<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ggp" article_name="General Provisions" number="5-407" title_number="5" title_name="Maryland Public Ethics Law" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Procedures for Complaint of Violation of Title">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Notwithstanding any other law, and except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, after a complaint is filed:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the proceedings, meetings, and activities of the Ethics Commission and its employees relating to the complaint are confidential; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>information relating to the complaint, including the identity of the complainant and respondent, may not be disclosed by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the Ethics Commission;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the staff of the Ethics Commission;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the complainant; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the respondent.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the restrictions in subsection (a) of this section apply unless:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the matter is referred for prosecution; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the Ethics Commission finds a violation of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Ethics Commission may release any information if the respondent agrees in writing to the release.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>On request of the respondent, the Ethics Commission shall disclose the identity of the complainant to the respondent.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
