SS/ethics.pr             97-217         Contact:  Marc Hansen, 301-217-2600

DUNCAN PROPOSES STRENGTHENING
MONTGOMERY COUNTY  ETHICS LAW For Immediate Release:  July 1, 1997




     Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today submitted legislation that
would strengthen the County's ethics law by prohibiting lobbyists and other interested persons
from giving gifts of significant value to public officials for personal milestones.  In addition,
the Executive's proposed legislation would authorize the Montgomery County Ethics
Commission to retain outside legal counsel, independent of the County Attorney's Office.
     The Executive's bill would also:
          impose limitations on County contractors' ability to assist others whose interest
          may be adverse to the County;
          restrict County contractors from using confidential information obtained as a
          result of their performance of a County contract;
          expand the time in which a person may file a complaint with the Ethics
          Commission; and
          restrict the ability of public employees to assist others whose interests are
          adverse to the County.

                                 - more -

EXECUTIVE PROPOSES ETHICS LAW REVISIONS                     2-2-2


     "This bill will strengthen our ethics law in many ways, most notably by closing a
loophole which allows lobbyists to give public officials gifts of significant value for personal
milestones," said Duncan.  "I think it's highly inappropriate for politicians and other public
officials to be able to accept these so-called 'personal milestone' gifts from anyone who has a
direct interest in County matters."
     In 1994, the County Council adopted changes to the ethics law, making it permissible
for public officials to accept gifts of up to $150 in value -- in commemoration of  "personal
milestones" -- from lobbyists and other interested persons. 
     Because the County Attorney's office is currently reviewing the matter and seeking an
opinion from the Maryland Attorney General's Office, one issue not addressed in the County
Executive's bill is the subject of whether or not the County Council has the legal authority to
regulate the political activity of members of quasi-judicial boards and commissions.
     The Executive's proposed legislation, drafted in cooperation with the Ethics
Commission, follows a voter-approved charter amendment in 1996 which requires the County
Council to "adopt by law a code of ethics applicable to all public employees."  The bill now
goes to the Council for its consideration.

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