confidential and, except as permitted by this Part II or upon the written request of
the legislator involved, shall remain confidential.]

15-516. CONFIDENTIALITY.

(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) 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 RECORD OF THE
JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR:

(1) A DISCLOSURE OR DISCLAIMER OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM
FILED WITH THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE;

(2) A PORTION OF A MEETING IN WHICH A DISCLOSURE OR DISCLAIMER
FORM IS REVIEWED BY THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE;

(3) INFORMATION RELATING TO ANY COMPLAINT, PROCEEDING, OR
RECORD OF THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE INVOLVING AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IF CONSENT TO PUBLIC ACCESS AND INSPECTION IS
GRANTED BY:

(I) THE MEMBER INVOLVED IN THE MATTER; OR

(II) THE JOINT COMMITTEE, UPON TWO-THIRDS THREE-FOURTHS
VOTE OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE BASED ON CRITERIA
ESTABLISHED BY RULE;

(4) AN OPINION OR RULE ISSUED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE; OR

(5) ANY MATTER OR RECORD THAT IS OTHERWISE AVAILABLE FOR
PUBLIC ACCESS OR INSPECTION AS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS
SUBTITLE.

15-517. Review of complaints.

(a) Following the filing or preparation of a [statement] COMPLAINT pursuant
to § 15-515 of this subtitle, the Joint Ethics Committee shall review the [statement]
COMPLAINT and proceed in accordance with § 15-518 of this subtitle unless, after
examination of the statement COMPLAINT and the issues raised thereby, it finds that
further proceedings are not justified because:

(1) the [statement] COMPLAINT is frivolous;

(2) the [statement and the accompanying affidavit do] COMPLAINT
DOES not allege actions on the part of the member which provide reason to believe
that a violation may have occurred;

(3) the matters alleged are not within the jurisdiction of the Joint Ethics
Committee;