2021 Maryland Statutes
General Provisions
Title 5 - Maryland Public Ethics Law
Subtitle 4 - Procedures for Complaint of Violation of Title
Section 5-403 - Complaints -- Retention by Ethics Commission
(a) As to a complaint retained by the Ethics Commission under § 5–402(b) of this subtitle, the staff counsel shall collect and submit to the Ethics Commission evidence relating to each violation of this title alleged in the complaint.
(b) (1) Before submitting the evidence to the Ethics Commission, the staff counsel shall notify the complainant and the respondent.
(2) The Ethics Commission shall dismiss the complaint in a signed order if:
(i) the respondent, within 15 days after receiving the notice, takes any action that may be available to cure each alleged violation; and
(ii) the Ethics Commission finds that dismissal is not contrary to the purposes of this title.
(3) If the complaint is dismissed under this subsection, the Ethics Commission promptly shall send a copy of the order to the complainant and the respondent.
(c) If the Ethics Commission determines that the evidence submitted by the staff counsel does not merit further proceedings, the Ethics Commission shall:
(1) dismiss the complaint in a signed order; and
(2) promptly send a copy of the order to the complainant and the respondent.
(d) If a complaint is not dismissed under subsection (b) or (c) of this section, the Ethics Commission shall proceed to a hearing on the complaint.
