State Sen. Bob Antonacci has accepted a job at a Syracuse law firm even though New York lawmakers face a ban on outside income next year as a condition of a $50,500 pay raise.

Antonacci, R-Onondaga, will serve as general counsel at the firm Costello, Cooney and Fearon, the firm announced Monday night.

Robert Smith, the law firm’s CEO, said in a statement that Antonacci will be based in its downtown Syracuse office. He did not disclose how much money Antonacci will be paid in the new post.

Members of the state Assembly and Senate will face strict limits on outside income starting in 2020 under terms of a pay raise plan approved last year by an independent commission.

Some New York lawmakers say the commission overstepped its authority with the outside income ban. Its decision is being challenged in court.

Antonacci said in an interview Tuesday that he will step down from the law firm post next year if courts uphold the limits on outside income. He said he will not draw a fixed salary at the law firm or work as a full-time employee.

“It’s not a no-show job where you just collect a check,” Antonacci said Tuesday. "I don’t have a guaranteed paycheck. If I bring something in, I earn a fee.”

Antonacci will not be permitted to do legal work for any of the firm’s clients who have business before the state or a potential conflict of interest with his position as a state lawmaker, said Rochelle Cassella, speaking for Costello, Cooney and Fearon.

“They are well aware of the ethical situation,” Cassella said of Antonacci joining the law firm. “He will not do any business that has any connection to the state."

Antonacci told syracuse.com last month that he opposes the ban on outside income because it will limit the experience that lawmakers can bring to Albany.

“To ask people to give up their private sector interests, could be tough to do,” Antonacci said. Otherwise, “You're going to end up with professional legislators.”

Antonacci is a lawyer and accountant who moonlights as a high school basketball referee.

Antonacci said in a December interview that he stopped working as a CPA and lawyer while serving as Onondaga County comptroller. He also declines to be paid for his work as a referee.

The issue of his outside income as Onondaga County comptroller was part of an ongoing feud with former County Executive Joanie Mahoney. The Onondaga County Legislature approved a law in September 2017 barring full-time elected officials from earning outside income.

Under an incremental pay-raise plan approved in December for state lawmakers, their salary will increase from $79,500 to $130,000 by 2021.

If the ruling holds up in court, members of the New York Legislature would not be able to work as lawyers. The independent commission recommended banning lawmakers from jobs where they hold a fiduciary responsibility to clients.

Costello, Cooney and Fearon provides clients with legal services in the areas of litigation, labor and employment, environmental, estate planning, banking/commercial and real estate law. Its clients include insurance companies, health care organizations and municipalities.

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