2758                            County Local Laws

may see fit. If probable cause is determined, the Commission shall
take further investigatory and procedural steps necessary to resolve
the matter.

b. If, after appropriate investigation or hearing, a majority of
the Commission shall find that a conflict of interests as prohibited
by this Article did or continues to exist, the Commission after notifi-
cation to the County Executive is authorized either to certify the
matter to the State's Attorney or, short of such certification, to pass
appropriate corrective or rectifying orders directed to the official
and department or agency involved. If a case is certified, the Com-
mission shall also supply to the State's Attorney the evidence, facts,
findings, or testimony upon which the certification is based. If
an order is passed by the Commission, it shall be accompanied by a
statement of facts and findings. Failure of any official or agency to
comply with an order of the Commission shall be grounds for im-
mediate certification of the case to the State's Attorney.

73-29. Penalties.

Any official convicted of violating any provision of this Article
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine
of not more than $1,000.00 or six months in jail, or both such fine
and imprisonment, or by suspension from office or employment for
not more than six months, or by outright forfeiture and removal
from office, or by any combination of these, as in the discretion of the
court shall be fit and proper.

Sec. 2. Severability.

The provisions of this Act are severable and if any provision,
sentence, clause, section or part thereof is held illegal, invalid or
unconstitutional or inapplicable to any person or circumstances, such
illegality, invalidity or unconstitutionality, or inapplicability shall not
affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses,
sections or parts of the Act or their application to other persons or
circumstances. It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent that
this Act would have been adopted if such illegal, invalid or unconsti-
tutional provision, sentence, clause, section or part had not been
included therein, and if the person or circumstances to which the Act
or any part thereof is inapplicable had been specifically exempted
therefrom.

Sec. 3. Effective date.

This Act shall take effect on December 7, 1970.