Section 5-511 – Application of Part

    This part applies only to members of the General Assembly.

Section 5-512 – Disqualification — Presumption of Conflict

    (a)    (1)    In this section, “close economic association” means the association between a legislator and:             (i)    the legislator’s:                 1.    employer;                 2.    employee; or                 3.    partner in a business or professional enterprise;             (ii)    a partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company in which the legislator has invested capital or owns an interest;             (iii)    a corporation in which the legislator owns the lesser of: […]

Section 5-513 – Suspension of Disqualification

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the disqualification arising under § 5–512 of this subtitle is suspended if a legislator with an apparent or presumed conflict files with the Joint Ethics Committee a sworn statement that:             (i)    describes the circumstances of the apparent or presumed conflict and the legislation, class of legislation, or […]

Section 5-514 – Outside Income Relating to State or Local Governmental Entities

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection, a member of the General Assembly, a filed candidate for election to the General Assembly, or a member–elect of the General Assembly may not receive earned income from:             (i)    an executive unit; or             (ii)    a political subdivision of the State.         (2)    The Joint Ethics Committee may exempt […]

Section 5-514.1 – Social Media Links in Official Electronic Legislative Newsletter

    (a)    In this section, “official electronic legislative newsletter” means a document that:         (1)    is electronically distributed; and         (2)    is used by an incumbent, with supervision by or coordination with the General Assembly, to disseminate information about one or more issues of public interest chosen by the incumbent.     (b)    An official electronic legislative newsletter may include a link to a […]

Section 5-515 – Joint Ethics Committee — Written Opinions

    (a)    (1)    A legislator may request a written opinion from the Joint Ethics Committee on the propriety of any current or proposed conduct of the legislator and involving the applicable standards of ethical conduct for legislators established by law, rule, or other standard of ethical conduct.         (2)    A request for an opinion shall:             (i)    be in writing and signed […]

Section 5-516 – Complaints

    (a)    A complaint alleging that a member of the General Assembly may have violated standards of ethical conduct, including § 2–108 of the State Government Article, may be filed with the Joint Ethics Committee by:         (1)    a written statement from any person, accompanied by an affidavit, setting forth the facts on which the statement is based;         (2)    motion […]

Section 5-517 – Confidentiality

    (a)    Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, any matter before the Joint Ethics Committee, including information relating to any complaint, proceeding, or record of the Joint Ethics Committee, shall remain confidential.     (b)    Public access and inspection of an activity or a record of the Joint Ethics Committee shall be available for:         (1)    a […]

Section 5-518 – Review of Complaints

    (a)    Except as provided in § 5–518.1 of this subtitle, after the filing or preparation of a complaint under § 5–516 of this subtitle, the Joint Ethics Committee shall review the complaint and proceed in accordance with § 5–519 of this subtitle unless, after examining the complaint and the issues raised by it, the Committee finds […]

Section 5-518.1 – Investigation of Violations of Antiharassment Policies and Procedures of General Assembly or Retaliation Against Individuals Reporting Violations

    (a)    Unless the alleged victim objects, the Joint Ethics Committee shall refer a complaint for evaluation to an outside and independent investigator selected by the Joint Ethics Committee if the complaint alleges that a member of the General Assembly has:         (1)    violated the antiharassment policy and procedures of the General Assembly; or         (2)    retaliated against an individual for […]

Section 5-519 – Allegation Summary

    (a)    (1)    Except as to proceedings terminated in accordance with § 5–518(b) of this subtitle, the Joint Ethics Committee shall provide to the accused legislator a copy of:             (i)    the complaint filed or prepared in accordance with § 5–516 of this subtitle; and             (ii)    the allegation summary prepared in accordance with § 5–518(c) of this subtitle.         (2)    The accused legislator […]

Section 5-520 – Hearing Procedures

    (a)    The Joint Ethics Committee shall adopt written procedures for conducting a hearing to consider a complaint, an allegation summary, and a written answer, if any.     (b)    The written procedures adopted by the Joint Ethics Committee under subsection (a) of this section:         (1)    shall be available for public inspection;         (2)    shall be provided to the legislator who is the […]

Section 5-521 – Findings

    (a)    The Joint Ethics Committee may make a finding developed from:         (1)    information presented during the hearing;         (2)    the allegation summary and any amendments to it;         (3)    the written answer of the accused legislator to the allegation summary, if any; and         (4)    any other information provided to the Joint Ethics Committee and made available to the accused legislator.     (b)    Consistent with […]

Section 5-522 – Referral to Prosecutorial Authorities

    If the Joint Ethics Committee, at any time during its consideration of any complaint or allegation summary or during any proceeding, finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a legislator may have committed a crime, the Joint Ethics Committee shall:         (1)    refer the matter to an appropriate prosecuting authority; and         (2)    provide any information or […]