Part IV – Gifts
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-26 (2026)
§ 6-26 Solicitation prohibited.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
Except as permitted under subsection (b) of this section, a public servant may not solicit or facilitate the solicitation of a gift, whether on the public servant’s own behalf or on behalf of another person.
(b)Exception.
The prohibition in subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a solicitation if:
(1)
it is for the benefit of an official governmental program or activity or a City-endorsed charitable function or activity; and
(2)
it either:
(i)
is expressly allowed by a rule or regulation of the Ethics Board; or
(ii)
otherwise has been approved in advance by the Ethics Board, on the written request of the public servant and his or her agency.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 10-267
History: Ord. 15-373
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-27 (2026)
§ 6-27 Acceptance prohibited.LinkCopy Citation
Except as otherwise provided in this Part IV, a public servant may not knowingly accept any gift, directly or indirectly, from any person that the public servant knows or has reason to know:
(1)
does or seeks to do business of any kind, regardless of amount:
(i)
with the public servant’s agency; or
(ii)
with another person in connection with or in furtherance of a contract that is being negotiated or has been entered into by the other person with the public servant’s agency;
(2)
engages or seeks to engage in an activity that is regulated or controlled by the public servant’s agency;
(3)
is or, within the preceding 12 months, has been a lobbyist with respect to matters within the jurisdiction of the public servant;
(4)
has a financial interest that might be substantially and materially affected, in a manner distinguishable from the public generally, by the performance or nonperformance of the public servant’s official duties;
(5)
is an association, or any entity acting on behalf of an association, that is engaged only in representing counties or municipal corporations; or
(6)
is an owner, partner, officer, director, trustee, employee, or agent of any person described in items (1) through (4) of this section.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 10-267
History: Ord. 15-373
History: Ord. 16-503
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-28 (2026)
§ 6-28 Qualified exemptions.LinkCopy Citation
Subject to <cite data-path="|8|§6-29">§ 6-29 {“Exemption limitations”} of this subtitle</cite>, the prohibitions in <cite data-path="|8|§6-27">§ 6-27 {“Acceptance prohibited”} of this subtitle</cite> do not apply to the unsolicited receipt of:
(1)
food or beverages received and consumed by the recipient in the presence of the donor or sponsoring entity;
(2)
gifts or awards that have insignificant monetary value, as defined by rule or regulation of the Board;
(3)
in return for a speaking engagement or participation on a panel at a meeting, reasonable expenses, actually incurred and verifiable, for food, travel, lodging, child or dependant care, and scheduled entertainment of the public servant, but only if:
(i)
the expenses are associated with the meeting; and
(ii)
to the extent the expenses are anticipated to exceed $500, the public servant has notified the Ethics Board before attending the meeting;
(4)
tickets or free admission given to an elected official to attend a specific charitable, cultural, or political event, if given by the person sponsoring or conducting the event as a courtesy or ceremony to the office;
(5)
a specific gift or class of gifts that the Ethics Board exempts on a written finding that acceptance of the gift or class of gifts would not be detrimental to the impartial conduct of City business; or
(6)
gifts from a spouse, parent, child, or sibling.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 11-484
History: Ord. 15-372
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-29 (2026)
§ 6-29 Exemption limitations.LinkCopy Citation
The exemptions specified in <cite data-path="|8|§6-28">§ 6-28 {“Qualified exemptions”} of this subtitle</cite> do not apply to any gift if:
(1)
the gift would tend to impair the recipient’s impartiality and independent judgment; or
(2)
for a gift of significant value, as defined by rule or regulation of the Board:
(i)
the gift would give the appearance of impairing the recipient’s impartiality and independent judgment; or
(ii)
the recipient believes or has reason to believe that the gift is designed to impair his or her impartiality and independent judgment.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 11-484
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-30 (2026)
§ 6-30LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-31 (2026)
§ 6-31 Additional exemptions by Board.LinkCopy Citation
By rule or regulation, the Ethics Board may establish further exemptions from or modifications of this Part IV, as the Board considers necessary.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 6-32 to 6-35 (2026)
§§ 6-32 to 6-35LinkCopy Citation
Reserved