Code of Maryland Regulations Title 19A - STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
Here’s a comprehensive overview of COMAR Title 19A – STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, which sets the administrative regulations governing Maryland’s State Ethics Commission:
📙 Title 19A – State Ethics Commission
Title 19A is organized into seven subtitles, each covering distinct aspects of ethics oversight:
▶ Subtitle 01 – Procedures
Chapters 19A.01.01–03 include:
General Provisions (definitions, authority, recordkeeping)
Advisory Opinions (confidentiality, issuance procedures)
Enforcement Procedures (hearings, sanctions, final orders) (regulations.justia.com, dsd.maryland.gov)
▶ Subtitle 02 – Conflicts of Interest
Chapters 19A.02.01–03 outline conflict-of-interest rules for state officials, including recusals and prohibited financial holdings.
▶ Subtitle 03 – Financial Disclosure
Chapters 19A.03.01–04 require state officials and board/commission members to file detailed financial disclosure forms—covering gifts, income sources, and relationships with public or quasi‑governmental entities. (ethics.maryland.gov)
▶ Subtitle 04 – Local Government Ethics Law
Chapters 19A.04.01–04 provide a model ethics framework for local governments, covering conflicts, confidential information use, gift limits, and lobbying rules. (regulations.justia.com)
▶ Subtitle 05 – Board of Education Ethics
Chapters 19A.05.01–04 apply similar ethics standards to local school boards and employees—governing gift acceptance, confidentiality, and required disclosures.
▶ Subtitle 06 – Blind Trusts
Chapters 19A.06.01–03 set rules on establishment and usage of blind trusts by public officials to avoid conflicts, though specific text wasn’t captured—this subtitle is present per structural listings.
▶ Subtitle 07 – Lobbying
Chapter 19A.07.01 defines regulated lobbyist registration requirements, including thresholds for contacting officials, expenditures, and compensation—e.g. influencing procurement decisions over $100,000, or spending $2,500 on soliciting.
🧭 Highlights & Key Provisions
Advisory Opinions: Confidential unless the requestor waives anonymity. (ethics.maryland.gov)
Enforcement: Decisions are based on a preponderance of evidence; sanctions can include fines or referrals for judicial enforcement. (regulations.justia.com)
Lobbyist Registration: Required if certain lobbying activities meet specified criteria, such as expenditures ≥ $500 or earnings ≥ $2,500 for influencing executive or legislative actions. (law.cornell.edu)
🗄️ Accessing the Regulations
COMAR Online (Maryland Division of State Documents): Official and regularly updated. (dsd.maryland.gov)
Third‑party aggregators (Justia, Cornell LII): Offer quick navigation but may not reflect the most current version. (law.cornell.edu)
Maryland Register: New or amended regulations are published bi‑weekly and take legal effect upon publication. (dsd.maryland.gov)
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