If the Ethics Commission determines any violation of any provision
of this chapter, the Ethics Commission may take one or more of the
following actions:
A.
Issue a cease-and-desist order; or
B.
Seek enforcement of the order in the Circuit Court of Calvert County
or any circuit court in the State of Maryland. The court may compel
compliance with this section by issuing an order to cease and desist
from a violation, grant other injunctive relief, and impose a fine
or civil penalty of up to $2,500.
B.
In addition and on recommendation of the Ethics Commission to the appointing authority, an elected official, appointed official or employee found to have violated this chapter may be subject to disciplinary or other appropriate personnel action, including censure, termination, or suspension from receiving payment of salary or other compensation, in accordance with Chapter 86 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Calvert County, Maryland, and § 3-505 of the Labor and Employment Article of the Maryland Annotated Code, pending full compliance with the terms of an order of the Ethics Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction.
C.
The appointing authority shall report to the Ethics Commission any
action taken based upon the recommendation of the Ethics Commission.
The Ethics Commission shall hold such information in confidence and
shall not disclose the same except as required by law or Court order.
[Added 9-26-2017 by Ord. No. 42-17]
A.
Sanctions. If the Commission determines that a lobbyist has violated § 41-16 of this chapter, the Commission may:
B.
Suspension or revocation of registration.
(1)
If the Commission determines it necessary to protect the public interest
and integrity of the governmental process, the Commission may issue
an order to:
(2)
If the Commission suspends the registration of a lobbyist under Subsection B(1) of this section, the lobbyist may not engage in lobbying for compensation for a period, not to exceed three years, that the Commission determines as to that lobbyist is necessary to satisfy the purposes of this chapter.
(3)
If the Commission revokes the registration of a lobbyist under Subsection B(1) of this section, the lobbyist may not engage in lobbying for compensation.
(5)
The termination or expiration of the registration of a lobbyist does
not limit the authority of the Commission to issue an order under
this subsection.
C.
Reinstatement.
(1)
Subject to Subsection C(2) of this section, an individual whose registration as a lobbyist is suspended or revoked may apply to the Commission for reinstatement.
(2)
The Commission may reinstate the registration if the Commission determines
that reinstatement of the individual would not be detrimental to the
public interest and the integrity of the governmental process, based
on:
D.
Penalties for late filing. If the respondent is a lobbyist, for each
report required under this chapter that is filed late, the respondent
shall pay a fee of $10 for each late day, not to exceed a total of
$250.
Upon notification from the State Ethics Commission of changes
in the Maryland Public Ethics Law or regulations, the Commission shall
determine, within 90 calendar days of receipt of notification, whether
a revision to the Calvert County Ethics Code is to be recommended
to the Board of County Commissioners for Calvert County.
If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is
held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction,
then said ruling shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
of this chapter.