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<section article="ggp" article_name="General Provisions" number="5-504" title_number="5" title_name="Maryland Public Ethics Law" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Conflicts of Interest">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This subsection does not apply to members of the General Assembly.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, an official or employee may not, for contingent compensation, assist or represent a party in any matter before or involving any unit of the State or a political subdivision of the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Paragraph (2) of this subsection does not apply to assistance to or representation of a party:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>in a judicial or quasi–judicial proceeding, including a proceeding before an administrative law judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings, or a matter preliminary, incidental, or collateral to a judicial or quasi–judicial proceeding; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>in a matter before or involving the Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, or the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of the General Assembly may not, for compensation, assist or represent a party in any matter before or involving any unit of the State or a political subdivision of the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to assistance to or representation of a party:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>in matters relating to the performance of ministerial acts by a governmental unit;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>in matters involving the member’s regular business, employment, or profession, in which contact with a governmental unit:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>is an incidental part of the business, employment, or profession;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>is made in the manner that is customary for persons in that business, employment, or profession; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>is not for contingent compensation;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>in a judicial or quasi–judicial proceeding, including a proceeding before an administrative law judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings, or a matter preliminary, incidental, or collateral to a judicial or quasi–judicial proceeding;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>in a matter before or involving the Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, or the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>in a matter in which the assistance or representation, other than for contingent compensation, was commenced by the member of the General Assembly before:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the member filed a certificate of candidacy for election to the General Assembly at a time when the member was not an incumbent; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>if the member was appointed to fill a vacancy, the date of appointment.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A member of the General Assembly may not assist or represent a person, including himself or herself, for compensation before a State or local governmental agency in any matter involving:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>procurement; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the adoption of regulations.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to an administrative proceeding conducted in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except for a former member of the General Assembly, who shall be subject to the restrictions provided under paragraph (2) of this subsection, a former official or employee may not assist or represent a party, other than the State, in a case, a contract, or any other specific matter for compensation if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the matter involves State government; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the former official or employee participated significantly in the matter as an official or employee.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In this paragraph, “legislative action” does not include testimony or other advocacy in an official capacity as a member of the General Assembly before a unit of State or local government.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Except as provided in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a former member of the General Assembly may not assist or represent another party for compensation in a matter that is the subject of legislative action for 1 year from the date the member leaves office; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a former Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, State Treasurer, or secretary of a principal department of the Executive Branch may not assist or represent another party for compensation in a matter that is the subject of legislative action for 1 year from the date the official leaves State office.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The limitation under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph on representation by a former member of the General Assembly, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, State Treasurer, or secretary of a principal department of the Executive Branch does not apply to representation of a municipal corporation, county, or State governmental entity.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Notwithstanding subsection (a)(3) of this section or § 5–502 of this subtitle, a full–time official or employee in the Judicial Branch may not represent a party before a court or unit of the Judicial Branch except in the discharge of official duties.</text>
  </level>
</section>
