§ 7-1-203. TRAINING.

(a)

Persons required to complete training; timeline for completion.

(1)

The Commission shall provide a training course on the requirements of the county public ethics law for the following elected officials and public officials:

(i)

An individual who serves as an appointed department head as defined in section 5-1-201(e) of the Code;

(ii)

An individual who serves as a deputy in any department or office as provided for in Section 502 of the Charter or as enumerated in Sections 503 and 504 of the Charter;

(iii)

The Chairman and members of the County Council and appointed legislative staff to each member;

(iv)

The administrative assistant to the County Council;

(v)

The deputy secretary to the County Council;

(vi)

The Deputy County Auditor;

(vii)

The Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Hearings;

(viii)

The Executive Director and staff of the Office of Ethics and Accountability;

(ix)

The chairman and members of the Board of Appeals;

(x)

The chairman, members and Executive Director of the Revenue Authority;

(xi)

The chairman and members of the Planning Board;

(xii)

The chairman and members of the Ethics Commission;

(xiii)

The People's Counsel and Deputy People's Counsel; and

(xiv)

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, any other public official in the administrative services of the county government designated by the County Administrative Officer or any other person in the legislative branch, including the Office of the County Auditor, designated by the Secretary to the County Council.

(2)

In designating other public officials to complete the training required by this section, the County Administrative Officer and Secretary to the County Council shall include those public officials whose duties and responsibilities are likely to substantially affect private interests and require significant participation through decision or the exercise of significant judgment, and without substantial supervision and review in taking government action regarding:

(i)

Contracting or procurement;

(ii)

Administering grants;

(iii)

Land use, planning and zoning;

(iv)

Regulating, licensing or inspecting any business;

(v)

Other decisions with economic impact, which may include public officials in the executive office; and

(vi)

Law enforcement.

(3)

The individuals listed in this subsection shall complete the initial training course within 6 months after filling a vacancy, and once each year thereafter.

(b)

Commission to provide training, registration information.

(1)

(i)

The Commission shall provide a training course for an individual registered as a lobbyist under Subtitle 5 of this title at least twice each year on the provisions of the county public ethics law relevant to regulated lobbyists.

(ii)

One training course shall be held each March.

(2)

(i)

When an individual initially registers as a regulated lobbyist, the Commission shall provide the individual with information on the provisions of the county public ethics law relevant to regulated lobbyists.

(ii)

The individual shall complete the initial training course within 6 months of registration, and once each year thereafter.

(c)

Administering of training.

(1)

The required training courses may be administered by the Commission in person or online.

(2)

If the Commission establishes an online training course for lobbyists, it may eliminate the in person trainings required under subsection (b)(1) of this section.

(d)

Adoption of regulations. The Commission may adopt regulations to further administer the requirements of this section.

(e)

Publication of training information. The Commission shall publish on its website information related to the names of individuals required to complete the training course and the date of compliance with this section.

(Bill No. 35-17 , § 1, 8-26-2017; Bill No. 12-18 , § 3, 4-6-2018; Bill No. 4-19 , § 1, 3-31-2019; Bill No. 5-19 , § 1, 3-31-2019)

Editor's note:
  Section 5 of Bill No. 12-18 provides that Section 3 of this Act shall take affect retroactively to October 1, 2017.