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THE REVEREND TERRY A. HAWKINS Respondent |
Before the State Ethics Commission Complaint No.: C-15-06 |
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On the 28th day of February 2007, between The Reverend Terry A. Hawkins, Respondent and Staff Counsel, agreed as follows:
The State
Ethics Commission (“Commission”) is an executive agency of the State of
Maryland established for the purpose of enforcing the Maryland Public Ethics
Law (Title 15, State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland,
hereinafter the Ethics Law);
The Respondent is an individual whose lobbying activities on
behalf of Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative, Inc. (“the employer”) during the
period of November 1, 2005 through April 20, 2006, required registration as a
lobbyist with the State Ethics Commission;
The Respondent registered on March 27, 2006 as a lobbyist with
the Commission as required by the State Government Article, Section
15-703(d)(1) of the Ethics Law on behalf of the employer;
The Respondent was required to submit a Lobbying Activity
Report by May 31, 2006 for the period March 10 through April 30, 2006, as
required by the State Government Article, Section 15-704(a)(i) of the Ethics Law
and failed to submit the required report;
On August 15, 2006, the Commission issued a complaint against the
Respondent alleging the failure to file a Lobbying Activity Report for the
period of March 10 through April 30, 2006;
On September 14, 2006 the Respondent submitted the delinquent
Lobbying Activity Report for the period March 10 through April 30, 2006; and
The Respondent is voluntarily entering into this Stipulation
of Settlement Agreement to admit his failure to timely file the Lobbying
Activity Report for the period March 10 through April 30, 2006, with the
Commission and to pay a sum of money in lieu of potential late filing fees
pursuant to State Government Article, Section 14-405 of the Public Ethics Law;
IN CONSIDERATION of the submission of the required
Lobbying Activity Report by the Respondent, and the stipulations recited above,
the Respondent and Executive Director on behalf of Staff Counsel agree as
follows:
1.
Respondent
admits that he did not timely file his Lobbying Activity Report on behalf of
the employer for the period March 10 through April 30, 2006 as required by
State Government Article, Section 15-704(a)(ii) of the Ethics Law;
2.
Respondent
subsequently filed the required Lobbying Activity Report with the Commission on
September 14, 2006 (a copy of which has been attached hereto and made a part
hereof);
3.
Respondent
understands that failure to comply with the lobbying disclosure provisions of
the Public Ethics Law can subject her to a formal complaint by the Commission
and upon a finding of a violation the possibility of late fees, civil fines,
reprimand or a suspension of her ability to lobby for compensation;
4.
Based
on the facts stated in this Stipulation of Settlement, the Respondent agrees to
pay as settlement of the complaint, the amount of two hundred fifty dollars
($250.00) in lieu of potential late fees and other fines for the admitted late
filing of the Lobbying Activity Report.
The Respondent has submitted a check in the amount of twenty-five
dollars ($25.00) with this Agreement and will pay the remainder of the agreed
amount pursuant to the agreed upon payment schedule (a copy of which has been
attached hereto and made a part hereof);
5.
Respondent
waives a formal hearing on this matter and agrees that acceptance of the
Stipulation of Settlement by the Commission would constitute, based on his
admission of violations of the Public Ethics Law, a final action and finding of
violation by the Commission, and, pursuant to § 15-407 of the Public Ethics Law, this Agreement and materials
relating to this matter are not subject to the confidentiality provisions of
the Public Ethics Law and will be public information unless otherwise
protected;
6.
Executive
Director on behalf of Staff Counsel will, upon execution of this Agreement by
the Respondent, recommend that the Commission suspend further complaint
proceedings against the Respondent and recommend further that the Commission
issue a Final Order in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
7.
Respondent accepts that the Commission, pursuant to Section
15-405(c)(2) of the Ethics Law, will issue a reprimand to her effective the
date of the Final Order. The reprimand,
this agreement, including any documents incorporated herein, and the Final Order
will be transmitted to her employer; (not employed – was hired as independent contractor)
8.
Respondent
and Staff Counsel have entered into this Agreement for the sole purpose of
resolving the late submission of the Lobbying Activity Report, for the payment
in lieu of late fees, and to resolve the complaint now pending, and for no
other purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREFORE, The Reverend Terry A. Hawkins,
Respondent and Jennifer K. Allgair, Staff Counsel for the State Ethics
Commission, have signed below.
Dated this February 2, 2007
______________/s/______________________ _________/s/_______________________
The Reverend Terry A.
Hawkins, Lobbyist Jennifer
K. Allgair, Staff Counsel
Sate Ethics
Commission
45
Calvert Street, Third Floor
Annapolis,
Maryland 21401
(410)
260-7770
State of ____________
County of ____________, to wit:
Before
me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid,
personally appeared Jennifer K. Allgair, Staff Counsel for the State Ethics
Commission, who made oath on this ________day of
________________, 2007 in due form of law that she executed this agreement for
the purposes set forth herein.
_______________________
Notary Public
My
Commission Expires:
_____________________
---------------
State of ____________
County of ____________, to wit:
Before
me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid,
personally appeared The Reverend Terry A. Hawkins, who made oath on this
__________the day of _______________, 2007 in due form of law that matters and
facts hereinabove set forth are true to the best of her knowledge, information
and belief, and are her voluntary act and that she executed this document for
the purposes set forth herein.
___________________________
Notary
Public
My Commission expires:
______________________
Accepted by the Commission
____________/s/_______________
Julian L. Lapides, Chairperson
for the Commission
Date: March 8, 2007