15-502.

(a) This section does not apply to members of the General Assembly.

(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, an official or
employee may not:

(1) be employed by or have a financial interest in:

(i) an entity subject to the authority of that official or employee or
of the governmental unit with which the official or employee is affiliated; or

(ii) an entity that is negotiating or has entered a contract with that
governmental unit OR AN ENTITY THAT IS A SUBCONTRACTOR ON A CONTRACT WITH
THAT GOVERNMENTAL UNIT; or

(2) hold any other employment relationship if that employment
relationship would impair the impartiality and independent judgment of the official
or employee.

(c) The prohibitions of subsection (b) of this section do not apply:

(1) to employment or a financial interest allowed by regulation of the
Ethics Commission if:

(i) the employment does not create a conflict of interest or the
appearance of a conflict of interest; or

(ii) the financial interest is disclosed; 

(2) to a public official who is appointed to a regulatory or licensing unit
pursuant to a statutory requirement that entities subject to the jurisdiction of the
unit be represented in appointments to it;

(3) as allowed by regulations adopted by the Commission, to an employee
whose government duties are ministerial, if the private employment or financial
interest does not create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest;
or

(4) to a member of a board who holds the employment or financial
interest when appointed if the employment or financial interest is publicly disclosed
to the appointing authority, the Ethics Commission, and, if applicable, the Senate of
Maryland before Senate confirmation.

(d) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Ethics Commission
may exempt a public official of an executive unit or an employee of an executive unit
from the prohibitions of subsection (b) of this section if the Ethics Commission
determines that:

(i) failure to grant the exemption would limit the ability of the

State to:

1. recruit and hire highly qualified or uniquely qualified
professionals for public service; or