Sec. 19A-12. Restrictions on other employment and business ownership.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 19A-12 (2026)
Sec. 19A-12. Restrictions on other employment and business ownership.LinkCopy Citation
(a)
General restrictions.
(1)
A public employee must not engage in any other employment unless the employment is approved by the Commission. The Commission may impose conditions on its approval of other employment.
(2)
The Commission may adopt appropriate procedures to receive and decide other employment requests.
(3)
The appointing authority should give a copy of this Section to applicants for positions that are affected by this Section. The Supervisor of Elections should give a copy to candidates for elected offices that are affected by this Section.
(4)
A request for approval of other employment is confidential. Commission action on the request is also confidential. However, the Commission must disclose to the public each action approving an employment request, including:
(A)
the name of the employee;
(B)
the name of the employer;
(C)
the nature of the other employment; and
(D)
any conditions imposed by the Commission.
(5)
After giving the public employee notice and an opportunity to respond, the Commission may revoke any action approving an employment request if it finds that the public employee did not disclose a material fact in the request.
(b)
Specific restrictions. Unless the Commission grants a waiver under subsection 19A-8(b), a public employee must not:
(1)
be employed by, or own more than one percent of, any business that:
(A)
is regulated by the County agency with which the public employee is affiliated; or
(B)
negotiates or contracts with the County agency with which the public employee is affiliated; or
(2)
hold any employment relationship that could reasonably be expected to impair the impartiality and independence of judgment of the public employee.
(c)
Exceptions.
(1)
Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to:
(A)
a public employee who is appointed to a regulatory or licensing body under a statutory provision that persons subject to the jurisdiction of the body may be represented in appointments to it;
(B)
a public employee whose government duties are ministerial, if the employment does not create a conflict of interest; or
(C)
a member of a board, commission, or similar body in regard to employment held when the member was appointed if the employment was publicly disclosed before appointment to the appointing authority, and to the County Council when confirmation is required. The appointing authority must forward a record of the disclosure to the Commission, which must keep a record of the disclosure on file.
(2)
If expressly authorized by regulation, subparagraph (b)(1)(A) and paragraph (b)(2) do not prohibit a police officer from working outside employment for an organization solely because that organization is located in the County or in the district where the officer is assigned.
(d)
Prohibition against unapproved employment. Unless the Commission permits it or subsections (a) and (b) do not apply, a person must not knowingly employ a public employee.
(e)
Prohibition against contingent compensation. A public employee must not assist or represent a party for contingent compensation in a matter before or involving a County agency except in a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding. However, a public employee may assist or represent a party for contingent compensation in any matter for which contingent fees are authorized by law.
(f)
Chief Administrative Officer. A public employee must not engage in other employment while serving as the Chief Administrative Officer.