Caroline County, MD Article VIII Enforcement

§ 33-30 Civil enforcement.

A. At the direction of the Commission, the County Attorney may file a petition for injunctive or other relief in the Circuit Court for the County, or in another court of competent jurisdiction, to require compliance with this chapter.

B. The County Attorney may seek to have the court issue an order requiring a Person to cease and desist from a violation of this chapter, or voiding an official action taken by a Public Official who has a conflict of interest prohibited by this chapter, or both.

C. Except as provided in Subsection D of this section, the court may issue an order to void an official action if:

(1) The official action to be voided arises from or concerns the subject matter of the Public Official's conflict of interest; and

(2) The court considers voiding the official action to be in the best Interests of the public.

D. The court may not void an official action appropriating public funds, levying taxes, or providing for the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of public obligation.

E. As part of a petition for relief or as a separate cause of action, the County Attorney may seek to have the court impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for a violation of this chapter. Each day the violation occurs constitutes a separate offense.

F. The County Attorney may seek to recover the value of anything received by a Person for violations of this chapter.

§ 33-31 Termination, disciplinary action, or suspension.

In addition to any other enforcement provisions in this chapter, a Public Official who is subject to the provisions of this chapter and who is found by the Commission or a court to have violated its provisions is subject to:

A. Termination of employment or services;

B. Disciplinary action as may be warranted; and/or

C. Suspension from receiving payment of salary or other Compensation pending full compliance with the terms of an order of the Commission or a court.

§ 33-32 Severability.

Should any section or provision of this chapter be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or any part thereof other than the part declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.