3268

COUNTY LOCAL LASS

George's County Code of Ordinances and Resolutions,
1967 Edition, be and the same is hereby amended by
adding a new Chapter 5A thereto to read as follows:

CHAPTER 5A
CODE OF ETHICS
5A-1 STATEMENT OF POLICY.

AS MANDATED BY THE CHARTER, THE COUNTY COUNCIL
SHALL PRESCRIBE A CODE OF ETHICS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS
AND EMPLOYEES OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. TO FULFILL
THIS MANDATE, THE FOLLOWING POLICY IS SET FORTH BY THE
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COUNCIL. THIS CODE IS TO
INSURE THAT THE HONESTY AND INTEGRITY OF THE PUBLIC
OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
REMAIN ABOVE REPROACH. BY INSURING THIS, IT IS
CERTAIN THAT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HILL ACQUIRE A
REPUTATION WHICH WILL INSPIRE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR
GOVERNMENT AND INSURE THE PUBLIC TRUST WILL NOT BE
VIOLATED. THIS CODE IS DESIGNED, ALSO, TO MAINTAIN
THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT AS WELL AS
TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS OF ALL THOSE
AFFECTED BY THIS CODE.

5A-2 DEFINITIONS.

WHEN USED IN THIS SECTION AND UNLESS OTHERWISE
EXPRESSLY STATED OR UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE
REQUIRES:

A.    THE WORDS "ACT", "ORDINANCE", "PUBLIC LOCAL
LAS", AND "LEGISLATIVE ACT", WHEN USED IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY ACTION BY THE COUNCIL, SHALL
BE SYNONYMOUS, AND SHALL MEAN ANY BILL ENACTED IN
THE MANNER AND FORM PROVIDED IN THE CHARTER FOR
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY (HEREIN AFTER REFERRED TO
AS THE CHARTER).

B.    THE WORDS "STATE LAWS" SHALL MEAN ALL LAWS
OP PORTIONS OF LAWS ENACTED BY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND WHICH MAY NOT BE REPEALED BY
THE COUNCIL AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
CHARTER.

C.     THE WORDS "SHALL" SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS
MANDATORY AND THE WORD "MAY" SHALL BE CONSTRUED
AS PERMISSIVE.