2023 Maryland Statutes › General Provisions › Title 5 - Maryland Public Ethics Law › Subtitle 2 - State Ethics Commission › Section 5-205 - Duties

(a)    The Ethics Commission shall:
(1)    administer the provisions of this title, except as otherwise expressly provided in this title;
(2)    create and provide forms for each document required by this title;
(3)    retain as a public record each document filed with the Commission for at least 4 years after receipt;
(4)    review periodically the adequacy of public ethics laws;
(5)    (i)    review each statement and report filed in accordance with Subtitle 6 or Subtitle 7 of this title; and
(ii)    notify officials and employees submitting documents under Subtitle 6 of this title of any omissions or deficiencies; and
(6)    publish and make available to persons subject to this title, and to the public, information that explains the provisions of this title, the duties imposed by it, and the means for enforcing it.
(b)    (1)    The Ethics Commission shall adopt by regulation model provisions for local governments and school boards on:
(i)    conflicts of interest;
(ii)    financial disclosure; and
(iii)    regulation of lobbying.
(2)    Model provisions adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be:
(i)    adopted by any local jurisdiction or school board; or
(ii)    imposed on a local jurisdiction or school board in accordance with Subtitle 8 of this title.
(c)    (1)    The Ethics Commission shall:
(i)    compile annually an alphabetized list of entities doing business with the State during the preceding calendar year; and
(ii)    make the list available to individuals required to file a statement under Subtitle 6 of this title.
(2)    The list prepared under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be available for public inspection by March 1 of each year.
(3)    On request of the Ethics Commission, an official or a unit of State government shall provide to the Commission in a timely manner any information necessary for the Commission to perform its duties under this subsection.
(d)    (1)    The Ethics Commission shall provide a training course of at least 2 hours on the requirements of the Maryland Public Ethics Law for an individual who:
(i)    fills a vacancy in a position that has been identified as a public official position under § 5–103 of this title;
(ii)    serves in a position identified as a public official position under § 5–103 of this title; or
(iii)    on or after January 19, 2023, is a State official that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission under § 5–104(a) of this title.
(2)    The individual shall complete the training course within 6 months of:
(i)    filling a vacancy; or
(ii)    a position being identified as a public official position.
(3)    The training requirement under this subsection does not apply to an individual who:
(i)    except for a member of a board of license commissioners or a liquor control board, is a public official only as a member of a commission, task force, or similar entity; or
(ii)    has completed a training course provided by the Ethics Commission while serving in another public official position.
(e)    (1)    (i)    The Ethics Commission shall provide a training course for regulated lobbyists and prospective regulated lobbyists at least twice each year on the provisions of the Maryland Public Ethics Law, including provisions related to discrimination and harassment, relevant to regulated lobbyists.
(ii)    One training course shall be held each January.
(2)    When a person initially registers as a regulated lobbyist, the Ethics Commission shall provide the person with information on the provisions of the Maryland Public Ethics Law relevant to regulated lobbyists.
(f)    Subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Ethics Commission shall submit to the General Assembly:
(1)    an annual report on its activities; and
(2)    based on its investigations and studies, other special reports with recommendations for legislation as may be appropriate.