Public Information Act - Personnel Records of Elected Officials and Joint Ethics Committee Records

SB 145 modifies Maryland's Public Information Act to clarify public access to specific records. It explicitly states that records related to misconduct investigations of elected officials (e.g., internal ethics probes) are **not** considered confidential "personnel records," making them publicly inspectable. For ethics committee records, the bill allows public access to complaint-related materials if the involved official consents or if the committee closes the case, while maintaining confidentiality for ongoing investigations. These changes directly affect elected officials, the State Ethics Commission, and the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics by altering how their records are treated under public disclosure laws. The bill focuses on defining scope and access pathways without creating new programs or altering substantive ethics standards.