USED AS THE BASIS FOR INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION UNDER § 15-515 OF THIS
SUBTITLE IF THE LEGISLATOR ACTS IN GOOD FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
ADVICE OF THE COMMITTEE.

(G) (1) AN OPINION ISSUED UNDER THIS SECTION IS BINDING ON ANY
LEGISLATOR TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED.

(2) A PUBLISHED OPINION IS BINDING ON ALL MEMBERS OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[15-515.

Any person may file with the Joint Ethics Committee a written statement,
accompanied by an affidavit setting forth the facts upon which the statement is
based, or the Joint Ethics Committee on its own may prepare a statement, alleging
that a member may have violated standards of ethical conduct for legislators
established by law or rule.]

15-515. COMPLAINTS.

(A) A COMPLAINT ALLEGING THAT A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MAY HAVE VIOLATED STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT, INCLUDING § 2-108 OF
THIS 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 UPON WHICH THE STATEMENT IS BASED;

(2) MOTION OF A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT ETHICS
COMMITTEE; OR

(3) REFERRAL OF A MATTER TO THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE BY A
PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS PROVIDED IN § 2-706(5) OF THIS
ARTICLE.

(B) (1) THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE SHALL PROVIDE A COPY OF EACH
COMPLAINT FILED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION TO THE PRESIDING
OFFICER OF THE HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATOR WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE
COMPLAINT.

(2) BASED ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN A COMPLAINT
PROVIDED TO A PRESIDING OFFICER UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, IF
A PRESIDING OFFICER DETERMINES THAT IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR A JOINT ETHICS
COMMITTEE MEMBER FROM THAT HOUSE TO CONSIDER A PARTICULAR MATTER, THE
PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL APPOINT A SUBSTITUTE MEMBER OF THE JOINT ETHICS
COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSIDERATION OF THE MATTER

[15-516.

Each statement filed or prepared pursuant to § 15-515 of this subtitle and the
fact that it has been filed or prepared, any preliminary summary prepared pursuant
to § 15-517 of this subtitle, all information relating to any proceedings under this
Part II emanating from the statement including proceedings of an investigating
committee pursuant to § 15-521 of this subtitle, and any reports thereupon are