Online Conflicts Affidavit

All City public servants are subject to the conflict of interest provisions in the Baltimore City Public Ethics Law, Article 8 of the City Code.

A conflict of interest arises when there's a possibility you could use your City position to benefit yourself, a family member, or an organization you or your family member are affiliated with.

City officials are required to file a conflicts affidavit with the Ethics Board and with their appointing authority within six months of their appointment, ensuring that they understand the conflicts of interest provisions of the Ethics Law, that they are not in violation of the provisions, and that they will comply with them in all future activities.

Who are officials?
An official is any of the below (Art. 8, § 2-21):
- an elected official (§ 2-8)
- the head of any department
- the head of any bureau or division within a department
- any other individual in a unit of City government who, whether acting alone or as a member of a board acting jointly with other board members:
  - has authority comparable to that of the head of a department or the head of a bureau or division
  - has decision-making authority in making City policy
  - has decision-making authority in the exercise of quasi-judicial, regulatory, licensing, inspecting, or auditing functions
  - acts as a principal advisor ro one who has authority of the type listed
- the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, Executive Secretary, or Administrator of any agency (§ 2-2) or board (§ 2-3).
If you are unsure if you qualify as a City "official," contact Ethics Board staff.

End of officials definition
Online Form

Click "Start" below to review the conflicts of interest provisions of the Ethics Law and file the conflicts affidavit.

Summary of Conflict of Interest Provisions

Restrictions on Participation {§ 6-6} – A public servant (that is, any City official or employee) may not participate in – and must disqualify him- or herself from – any matter in which any of the following has an interest:
- the public servant,
- a close relative (that is, a spouse, parent, child, or sibling) of the public servant, or
- an entity (or parent or subsidiary of an entity) in which the public servant or close relative:
  - has a financial interest
  - is a partner, officer, director, trustee, employee, or agent, or
  - has an existing or proposed employment, contractual, or debtor relationship.
Prohibited Employment or Interest {§ 6-11} – A public servant may not:
- be employed by or have a financial interest in any entity that is subject to the authority of (for example, licensed or otherwise regulated by) the public servant’s agency,
- be employed by or have a financial interest in any entity that has or is negotiating a contract (or a subcontract on a contract) with the City or an agency of the City, if:
  - the contract is with, for the benefit of, or to be administered by the public servant's agency, or
  - the public servant’s duties include matters substantially relating to or affecting the subject matter of the contract and the contract binds or purports to bind the City to pay more than $1,000, or
- hold any other employment relationship that would impair the public servant’s impartiality and independent judgment.
Prestige of Office {§ 6-36} – A public servant may not intentionally use the prestige of his or her office or position for his or her private gain or that of another.

Contingent Compensation {§ 6-21} – A public servant may not assist or represent someone for contingent compensation in any matter before or involving a City agency.

Confidential Information {§ 6-37} – A public servant may not disclose or use, for her or his own benefit or that of another, any confidential information acquired by reason of the public servant’s position.

Post-Employment Restriction {§ 6-22} –
- A former public servant may not assist or represent someone for compensation, other than the City, in any case, contract, or other specific matter that involves the City, if the matter is one in which the former public servant significantly participated while with the City.
- In addition, a former elected official may not assist another for compensation in any matter that is the subject of legislative action until 1 calendar year from the date on which the member left office.
Participation in Procurement {§ 6-38} – A person or entity that assists the City in preparing procurement specifications, documents, etc., may not be employed by or assist a bidder in that procurement.

Employment of Relative {§ 6-39} – An elected official may not use public funds to employ his or her relative or the relative of another elected official. For this purpose, “relative” means any spouse, parent or stepparent, sibling or step sibling, child, stepchild, foster child, or ward, mother-in-law or father-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild.

Gifts {§§ 6-26 and 6-27} – Subject to certain qualified exceptions, a public servant may not, directly or indirectly, for his or her own benefit or for the benefit of another, solicit any gift or knowingly accept any gift, even if unsolicited, from any person that the public servant knows or has reason to know:
- does or seeks to do business of any kind with:
  - the public servant’s agency,
  - with another person in connection with that other person’s contract with the public servant’s agency,
  - engages or seeks to engage in an activity that is regulated or controlled by the public servant’s agency,
  - is or, within the past 12 months, has been a lobbyist with respect to matters within the jurisdiction of the public servant’s agency,
  - has a financial interest that might be significantly affected by the public servant’s actions, or
  - is an owner, partner, officer, director, trustee, employee, or agent of any person described in items (a) through (d).
Note: For this purpose, “gift” includes a donation to support a charitable or governmental function.
Restrictions on Participation
See Section 6-6 of the Ethics Law.

