NORTH COUNTRY, N.Y. -- The sister of North Country State Senator Darrel Aubertine has returned the money she was paid while working for her brother for three weeks.

The Office of State Senate Payroll received a check for a little more than $1,900 earlier this week from the senator's sister, Debra Wiley. Aubertine's campaign says Wiley had to refund the money because working for her brother was in violation of a state law prohibiting the hiring of relatives.

The law was part of "The public employee ethic reform" bill passed in 2007. Aubertine was one of 90 sponsors on the bill.

Aubertine faces a challenge from republican David Renzi in November's election.