Section 13-235 - During General Assembly session. - Maryland Statutes

§ 13-235. During General Assembly session.
 

(a)  Scope of section.- This section applies to the following officials: 

(1) the Governor; 

(2) the Lieutenant Governor; 

(3) the Attorney General; 

(4) the Comptroller; and 

(5) a member of the General Assembly. 

(b)  Prohibition.- Except as provided in subsection (c) or (d) 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 or sell a ticket to a fund-raising event; or 

(4) deposit or use any contribution of money that was not deposited prior to the session. 

(c)  Exception - Candidate for federal or local government office.- 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)  Exception - Contribution from Fair Campaign Financing Fund.- 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)  Violations.-  

(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 this subsection. 

(2) The State Board, represented by the State Prosecutor, may institute a civil action in the circuit court for any county seeking the civil penalty provided in this subsection. 

(3) A campaign finance entity that receives a contribution as a result of the violation shall: 

(i) refund the contribution to the contributor; and 

(ii) pay a civil penalty that equals the sum of $1,000 plus the amount of the contribution. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 33, § 13-215; 2002, ch. 291, § 4; 2003, ch. 380.]