HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2973

(i) Model provisions for local governments. — The
Commission shall adopt by regulation model provisions for
local governments relating to conflicts of interest,
financial disclosure, and lobbyist regulation which may be
adopted by any local jurisdiction or which may be imposed
upon any local jurisdiction pursuant to § 6-501 of this
article.

(j) Oaths and subpoenas. — The Commission and the
staff counsel may administer oaths and affirmations, issue
subpoenas to compel the attendance and testimony of
witnesses for production of books, papers, records,
documents or other tangible objects. These subpoenas may be
judicially enforced.

2-104. Advisory opinions.

(a)  Requests. — The appropriate advisory body shall
issue an advisory opinion concerning the application of this
article [at] UPON the WRITTEN request of a person subject to
its provisions. An advisory opinion concerning the
application of the article may be issued [at] UPON the
WRITTEN request of any other person as deemed appropriate.

(b)  Time of issuance. — Advisory opinions required by
subsection (a) shall be issued by the Commission within 60
days after receipt of the request, or more promptly if
circumstances require it.

(c)  Publication. — Advisory opinions shall be in
writing and be published in the Maryland Register. Before
an advisory opinion is made public, any material which may
identify the person who is the subject of the opinion,
shall, to the fullest extent possible, be deleted, and the
identity of the person shall not be revealed.

(d)  Reliance on opinion. — Unless the appropriate
advisory body otherwise decides, a person subject to the
provisions of this article may rely upon a published opinion
of the executive branch board of ethics, public disclosure
advisory board, any comparable local body, or any other
similar or predecessor body, unless that opinion is plainly
inconsistent with the provisions of this article.

(e)  Further opinion by Joint Committee on Legislative
Ethics. —-If the appropriate advisory body has issued an
advisory opinion with respect to a State official of the
legislative branch and a question arising under Title 4, the
Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, upon request of the
official and pursuant to the provisions of this section,
shall issue a further advisory opinion on that question. To
the extent of any inconsistency between the two opinions,
the opinion of the Committee shall prevail.

2-105. Complaints to and by Commission.