§ 2-20. Conflicts of interest.
(a) Application of City Ethics Code.
(1) The Board of Trustees is an "agency" and "board" within the meaning of and subject to the standards and requirements of the Baltimore City Public Ethics Law (City Code Article 8).
(2) Each trustee is a "public servant" and an "official" within the meaning of and subject to the standards and requirements of the Baltimore City Public Ethics law.
(3) Each employee of the Board is a "public servant" and an "employee" within the meaning of and subject to the standards and requirements of the Baltimore City Public Ethics Law.
(b) Additional standards and requirements.
(1) In general.
In addition to the standards and requirements contained in the Baltimore City Public Ethics Law, trustees and Board employees may not engage in any of the following activities or hold any of the following interests, as these activities or interests are defined in the Baltimore City Public Ethics Law.
(2) Business with City Benefit Plan.
No Trustee or Board employee may do business with any system, plan, or trust administered by any of the following (collectively, "the City Benefit Plans"):
(i) the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System of the City of Baltimore;
(ii) the Board of Trustees of the Fire and Police Employees' Retirement System of the City of Baltimore;
(iii) the Board of Trustees of the Elected Officials' Retirement System of the City of Baltimore; and
(iv) the Board of Trustees of the Retirement Savings Plan of the City of Baltimore.
(3) Employment by or interest in person seeking business with City Benefit Plan.
No trustee or Board employee may be employed by or have a financial interest in any person or entity doing business or seeking to do business with any City Benefit Plan.
(4) Gifts, payments, free admissions, expense reimbursements.
(i) Notwithstanding City Code Article 8 {"Ethics"}, § 6-28(3) {"Gifts: Qualified exemptions; travel, etc., expenses"}, no trustee or Board employee may accept any gift or any payment, free admission, or expense reimbursement for attendance at a conference, seminar, or similar meeting, or for related food, travel, lodging, or entertainment, if the gift or the payment, free admission, or reimbursement is, directly or indirectly, from:
(A) any person or entity engaged in an activity or providing a product or service that the trustee knows or has reason to know has been marketed to a City Benefit Plan or is of a type that the trustee reasonably would expect to be marketed to a City Benefit Plan; or
(B) any trade, professional, or other association that has members engaged in an activity or providing a product or service that the trustee knows or has reason to know has been marketed to a City Benefit Plan or is of a type that the trustee reasonably would expect to be marketed to a City Benefit Plan.
(ii) Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not preclude application of the qualified exemptions contained in City Code Article 8, § 6-28(1) {"food or beverages … consumed … in… presence … of donor"}, § 6-28(2) {"gift … [of] insignificant value"}, § 6-28(5) {"gift … [exempted by] Ethics Board"}, or § 6-28(6) {"gift from a spouse, parent, child, or sibling"}, subject to the qualifications of § 6-29 {"exemption limitations"}.
(5) Using Plan assets for conferences, etc.
No assets of the Retirement Savings Plan or of any system, plan, or trust administered by the Board of Trustees of the Plan may be used to pay for the attendance of a trustee or Board employee at any conference, seminar, or similar meeting, or for related food, travel, lodging, or entertainment, unless that attendance has first been approved by the Board of Estimates in accordance with the Administrative Manual of Baltimore City, AM-240-3 {"Board of Estimates Approval"}.
(6) Lobbying activities.
No trustee or Board employee may engage in any activity that requires registration as a lobbyist with the City Ethics Board.
(c) Administration and enforcement.
The City Ethics Board administers and enforces this section in accordance with the administrative and enforcement provisions of the Baltimore City Public Ethics Law.