Sec. 19a.01.01.01. Purpose and Scope

A. The purpose of these regulations is to set forth the procedures under which the State Ethics Commission will implement the Maryland Public Ethics Law (General Provisions Article, Title 5, Annotated Code of Maryland) as to persons and entities within its jurisdiction pursuant to General Provisions Article, §5-104, Annotated Code of Maryland.

B. The regulations apply to officials and employees of State government as set forth below:

(1) Officials and employees of the Executive Branch, including those employed with or appointed to local units of State agencies, or others specifically designated to be covered by the Public Ethics Law;

(2) Constitutional officers and officers-elect in the executive units;

(3) Persons holding office as State's Attorney, Clerk of the Circuit Court for each county, Register of Wills, and Sheriff;

(4) As to the General Assembly:

(a) Employees of the General Assembly; and

(b) Members and members-elect of the General Assembly, as to matters regarding financial disclosure required by General Provisions Article, Title 5, Subtitle 6, Annotated Code of Maryland;

(5) As to the Judiciary:

(a) Employees of the Judicial Branch; and

(b) Members of the Judiciary, but only to the extent that the Commission has responsibilities as custodian of financial disclosure statements submitted by members of the Judiciary pursuant to General Provisions Article, Title 5, Subtitle 6, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(6) Any other officials or employees specifically identified by statute as being covered by the provisions of the Public Ethics Law.

C. The regulations apply to candidates for office as State officials.

D. The regulations apply to persons subject to the lobbying disclosure provisions of General Provisions Article, Title 5, Subtitle 7, Annotated Code of Maryland.

E. The regulations apply to county and municipal governments and to local school systems, to the extent that they deal with model provisions, review of local and school system laws and regulations, requests for exemption pursuant to General Provisions Article, §5-209, Annotated Code of Maryland, and General Provisions Article, Title 5, Subtitle 8, and provision of Commission advice regarding these matters. They do not directly affect officials and employees solely of local jurisdictions or school systems who are properly included within local and school systems ethics provisions.