CHAPTER 599
(House Bill 2)

AN ACT concerning

Ethics Law - Use of Prestige of Office

FOR the purpose of making applicable to all State officials the provision of the
Maryland Public Ethics Law that prohibits the intentional use of the prestige of
office or public position for the official's private gain or that of another, subject to
an exception for the performance of usual and customary constituent services;
providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to standards of
conduct under the Maryland Public Ethics Law; and making this Act an
emergency measure.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - State Government
Section 15-506
Annotated Code of Maryland

(1995 Replacement Volume and 1998 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - State Government

15-506.

(a) [A public] AN official or employee may not intentionally use the prestige of
office or public position for that [public] official's or employee's private gain or that of
another.

(b) The performance of usual and customary constituent services, without
additional compensation, is not prohibited under subsection (a) of this section.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall supersede
any amendment to § 15-506 of the State Government Article enacted under Chapter
129/130 (S.B. 1/ H.B. 1) of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1999.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall supersede
any amendment to § 15-506 of the State Government Article enacted under Chapter
(S.B. /H.B. )(91r9624/91r0237) of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1999,

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and safety,
has been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members
elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from
the date it is enacted.