of such section eight hundred twelve. In such event any such political subdivision or municipality shall be subject to certain conditions and limitations set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of such subdivision three which shall include, but not be limited to, the promulgation of a form of an annual statement of financial disclosure described in subdivision one of such section eight hundred eleven. 2. The chief executive officer of a municipality adopting a code of ethics shall cause a copy thereof to be distributed to every officer and employee of his municipality. The fire district commissioners shall cause a copy of the fire district's code of ethics to be posted publicly and conspicuously in each building under such district's control. Failure to distribute any such copy or failure of any officer or employee to receive such copy shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with such code, nor the enforcement of provisions thereof.
