<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ggp" article_name="General Provisions" number="5-520" title_number="5" title_name="Maryland Public Ethics Law" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Conflicts of Interest">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Joint Ethics Committee shall adopt written procedures for conducting a hearing to consider a complaint, an allegation summary, and a written answer, if any.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The written procedures adopted by the Joint Ethics Committee under subsection (a) of this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall be available for public inspection;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>shall be provided to the legislator who is the subject of a hearing;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>shall allow the accused legislator to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>be represented by counsel;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>cross–examine witnesses; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>be provided an opportunity to inspect, in a reasonable manner, any records that the Joint Ethics Committee intends to use during the hearing, subject to limitations established by the Joint Ethics Committee in the written procedures; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>subject to items (1) and (2) of this subsection, may be amended by the Joint Ethics Committee at any time.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If the Joint Ethics Committee determines that a hearing is required under § 5–519(b)(2) of this subtitle, the Joint Ethics Committee, by a two–thirds vote of its full membership, may issue one or more subpoenas that require the appearance of a person, the production of relevant records, and the giving of relevant testimony.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the Joint Ethics Committee exercises subpoena powers under this paragraph, the legislator who is the subject of the investigation may require the Joint Ethics Committee to issue one or more subpoenas on the legislator’s behalf.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A request to appear, an appearance, or a submission of evidence does not limit the subpoena power of the Joint Ethics Committee.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A subpoena issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be served:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>in the manner provided by law for service of a subpoena in a civil action;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>before the time that the subpoena sets for appearance or production of records; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>with the following documents:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a copy of this title;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a copy of the rules of the Joint Ethics Committee; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>if the subpoena requires the appearance of a person, notice that counsel may accompany the person.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A person who is subpoenaed to appear at a hearing is entitled to receive the fees and allowances that are provided for a person who is subpoenaed by a circuit court.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A person may be held in contempt if the person unjustifiably:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>fails or refuses to comply with a subpoena for appearance;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>appears but fails or refuses to testify under oath; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>disobeys a directive of the presiding chair at the hearing to answer a relevant question or to produce a record, including an electronic record, that has been subpoenaed, unless the directive is overruled by a majority vote of the members of the Joint Ethics Committee who are present at the hearing.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>By a two–thirds vote of its full membership, the Joint Ethics Committee may apply for a contempt citation to a circuit court.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
