Baltimore City Council
File #: 21-0067    Version: 0 Name: Baltimore City Residency Requirements - Prohibition Against Purposeful Evasion
Type: Ordinance Status: In Committee
File created: 4/19/2021 In control: Public Safety and Government Operations
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 an ethics violation enforceable under the City Ethics Code.
Sponsors: Danielle N. McCray, Phylicia Porter, Sharon Green Middleton, Odette Ramos, John T. Bullock, James Torrence, Zeke Cohen, Robert Stokes, Sr.
Indexes: Baltimore City, Prohibition, Residency Requirements
Attachments: 1. 21-0067~1st Reader, 2. Law 21-0067, 3. Ethics 21-0067, 4. Finance 21-0067, 5. Hearing Agenda - 21-0067

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 McCray                                                                                           

 

                     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 an ethics violation enforceable under the City Ethics Code.

body

 

By repealing and re-ordaining, 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 - City officials generally.

 

(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.