(a)
This section applies to the following officials:
(1)
the Governor;
(2)
the Lieutenant Governor;
(3)
the Attorney General;
(4)
the Comptroller;
[and]
(5)
the State Treasurer; and
[(5)]
(6)
a member of the General Assembly.
(b)
Except as provided in subsection (c), (d), or (e) of this section, during a regular session of the General Assembly an official described in subsection (a) of this section, or a person acting on behalf of the official, may not, as to a candidate for federal, State, or local office, or a campaign finance entity of the candidate or any other campaign finance entity organized under this title and operated in coordination with a candidate:
(1)
receive a contribution;
(2)
conduct a fund-raising event;
(3)
solicit a contribution; or
(4)
deposit or use any contribution of money that was not deposited prior to the session.
(c)
An official described in subsection (a) of this section, or a person acting on behalf of the official, is not subject to this section when engaged in activities solely related to the official's election to an elective federal or local office for which the official is a filed candidate.
(d)
Under the Public Financing Act, a gubernatorial ticket, during the year of the election only, may accept eligible private contributions and any disbursement of funds by the State Board that is based on the eligible private contributions.
(e)
An official described in subsection (a) of this section, or a person acting on behalf of the official, may deposit a contribution during the legislative session if the contribution was made electronically before the start of the session.
(f)
(1)
As to a violation of this section, the campaign finance entity of the official in violation is liable for a civil penalty as provided in §
13-604.1
of this title.
(2)
A civil penalty imposed under this subsection shall be distributed to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund established under §
15-103
of this article.
History
Amended by
2024
Md. Laws, Ch.
655
,
Sec.
1
, eff.
10/1/2024
.
Brought forward without change,
2021
Md. Laws, Ch.
733
,
Sec.
1
, eff.
6/1/2021
.
Amended by
2016
Md. Laws, Ch.
203
,
Sec.
1
, eff.
10/1/2016
.
Amended by
2016
Md. Laws, Ch.
202
,
Sec.
1
, eff.
10/1/2016
.
Amended by
2015
Md. Laws, Ch.
312
,
Sec.
1
, eff.
7/1/2015
.
Amended by
2013
Md. Laws, Ch.
419
,
Sec.
3
, eff.
10/1/2013
.