Ch. 894                            MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                 1807

CHAPTER 894
(Senate Bill 267)

AN ACT to add new Sections 28-1 to 28-5, inclusive, to Article 33 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1972 Supplement), title "Election Code," to
follow immediately after Section 27-14 thereof, and to be under the new subtitle
"[[Real Estate]] Financial Disclosure Act," providing for the disclosure of
[[linterests held in real estate within Maryland]] a detailed statement by certain
elected and appointed public officials and candidates of the State government,
its political subdivisions and municipalities; and imposing certain duties on the
Secretary of State.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Sections 28-1 to 28-5, inclusive, are hereby added to
Article 33 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1972 Supplement), title "Election
Code," to follow immediately after Section 27-14 thereof, and to be under the new
subtitle "[[Real Estate]] Financial Disclosure Act," and to read as follows:

28-1.

PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF
MARYLAND, ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND MUNICIPALITIES
BEING DEPENDENT [[NOT ONLY]] UPON THE INTEGRITY OF ITS
PUBLIC OFFICIALS, [[BUT ALSO UPON THE PUBLIC AVAILABILITY
OF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO DISPEL UNCERTAINTY AS TO
THEIR INTEGRITY,]] IT IS THE INTENT THAT THIS SUBTITLE BE
LIBERALLY CONSTRUED. ANY REASONABLE UNCERTAINTY AS TO
THE NECESSITY FOR DISCLOSING ANY OF THE INFORMATION
HEREINAFTER REQUIRED SHALL BE RESOLVED IN FAVOR OF ITS
DISCLOSURE. NO DISCLOSURE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS AN
ADMISSION OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY TAX LIABILITY, OR OF
ANY ENFORCEABLE OR CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS.

28-2.

(A)(1) THE INITIAL STATEMENT REQUIRED BY THIS SUBTITLE
SHALL BE FILED BY THE OFFICIALS HOLDING THE OFFICES AND
POSITIONS ENUMERATED AND DESCRIBED IN SECTION 28-3
WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER JULY 1, 1973.

(2) PERSONS ASSUMING THE OFFICES AND POSITIONS
ENUMERATED AND DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION 28-3 SUBSEQUENT
TO JULY 1, 1973 SHALL FILE THE REQUIRED STATEMENT WITHIN
THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER ASSUMING OFFICE. CANDIDATES FOR
THE ENUMERATED OFFICES SHALL FILE THE REQUIRED
STATEMENT WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER FILING AS A
CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE.

(B)(1) AN INTERIM STATEMENT SHALL BE FILED EVERY SIX (6)
MONTHS DURING THE OFFICIAL'S TENURE IN OFFICE. A FINAL
STATEMENT SHALL BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER
LEAVING OFFICE.

(2) AN INTERIM OR FINAL STATEMENT NEED NOT BE FILED FOR
ANY PERIOD DURING WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN
THE REAL ESTATE INTERESTS OF THE OFFICIAL.