HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3035

(II) IF THE PRESIDING OFFICER DISAGREES WITH
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, THE REASONS FOR DISAGREEMENT SHALL
BE STATED IN WRITING AND FORWARDED, TOGETHER WITH THE REPORT, TO
AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE CREATED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
SUBSECTION (P) FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

(4) IF THE REPORT INCLUDES A FINDING UNDER SUBSECTION
(L)(4)(III), THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL PROMPTLY FORWARD THE
REPORT TO AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE CREATED PURSUANT TO
SUBSECTION (P) FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

(0) (1) THIS SUBSECTION GOVERNS ALL MATTERS REFERRED TO AN
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.

(2)  IF THE MATTER HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (N)(3)(II), THE
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
AND DETERMINE INITIALLY WHETHER, BASED UPON THE' REASONS OF THE
PRESIDING OFFICER OR OTHERWISE, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ARE
JUSTIFIED. IF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE DETERMINES THAT
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ARE NOT JUSTIFIED, IT SHALL SO REPORT TO THE
PRESIDING OFFICER, AND THE PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE TERMINATED.

(3)  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF
THIS SUBSECTION, THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW THE
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE AND, IN SUCH DETAIL AS IT CONSIDERS
APPROPRIATE, CONDUCT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS UNTIL IT IS PREPARED TO
MAKE A REPORT PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION. THE
PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTIONS 72 THROUGH 87 OF ARTICLE 40 OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF
MARYLAND TO THE EXTENT THOSE PROVISIONS ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH
SUBSECTION (J) OR OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.

(4)  AT THE CONCLUSION OF ITS INVESTIGATION PURSUANT
TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
SHALL MAKE SUCH FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS AS IT CONSIDERS
APPROPRIATE AND TAKE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:

(I)  IF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE CONCLUDES
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO VIOLATION, THE COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT ITS
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRESIDING
OFFICER OF THAT BRANCH OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE PROCEEDINGS
SHALL BE TERMINATED.

(II) 1. IF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
CONCLUDES THAT A VIOLATION HAS OCCURRED, THE COMMITTEE SHALL
SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THAT BRANCH.

2. THE REPORT AND FORMAL RECORD OF THE
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE SHALL BE PUBLIC RECORDS.