A public servant (that is, any City official or employee) may not participate in – and must disqualify him- or herself from – any matter in which any of the following has an interest:
- the public servant,
- a close relative (that is, a spouse, parent, child, or sibling) of the public servant, or
- an entity (or parent or subsidiary of an entity) in which the public servant or close relative:
  - has a financial interest
  - is a partner, officer, director, trustee, employee, or agent, or
  - has an existing or proposed employment, contractual, or debtor relationship.

Choose the option that applies to you:*

official or employeeboard member or commissioner
Name:*

First NameLast Name
Email Address:*
example@example.com
Agency Name:*
Position Title:*
Board/Commission Name:*

Additional Ethics Requirements
Use this guide below to determine if additional ethics requirements apply to you:
Pre-Appointment Disclosure

As a nominee for a City board or commission, you may request a conflict of interest exemption if you have an interest — as defined by§ 6-11(a) of the Ethics Law — that may conflict with your City appointment.

Click here to learn more about the Ethics Law's conflict of interest provisions and the pre-appointment disclosure form.
Do you have an interest that could conflict with a City appointment?

If so, you may request a conflict of interest exemption by filing a pre-appointment disclosure statement prior to appointment.
Financial Disclosure

Many officials and employees are required to file financial disclosure statements. To determine if you are required to file, review § 7-7, § 7-8 and § 7-9 of the Ethics Law, which lists the City positions that have a filing requirement, and/or contact Ethics Board staff.

Click here to learn more about the financial disclosure form and filing process.
Does your position require you to file financial disclosure statements?

If so, you must file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of beginning employment, and then annually.
Conflicts Affidavit and Ethics Training

The Ethics Law requires City "officials" to complete a conflicts affidavit and take an ethics training.

An "official" includes City elected leaders, heads of Departments, heads of bureaus/divisions, and other individuals, including board members, with similar decision-making authority. The term "official" also includes individuals with decision-making authority in quasi-judicial, regulatory, licensing, inspecting, or auditing functions. To determine if you are a City "official," review § 2-21 of the Ethics Law and/or contact Ethics Board staff.
Are you a City "official"?

If so, you must complete a conflicts affidavit and training within 6 months of beginning employment.
1) Conflicts Affidavit

You are required to complete an affidavit attesting that you understand the Ethics Law's conflict of interest provisions and that you are not in violation of them.

Click here to learn more about the Ethics Law's conflict of interest provisions and to download the conflicts affidavit form.

2) Ethics Training

You are required to take a training provided by the Ethics Board within 6 months of beginning employment.

Click here to learn more about the course and to enroll in an upcoming session.

Acknowledgement
The Ethics Law requires that you and your appointing authority (or appointing authority's designee) sign your notice. Below, please provide the name and email address of your board or commission coordinator or staff so that the notice can be provided to your appointing authority (or appointing authority's designee) and saved in your file. Then, please complete and sign the acknowledgement below.
Board/Commission Contact's Name:*
Board/Commission Contact's Email Address:*
example@example.com
By signing, you acknowledge the following:*

I have received the Ethics Board's Notice of Ethics Requirements.I understand that the Ethics Law applies to me and that I will contact the Ethics Board if I have questions about the Ethics Law.I understand that I may request a conflict of interest exemption; if so, I will submit my pre-appointment affidavit prior to appointment.I understand that I may be required to file a financial disclosure statement; if so, I will file my statement timely.I understand that I may be required to take the Ethics Training and sign a conflicts affidavit; if so, I will complete these requirements timely.
I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY TYPED NAME BELOW SHALL SERVE AS AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE: *
Date:*

MonthDayYear

Acknowledgement
The Ethics Law requires that you and your agency head (or agency head's designee) sign your notice. Below, please provide the name and email address of your Human Resources representative so that the notice can be provided to your agency head (or agency head's designee) and saved in your personnel file. Then, please complete and sign the acknowledgement below.
HR Representative's Name:*
HR Representative's Email Address:*
example@example.com
By signing, you acknowledge the following:*

I have received the Ethics Board's Notice of Ethics Requirements.I understand that the Ethics Law applies to me and that I will contact the Ethics Board if I have questions about the Ethics Law.I understand that I may be required to file a financial disclosure statement; if so, I will file my statement timely.I understand that I may be required to take the Ethics Training and sign a conflicts affidavit; if so, I will complete these requirements timely.
I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY TYPED NAME BELOW SHALL SERVE AS AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE: *
Date:*

MonthDayYear
Should be Empty:

Online Form

Summary of Conflict of Interest Provisions

Restrictions on Participation

Additional Ethics Requirements

Pre-Appointment Disclosure

Financial Disclosure

Conflicts Affidavit and Ethics Training

Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement