Ch. 550

1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

2. a charitable, cultural, or political event;, EXCEPT THAT A
TICKET OR FREE ADMISSION TO AN EVENT FOR WHICH OTHER PERSONS ARE
CHARGED A FEE MAY NOT:

1. BE ACCEPTED BY A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY FROM A REGULATED LOBBYIST; OR

2. BE OFFERED TO A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
BY A REGULATED LOBBYIST;

(vii) a specific gift or class of gifts exempted from subsection (b) of this
section by the Ethics Commission upon a written finding that:

1.       acceptance of the gift or class of gifts would not be
detrimental to the impartial conduct of government; and

2.       the gift is purely personal and private in nature;
(viii) a gift from:

1.       an individual related to the official or employee by blood or
marriage; or

2.       any other individual who is a member of the household of the
official or employee; or

(ix) to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this section, honoraria.

(3) PARAGRAPH (2)(VI) OF THIS SUBSECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO
RESTRICT THE ABILITY OF A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ACCEPT AS A
GIFT ADMISSION TO ANY EVENT AS PART OF A PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A REGULATED LOBBYIST WITH WHOM THE MEMBER SOCIALIZES,
FOR PURPOSES UNRELATED TO THE LEGISLATURE, IF:

(I) THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERACTION IS NOT RELATED TO
PREVIOUS OR SUBSEQUENT BUSINESS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE; AND

(II) DURING THE INTERACTION, NO PREVIOUS OR SUBSEQUENT
BUSINESS RELATED TO THE LEGISLATURE IS DISCUSSED.

(d) (1) Subject to subsection (c)(1) of this section, an official or employee may
accept an honorarium if:

(i) the honorarium is limited to reasonable expenses for the official's
meals, travel, and lodging, and reasonable and verifiable expenses for care of a child or
dependent adult, that are actually incurred;

(ii) the honorarium consists of gifts described in subsection (c)(2)(ii)
through (iv) of this section; or

(iii) the official or employee is a faculty member of a State institution
of higher education who does not hold another position as an official that precludes
receiving the honorarium.

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