Gifts

Baltimore City Code art. 8, subtit. 6, pt. IV

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 8, § 6-26 Solicitation prohibited.

§ 6-26. Solicitation prohibited. (a) In general. Except as permitted under subsection (b) of this section, a public servant may not solicit or facilitate the solicitation of a gift, whether on the public servant’s own behalf or on behalf of another person. (b) Exception. The prohibition in subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a solicitation if: (1) it is for the benefit of an official governmental program or activity or a City-endorsed charitable function or activity; and (2) it either: (i) is expressly allowed by a rule or regulation of the Ethics Board; or (ii) otherwise has been approved in advance by the Ethics Board, on the written request of the public servant and his or her agency. (Ord. 24-368 Section 1; Ord. 15-373; Ord. 10-267; Ord. 04-795.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 8, § 6-27 Acceptance prohibited.

§ 6-27. Acceptance prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in this Part IV, a public servant may not knowingly accept any gift, directly or indirectly, from any person that the public servant knows or has reason to know: (1) does or seeks to do business of any kind, regardless of amount: (i) with the public servant’s agency; or (ii) with another person in connection with or in furtherance of a contract that is being negotiated or has been entered into by the other person with the public servant’s agency; (2) engages or seeks to engage in an activity that is regulated or controlled by the public servant’s agency; (3) is or, within the preceding 12 months, has been a lobbyist with respect to matters within the jurisdiction of the public servant; (4) has a financial interest that might be substantially and materially affected, in a manner distinguishable from the public generally, by the performance or nonperformance of the public servant’s official duties; (5) is an association, or any entity acting on behalf of an association, that is engaged only in representing counties or municipal corporations; or (6) is an owner, partner, officer, director, trustee, employee, or agent of any person described in items (1) through (4) of this section. (Ord. 24-368 Section 1; Ord. 16-503; Ord. 15-373; Ord. 10-267; Ord. 04-795.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 8, § 6-28 Qualified exemptions.

§ 6-28. Qualified exemptions. Subject to § 6-29 {“Exemption limitations”} of this subtitle, the prohibitions in § 6-27 {“Acceptance prohibited”} of this subtitle do not apply to the unsolicited receipt of: (1) food or beverages received and consumed by the recipient in the presence of the donor or sponsoring entity; (2) gifts or awards that have insignificant monetary value, as defined by rule or regulation of the Board; (3) in return for a speaking engagement or participation on a panel at a meeting, reasonable expenses, actually incurred and verifiable, for food, travel, lodging, child or dependant care, and scheduled entertainment of the public servant, but only if: (i) the expenses are associated with the meeting; and (ii) to the extent the expenses are anticipated to exceed $500, the public servant has notified the Ethics Board before attending the meeting; (4) tickets or free admission given to an elected official to attend a specific charitable, cultural, or political event, if given by the person sponsoring or conducting the event as a courtesy or ceremony to the office; (5) a specific gift or class of gifts that the Ethics Board exempts on a written finding that acceptance of the gift or class of gifts would not be detrimental to the impartial conduct of City business; or (6) gifts from a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. (Ord. 15-372; Ord. 11-484; Ord. 04-795.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 8, § 6-29 Exemption limitations.

§ 6-29. Exemption limitations. The exemptions specified in § 6-28 {“Qualified exemptions”} of this subtitle do not apply to any gift if: (1) the gift would tend to impair the recipient’s impartiality and independent judgment; or (2) for a gift of significant value, as defined by rule or regulation of the Board: (i) the gift would give the appearance of impairing the recipient’s impartiality and independent judgment; or (ii) the recipient believes or has reason to believe that the gift is designed to impair his or her impartiality and independent judgment. (Ord. 11-484; Ord. 04-795.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 8, § 6-31 Additional exemptions by Board.

§ 6-31. Additional exemptions by Board. By rule or regulation, the Ethics Board may establish further exemptions from or modifications of this Part IV, as the Board considers necessary. (Ord. 04-795.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 8, §§ 6-32 to 6-35 {Reserved}

Source: City of Baltimore Department of Legislative Reference, City of Baltimore Law Library (codes.baltimorecity.gov; Open Law Library bulk XML)URL: https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/8/6/IVFetched: 10/25/2026