<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ggp" article_name="General Provisions" number="5-518.1" title_number="5" title_name="Maryland Public Ethics Law" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Conflicts of Interest">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Unless the alleged victim objects, the Joint Ethics Committee shall refer a complaint for evaluation to an outside and independent investigator selected by the Joint Ethics Committee if the complaint alleges that a member of the General Assembly has:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>violated the antiharassment policy and procedures of the General Assembly; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>retaliated against an individual for reporting or participating in the investigation of a violation of the antiharassment policy and procedures of the General Assembly.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The investigator shall submit its findings and recommendations regarding a complaint evaluated under subsection (a) of this section to the Joint Ethics Committee.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If the investigator does not recommend dismissal of the complaint after completing the evaluation, the investigator shall investigate the complaint.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>After the investigator completes the evaluation and at the recommendation of the investigator, the Joint Ethics Committee may dismiss a complaint before the completion of an investigation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The investigator shall submit its findings and recommendations regarding a complaint investigated under subsection (c)(1) of this section to the Joint Ethics Committee for further proceedings in accordance with this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Joint Ethics Committee shall advise the complainant of the findings and recommendations of the investigator and provide, in accordance with § 5–518(b)(2) of this subtitle, a notice of the Joint Ethics Committee’s actions.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Joint Ethics Committee may remove an outside and independent investigator selected under this subsection only for good cause.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the Joint Ethics Committee refers a matter to a prosecuting authority, the Joint Ethics Committee may direct an outside and independent investigator to delay an investigation at the request of a prosecuting authority.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
