Ch. 533                                        1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

15-805. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE LAWS.

(A)     APPLICABILITY.

IN THIS SECTION, "LOCAL OFFICIAL" INCLUDES:

(1)      A CANDIDATE FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE AS A LOCAL OFFICIAL OF A
COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IF THE HOLDER OF THE OFFICE IS
DESIGNATED AS A LOCAL OFFICIAL; AND

(2)      AN OFFICIAL, OFFICER, OR EMPLOYEE OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION WHOSE POSITION IS FUNDED WHOLLY OR PARTLY BY THE STATE.

(B)      SIMILARITY TO ETHICS LAW.

EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, THE FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE PROVISIONS ENACTED BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
UNDER § 15-803 OF THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE SIMILAR TO THE PROVISIONS OF
SUBTITLE 6 OF THIS TITLE, BUT SHALL BE MODIFIED TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO
MAKE THE PROVISIONS RELEVANT TO THE PREVENTION OF CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST IN THAT JURISDICTION.

(C)     MINIMUM STANDARDS.

(1)      THIS SUBTITLE DOES NOT COMPEL THE GOVERNING BODY OF A
COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION TO REQUIRE A LOCAL OFFICIAL TO FILE A
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT EXCEPT:

(I)       WHEN THE PERSONAL INTEREST OF THE LOCAL OFFICIAL
WILL PRESENT A POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN
CONNECTION WITH AN ANTICIPATED PUBLIC ACTION OF THE LOCAL OFFICIAL; AND

(II)     AT LEAST ANNUALLY TO REPORT ON GIFTS RECEIVED BY THE
LOCAL OFFICIAL.

(2)      THE PROVISIONS SHALL REQUIRE THAT A STATEMENT FILED
UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION BE FILED SUFFICIENTLY IN
ADVANCE OF THE ACTION TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE DISCLOSURE TO THE PUBLIC.

(D)     STANDARDS FOR CANDIDATES.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO A CANDIDATE SHALL BE
CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AN INCUMBENT HOLDING THE
OFFICE INVOLVED.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived without substantive
change from the second sentence of former Art. 40A, § 6-201(a) and §
6-201(b), (c), and (d).

In subsection (a)(2) of this section, the words "an official, officer, or employee
of a county or municipal corporation" are substituted for the former words
"local officials" for clarity.

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