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<section article="gsg" article_name="State Government" number="2-709" title_number="2" title_name="General Assembly" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Executive Director of the Department of Legislative Services, subject to the approval of the President and Speaker, shall appoint an attorney to serve as Counsel to the Committee.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Counsel:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall devote full time to the duties of the Committee, but may not participate in any investigatory or prosecutorial function;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>may provide information to any person regarding laws, rules, and other standards of ethical conduct applicable to members of the General Assembly;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>shall carry out any duties prescribed under Title 5, Subtitle 5 of the General Provisions Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>shall meet individually with each member of the General Assembly each year to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>advise the member regarding the requirements of any applicable ethics law, rule, or standard of conduct; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>assist the member in preparing statements and reports required to be filed with the Committee under Title 5, Subtitle 5, Part II of the General Provisions Article; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>shall conduct seminars, workshops, and briefings for the benefit of members of the General Assembly, as directed by the Committee, the President, or the Speaker.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The assistance of the Counsel to members of the General Assembly:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>is subject to the attorney client privilege, as set forth in § 9–108 of the Courts Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>is subject to confidentiality under § 5–517 of the General Provisions Article; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>is intended as a service to the members and may not be deemed to diminish a member’s personal responsibility for adherence to applicable laws, rules, and standards of ethical conduct.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Committee shall have other staff assistance as requested by the Committee and as provided in the budget of the General Assembly.</text>
  </level>
</section>
