1438                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 875

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That a new Section 61A be and it is hereby added to the Code of
Public Local Laws of Prince George's County (1963 Edition, being
Article 17 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland), title
Prince George's County," subtitle "Public Officials," to follow im-
mediately after Section 61 thereof, and to read as follows:

1.   Definitions.

When used in this Section and unless otherwise expressly stated or
unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)   "Contract" means any claim, account or demand against or
agreement with Prince George's County, express or implied, but shall
not apply to those exceptions under part 7 of this section.

(b)   "Financial interest" means ownership by the official or his
spouse, brother, sister, or child, jointly or severally, of a total of
more than three (3%) per centum of the invested capital or capital
stock of or receipt of a total combined compensation of more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per year from any firm, corporation, or
association involved in the decision being made by the official or his
agency, but shall not be construed to mean or include an interest or
investment in land geographically remote from the land involved in
the decision, a possibility of reverter, a mortgage, or other security
interest in which the real party in interest is not as otherwise defined
in this subsection.

(c)   "Public Officials" means all elected and appointed officers and
employees of the County, whether subject to the personnel merit
system or otherwise, and to the County Commissioners. State's At-
torney, County Treasurer, Judges of the Orphans Court, Clerk of the
Circuit Court, County Surveyor, Sheriff, department heads, and all
other officers, employees and members of boards, commissions, and
agencies INCLUDING PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MEMBERS
OF THE WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION
AND MARYLAND NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PARK
AND PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTED BY THE GOVER-
NOR OR hired or appointed by or under the authority of the County
Commissioners or any other elected official or officials, which persons
shall hereinafter be referred to as "official" or "officials".

(d)   "Bribe" means money, property, gift, fee, payment, services,
loan, entertainment, hospitality or other thing having a value of
FIFTY DOLLARS ($50.00) or more.

2.   Bribery of Public Officials.

Under the provisions of this section, any person who gives or offers
or causes to be given or offered a bribe or agreement to a public official
or attempts, directly or indirectly, by threat, menace, deceit, supres-
sion of truth, or other corrupt means, to influence a public official in
the performance of his official duties is punishable by imprisonment
for not more than ten years, or by a fine of not more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or by both.

3.   Receiving Bribes by Public Officials.

Under the provisions of this section, any public official who asks,
receives, or agrees to receive any bribe upon any understanding that