Sec. 2-291. Definitions
Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-291 (2026)
Sec. 2-291. DefinitionsLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The words used in this Division shall have their normal accepted meanings except as set forth below:
(1)
Board means the Prince George's County Board of Ethics established pursuant to Section 2-292(a) of this Division.
(2)
Business entity means any corporation, general or limited partnership, sole proprietorship (including a private consultant operation), joint venture, unincorporated association or firm, institution, trust, foundation, or other organization, whether or not operated for profit. Business entity does not include a governmental entity.
(3)
Compensation means any money or thing of value, regardless of form, received or to be received by any individual covered by this Division from an employer for service rendered. If lobbying is only a portion of a person's employment, "compensation" means a prorated amount based on the time devoted to lobbying compared to the time devoted to other employment duties. For reporting purposes, a prorated amount shall be labeled as such.
(4)
Doing business with means:
(A)
Having or negotiating a contract that involves the commitment (either in a single or combination of transactions) of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or more of County or County-controlled funds; or
(B)
Being regulated by or otherwise under the authority of the County; or
(C)
Being registered as a lobbyist in accordance with Section 2-295 of this Division.
(4.1)
Elected official means any individual who holds an elective office of the County. Elected official does not include the Sheriff, State's Attorney, Register of Wills, or Clerk of the Court.
(4.2)
Employee means an individual who is employed by the County. Employee does not include an elected local official. Employee does not include an employee of:
(A)
The offices of the Sheriff, State's Attorney, Register of Wills, or Clerk of the Court;
(B)
The County Health Department; or
(C)
The County Department of Social Services.
(5)
Financial interest means:
(A)
Ownership of any interest as the result of which the owner has received, within the past three (3) years, or is presently receiving, or in the future is entitled to receive, more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per year; or
(B)
Ownership, or the ownership of securities of any kind representing or convertible into ownership, of more than three percent (3%) of a business entity by a County official or employee, or the spouse of an official or employee.
(6)
Gift means the transfer of anything of economic value regardless of the form without adequate and lawful consideration. "Gift" does not include the solicitation, acceptance, receipt, or regulation of political campaign contributions regulated in accordance with the provisions of Article 33, Sec. 26-1 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland, or any other provision of State or local law regulating the conduct of elections or the receipt of political campaign contributions.
(7)
Honorarium means the payment of money or anything of value for:
(A)
Speaking to, participating in, or attending a meeting, conference, or other function; or
(B)
Writing an article, other than a book, that has been or is intended to be published.
(8)
Interest means any legal or equitable economic interest, whether or not subject to an encumbrance or a condition, which is owned or held, in whole or in part, jointly or severally, directly or indirectly. For purposes of Section 2-294 of this Division, "interest" applies to any interests held at any time during the reporting period for which a required statement is to be filed. "Interest" does not include:
(A)
An interest held in the capacity of a personal agent, personal representative, custodian, fiduciary, or trustee, unless the holder has an equitable interest in the subject matter;
(B)
An interest in a time or demand deposit in a financial institution;
(C)
An interest in an insurance policy or endowment policy or annuity contract under which an insurer promises to pay a fixed amount of money either in a lump sum or periodically for life or some other specified period;
(D)
A common trust fund or a trust which forms part of a pension or profit sharing plan which has more than twenty-five (25) participants and which has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be a qualified trust under the Internal Revenue Code.
(E)
A college savings plan under the Internal Revenue Code.
(8.1)
Lobbyist means a person required to register and report expenses related to lobbying under Section 2-295 of this Division.
(9)
Lobbying means:
(A)
Communicating in the presence of a County official or employee with the intent to influence any official action of that official or employee; or
(B)
Engaging in activities having the express purpose of soliciting others to communicate with a County official or employee with the intent to influence that official or employee.
(10)
Official means an elected official, an employee of the County, or a person appointed to or employed by the County or any County agency, board, commission, or similar entity whether or not paid in whole or in part with County funds and whether or not compensated.
(11)
Person includes an individual or business entity.
(12)
Quasi-governmental agency means an entity that is created by State statute that performs a public function, and that is supported in whole or in part by the State but is managed privately.