1440                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 875

ment or receive any benefit or profit therefrom except as provided
under paragraph 7 of this section.

(g) When a public official shall receive any ex parte communica-
tion concerning a case where a determination or decision is required
by law to be made only after a public hearing for interested parties,
such official shall make the ex parte communication public and a part
of the record of such proceedings.

5.   Disclosure of Interest.

Any public official who has, will have or later acquires an interest
in any actual or proposed contract with Prince George's County,
shall publicly disclose the nature and extent of such interest in writing
to the office of the State's Attorney SENIOR RESIDENT JUDGE
OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
as soon as he has knowledge of such actual or prospective interest.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, disclosures shall
not be required in the case of an interest in a contract described in
paragraph 7 hereof.

6.   Violations.

Any public official who willfully and knowingly violates the fore-
going provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5 of this section is punishable
by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, or by a fine of not
more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or by both.

7.   Exceptions.

The provisions of paragraph 4 of this section shall not apply to:

(a)   A contract with a person, firm, corporation or association in
which a public official has an interest solely by reason of employment
as an employee thereof, if the remuneration of such employment will
not be directly affected as a result of such contract and the duties of
such employment do not directly involve the procurement, prepara-
tion or performance of any part of such contract;

(b)   A contract with a membership corporation or other voluntary
non-profit corporation or association;

(c)   A contract in which a public official has an interest if such
contract was entered into prior to the time he was elected or appointed
as such official, but this paragraph shall in no event authorize a
renewal of any such contract;

(d)   A contract with a corporation in which a public official has an
interest by reason of stockholdings when the stock of the corporation
is listed on either the New York or American stock exchange or when
less than three (3) per centum of the outstanding stock of the cor-
poration is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such official;
provided, however, that this paragraph shall not apply to stockhold-
ings of a chief fiscal officer, treasurer, or his deputy or employee, in a
bank or trust company designated as a depository of funds of the
County.

(e)  A contract which requires competitive sealed bids provided,
however, that the public official has not received an unfair advantage
or confidential information pursuant to his official duties that would
aid him in the preparation of his bid.