The provisions of this chapter reflect the minimum elements that shall be addressed by a county or municipal ethics law in order for the law to be viewed as: Similar or substantially similar to the Public Ethics Law; and For elected local officials and candidates to be elected local officials, at least equivalent to the requirements of General Provisions Article, Title 5, Subtitles 5 and 6, Annotated Code of Maryland. A county or municipality may adopt laws more stringent than the requirements of General Provisions Article, Title 5, Subtitles 5 and 6, Annotated Code of Maryland, based on local circumstances and where more stringent provisions are necessary to prevent conflicts of interest in the locality.