PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 533

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the following Section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland be
repealed:

Article 40A - Maryland Public Ethics Law

Section(s) 1-101 through 1-201, inclusive, and the headings "Title 1. General
Provisions", "Subtitle 1. Short Title, Legislative Policy, and Conflicts of Law",
and "Subtitle 2. Definitions"; 2-101 through 2-103, inclusive, 2-104(a), (b),
(c), and (e), and 2-105 and the heading "Title 2. Administration"; 3-101 and
3-103 through 3-110, inclusive, and the heading "Title 3. Conflicts of
Interest"; 4-101 through 4-106, inclusive, and the heading "Title 4. Financial
Disclosure"; 5-101 through 5-107, inclusive, and the heading "Title 5.
Lobbying Disclosure"; 6-101 through 6-303, inclusive, and 6-401 through
6-501(a), inclusive, and the headings "Title 6. Local Government", "Subtitle
1. Conflicts of Interest", "Subtitle 2. Financial Disclosure", "Subtitle 3.
Lobbying Disclosure", "Subtitle 4. Express Powers", and "Subtitle 5. Local
Government Implementation"; 6A-101 through 6A-501, inclusive, and the
heading "Title 6A. School Officials"; 7-101 through 7-104, inclusive, and the
heading "Title 7. Enforcement"; and the article designation "Article 40A -
Maryland Public Ethics Law"

SECTION 2. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - State Government

TITLE 15. PUBLIC ETHICS.

SUBTITLE 1. FINDINGS; DEFINITIONS; GENERAL PROVISIONS.
15-101. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND POLICY.

(A)     LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.

(1)     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, RECOGNIZING THAT OUR
SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS DEPENDENT UPON THE PEOPLE
MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST TRUST IN THEIR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND
EMPLOYEES, FINDS AND DECLARES THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE
ASSURED THAT THE IMPARTIALITY AND INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT OF THOSE
OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES WILL BE MAINTAINED.

(2)     IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IS ERODED
WHEN THE CONDUCT OF THE STATE'S BUSINESS IS SUBJECT TO IMPROPER
INFLUENCE OR EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPER INFLUENCE.

(B)     POLICY.

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