Baltimore City Council
File #: 19-0375    Version: 0 Name: Baltimore City Residency Requirements - Prohibition Against Purposeful Evasion
Type: Ordinance Status: Failed
File created: 4/22/2019 In control: Judiciary Committee
On agenda: Final action:
Enactment #:
Title: Baltimore City Residency Requirements - Prohibition Against Purposeful Evasion For the purpose of prohibiting a re-organization or shift in staff reporting requirements in order to purposefully evade the Baltimore City residency requirements; and establishing that a violation of that prohibition is a ethics violation enforceable under the City Ethics Code.
Sponsors: Shannon Sneed, Sharon Green Middleton, Bill Henry, Brandon M. Scott, Leon F. Pinkett, III, Ryan Dorsey, John T. Bullock, Zeke Cohen, Kristerfer Burnett, Robert Stokes, Sr., Mary Pat Clarke, Edward Reisinger
Indexes: Baltimore City, Requirement, Residences
Attachments: 1. 19-0375~1st Reader

Explanation: Capitals indicate matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.

 

                     * Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.

                     The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.

                     Introductory*

 

                     City of Baltimore

                     Council Bill          

                                                                                                                                                           

Introduced by: Councilmember Sneed                                                                                              

                     

                     A Bill Entitled

 

An Ordinance concerning

title

Baltimore City Residency Requirements - Prohibition Against Purposeful Evasion

For the purpose of prohibiting a re-organization or shift in staff reporting requirements in order to purposefully evade the Baltimore City residency requirements; and establishing that a violation of that prohibition is a ethics violation enforceable under the City Ethics Code.

body

 

By repealing and reordaining, with amendments

Article 1 - Mayor, City Council, and Municipal Agencies

Section 7-10

Baltimore City Code

(Edition 2000)

 

Section 1.  Be it ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:

 

                     Baltimore City Code

 

                     Article 1.  Mayor, City Council, and Municipal Agencies

 

                     Subtitle 7.  City Officers and Employees

 

§ 7-10. Residency requirements for City officials.

 

(a)  Definitions.

 

(1)  In general.

 

In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

 

(2)  Agency.

 

“Agency” means any department, any bureau or division within a department, and any board, commission, authority, council, committee, office, or other unit of City government.

 

 

(3)  Official.

 

“Official” means:

 

(i)  the head of an agency who reports directly to the Mayor; and                     

 

(ii)  any at-will supervisory employee who reports directly to the Mayor or to the head of an agency.

 

(b)  Residency requirements.

 

Every official:

 

(1)  must be a resident and registered voter of Baltimore City at the time of his or her appointment, except only as otherwise authorized by subsection (c) of this section; and

 

(2)  must remain a resident and registered voter of Baltimore City throughout his or her entire term of office.

 

(c)  Qualified, short-term exception.

 

(1)  In general.

 

Subsection (b)(1) of this section does not apply to an official who, before her or his appointment, signs a declaration of intent to become a City resident and registered voter within 6 months of the effective date of her or his appointment.

 

(2)  Termination for failure to timely comply.

 

If the official fails to abide by this declaration of intent within the 6-month period, the official’s appointment is automatically terminated at the end of that period.

 

(d)  Prohibited act.

 

(1)  In general.

 

No person may reorganize or otherwise shift intra-agency staff reporting assignments to purposefully evade the residency requirements of this section for himself, herself, or others.

 

(2)  Enforcement.

 

A violation of this subsection is an ethics violation and enforceable by the Baltimore City Board of Ethics under City Code Article 8, Subtitle 9 {“Ethics - Enforcement”}.

 

Section 2.  And be it further ordained, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.

 

Section 3.  And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.