Johnson Newspaper Corp. ALBANY â The Senateâs hearing to examine New Yorkâs ethics and oversight was postponed Monday after concerns about following the state Open Meetings Law with some lawmakers participating virtually and others attending in-person. Officials need clarification, they said Monday, after more than 15 months of conducting sessions or meetings virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic, if the Open Meetings Law applies to hearings, and if lawmakers can continue to attend via Zoom or teleconference. âThis is something thatâs open to interpretation,â said Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx. âThere is absolutely no circumstance whatsoever that I will ever put myself in, put this committee in, put this government in where we have any kind of violation of any ethics [rules]. We always want to be honoring the spirit of what I believe ethics is which is open, transparent as well as making sure that we can have as much participation as possible.