(1) A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM ANY PERSON, ACCOMPANIED BY AN
AFFIDAVIT SETTING FORTH THE FACTS UPON WHICH THE STATEMENT IS BASED;

(2) MOTION OF A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT ETHICS
COMMITTEE; OR

(3) REFERRAL OF A MATTER TO THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE BY A
PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS PROVIDED IN § 2-706(5) OF THIS
ARTICLE.

(B) (1) THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE SHALL PROVIDE A COPY OF EACH
COMPLAINT FILED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION TO THE PRESIDING
OFFICER OF THE HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATOR WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE
COMPLAINT.

(2) BASED ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN A COMPLAINT
PROVIDED TO A PRESIDING OFFICER UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, IF
A PRESIDING OFFICER DETERMINES THAT IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR A JOINT ETHICS
COMMITTEE MEMBER FROM THAT HOUSE TO CONSIDER A PARTICULAR MATTER, THE
PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL APPOINT A SUBSTITUTE MEMBER OF THE JOINT ETHICS
COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSIDERATION OF THE MATTER.

[15-516.

Each statement filed or prepared pursuant to § 15-515 of this subtitle and the
fact that it has been filed or prepared, any preliminary summary prepared pursuant
to § 15-517 of this subtitle, all information relating to any proceedings under this
Part II emanating from the statement including proceedings of an investigating
committee pursuant to § 15-521 of this subtitle, and any reports thereupon are
confidential arid, except as permitted by this Part II or upon the written request of
the legislator involved, shall remain confidential.]

15-516. CONFIDENTIALITY.

(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, ANY MATTER
BEFORE THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING TO
ANY COMPLAINT, PROCEEDING, OR RECORD OF THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE
SHALL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.

(B) PUBLIC ACCESS AND INSPECTION OF AN ACTIVITY OR RECORD OF THE
JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR:

(1) A DISCLOSURE OR DISCLAIMER OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM
FILED WITH THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE;

(2) A PORTION OF A MEETING IN WHICH A DISCLOSURE OR DISCLAIMER
FORM IS REVIEWED BY THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE;

(3) INFORMATION RELATING TO ANY COMPLAINT, PROCEEDING, OR
RECORD OF THE JOINT ETHICS COMMITTEE INVOLVING AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IF CONSENT TO PUBLIC ACCESS AND INSPECTION IS
GRANTED BY: