2023 Maryland Statutes
General Provisions
Title 5 - Maryland Public Ethics Law
Subtitle 7 - Lobbying
Section 5-706 - Meals or Beverages
(a) In addition to any other report required under this subtitle, a regulated lobbyist shall file a separate report disclosing the name of each State official of the Executive Branch or member of the immediate family of a State official of the Executive Branch who has benefited during the reporting period from a gift of a meal or beverages from the regulated lobbyist, whether or not in connection with lobbying activities, allowed under § 5–505(c)(2)(i)1 of this title.
(b) Gifts reported by name of recipient under § 5–705(b)(2)(ix) of this subtitle need not be allocated for the purposes of disclosure under subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The disclosure required by this section shall be under oath or affirmation, on a form issued by the Ethics Commission, and shall include:
(1) the name and business address of the regulated lobbyist;
(2) the name of each recipient of a gift of a meal or beverages;
(3) the date and value of each gift of a meal or beverages, and the identity of the entity or entities to which the gift is attributable; and
(4) the total cumulative value of gifts of meals or beverages, calculated as to each recipient.
(d) The regulated lobbyist may explain the circumstances under which the gift of a meal or beverages was given.
(e) Gifts of meals or beverages reported by a regulated lobbyist under this section need not be counted or reported by the regulated lobbyist for purposes of disclosure under § 5–705(c) of this subtitle.
(f) The report shall be filed electronically at the time and in the manner required for reports filed under § 5–705 of this subtitle.