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<section article="ggp" article_name="General Provisions" number="5-205" title_number="5" title_name="Maryland Public Ethics Law" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="State Ethics Commission">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Ethics Commission shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>administer the provisions of this title, except as otherwise expressly provided in this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>create and provide forms for each document required by this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>retain as a public record each document filed with the Commission for at least 4 years after receipt;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>review periodically the adequacy of public ethics laws;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>review each statement and report filed in accordance with Subtitle 6 or Subtitle 7 of this title; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>notify officials and employees submitting documents under Subtitle 6 of this title of any omissions or deficiencies; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>publish and make available to persons subject to this title, and to the public, information that explains the provisions of this title, the duties imposed by it, and the means for enforcing it.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Ethics Commission shall adopt by regulation model provisions for local governments and school boards on:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>conflicts of interest;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>financial disclosure; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>regulation of lobbying.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Model provisions adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>adopted by any local jurisdiction or school board; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>imposed on a local jurisdiction or school board in accordance with Subtitle 8 of this title.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Ethics Commission shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>compile annually an alphabetized list of entities doing business with the State during the preceding calendar year; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>make the list available to individuals required to file a statement under Subtitle 6 of this title.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The list prepared under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be available for public inspection by March 1 of each year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>On request of the Ethics Commission, an official or a unit of State government shall provide to the Commission in a timely manner any information necessary for the Commission to perform its duties under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Ethics Commission shall provide a training course through online training or live presentation on the conflict of interest, financial disclosure, relevant administrative, and other applicable requirements of the Maryland Public Ethics Law for an individual who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>fills a vacancy in a position that has been identified as a public official position under § 5–103 of this title;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>serves in a position identified as a public official position under § 5–103 of this title; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>on or after January 19, 2023, is a State official that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission under § 5–104(a) of this title.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The individual shall complete the training course within 6 months of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>filling a vacancy; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a position being identified as a public official position.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The training requirement under this subsection does not apply to an individual who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>except for a member of a board of license commissioners or a liquor control board, is a public official only as a member of a commission, task force, or similar entity; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>has completed a training course provided by the Ethics Commission while serving in another public official position.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Ethics Commission shall provide a training course for regulated lobbyists and prospective regulated lobbyists at least twice each year through online training or live presentation on the provisions of the Maryland Public Ethics Law, including provisions related to discrimination and harassment, relevant to regulated lobbyists.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>One training course shall be held each January.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>When a person initially registers as a regulated lobbyist, the Ethics Commission shall provide the person with information on the provisions of the Maryland Public Ethics Law relevant to regulated lobbyists.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Ethics Commission shall submit to the General Assembly:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>an annual report on its activities; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>based on its investigations and studies, other special reports with recommendations for legislation as may be appropriate.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
