Committee favors bill centralizing bi‑county financial disclosures with county ethics office

The General Assembly Committee voted unanimously Jan. 27 to support PGMC‑105‑26, a bill that adjusts how financial disclosure statements for Prince George’s County commissioners and applicants to bi‑county commissions are retained and made available.

Lorenzo Bellamy presented the measure and said it clarifies responsibilities by requiring applicants to submit a paper copy to the Prince George’s County Office of Ethics and Accountability (OEA) in addition to electronic filing with the State Ethics Commission. The bill directs the county OEA to retain disclosures for appointed commissioners’ full terms, return statements to rejected applicants, notify the State Ethics Commission to delete rejected applicants’ electronic filings, and record identifying information of anyone who examines or copies a statement.

Bellamy told the committee the bill centralizes county ethics oversight without altering the state requirement to file electronically with the State Ethics Commission. The county executive’s office indicated it stands in favor of the bill. The committee approved a favorable motion by voice and roll call; the clerk recorded a 5–0 favorable outcome.