Honoraria

An honorarium is any payment made in exchange for rendering a service or activity that is not part of your official duties.  Examples include: delivering a speech, writing or publishing an article, or participating in a public or private conference, convention, meeting, or similar event.

An honorarium may also include payment or reimbursement of expenses for travel, lodging, or meal(s) related to the service performed. 

A request for approval of an honorarium must be submitted in writing to your agency's Ethics Officer or his or her designated approving authority before performing the service or activity.  Statewide elected officials and State agency heads (including civil department heads) must submit an honorarium approval request to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying.

 A “covered person” includes:

• statewide elected officials;
• Officers and employees of New York State agencies (including departments, boards, bureaus, divisions, commissions, and councils) (*other than unpaid and per diem officers of those entities); and
• Members, directors, and employees of New York State public authorities and public benefit corporations (*other than unpaid and per diem members and directors of those entities).

Unpaid and per diem officers are excluded from Public Officers Law § 73; however, they are still bound by the conflict of interest rules found in Public Officers Law § 74. 

All faculty members of SUNY and CUNY (except SUNY community colleges) and State officers and employees with certain titles (research scientist; cancer research scientist; research physician; research psychiatrist; psychiatrist) are exempt from the Honorarium approval procedures (including the conditions for approval), provided that the service performed is within the subject matter of their official academic or research discipline.

State officers and employees who are required to file a financial disclosure statement ("FDS") – even those who are exempt from the honorarium approval requirements – are obligated to report any honorarium in excess of $1,000 (or all honoraria, the total of which exceed $1,000 received from a single offeror) in his or her FDS for the applicable year.

Generally, members of the State Legislature and legislative employees cannot ask for—or receive—an honorarium while they hold that public office or employment.

The exception to this rule occurs when payment is made for a speech unrelated to the State officer or employee’s public duties, or is income earned for personal services typically provided in connection with a legitimate business, trade, or profession—unless giving speeches is the main responsibility for someone in that occupation or profession (in which case the exception does not apply).