Under the New Jersey Ethics Code, which action must a state official take before engaging in activities regulated by a state agency?

• A. Ask permission from the governor
• B. Disclose to the public
• C. Promptly file notice with the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards
• D. Ignore the regulations

Answer: (C)

In New Jersey, ethics rules require a state official to disclose potential conflicts before taking part in activities regulated by a state agency. The formal step is to promptly file notice with the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards. This filing gives the Commission a chance to review the planned activities for any conflict of interest, ensures transparency, and helps maintain public trust by preventing self-dealing or biased actions.

Asking the governor for permission isn’t the required process, and simply disclosing to the public isn’t the specific action the ethics code mandates. Ignoring the regulations is not permissible.