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State Employees/Officials

The Conflict of Interest provisions of the Public Ethics Law, Maryland Code Annotated, General Provisions, Title 5, Subtitle 5, apply to ALL State Employees, regardless of grade or years of service. You should read and become familiar with the provisions that govern the behavior of all State employees as a violation of any of these principles may result in disciplinary action and possibly termination from State employment.

Examples of the Conflict of Interest provisions:

  • An employee or official may not intentionally use the prestige of his or her office for personal gain or that of another.
  • An official or employee may not participate in an official action, decision or matter in circumstances where the official or employee has an interest or where certain relatives of the official or employee have an interest.
  • An official or employee may not hold any employment relationship that would impair his or her impartiality or independence of judgment.
  • An official or employee may not disclose or use for personal economic benefit, or that of another, confidential information acquired by reason of his or her public position.
  • A former official or employee may not assist or represent anyone other than the State for compensation in a case, contract or other specific matter involving the State, if that matter is one in which he or she significantly participated as an official or employee.
  • Employees may not solicit gifts for themselves or others, and generally may not accept gifts from lobbyists or those regulated by or doing (or seeking to do) business with the employee’s agency.

Public Ethics Law Summary

Financial Disclosure Filing System

Ethics Law Enforcement

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