In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. “Applicant” means a person or governmental unit that asks to inspect a public record. “Board” means the State Public Information Act Compliance Board. “Custodian” means: the official custodian; or any other authorized individual who has physical custody and control of a public record. “News media” means: newspapers; magazines; journals; press associations; news agencies; wire services; radio; television; and any printed, photographic, mechanical, or electronic means of disseminating news and information to the public. “Official custodian” means an officer or employee of the State or of a political subdivision who is responsible for keeping a public record, whether or not the officer or employee has physical custody and control of the public record. “Person in interest” means: a person or governmental unit that is the subject of a public record or a designee of the person or governmental unit; if the person has a legal disability, the parent or legal representative of the person; or as to requests for correction of certificates of death under § 5–310(d)(2) of the Health – General Article, the spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling, grandparent, or guardian of the person of the deceased at the time of the deceased’s death. “Personal information” means information that identifies an individual. Except as provided in § 4–355 of this title, “personal information” includes an individual’s: name; address; e–mail address; driver’s license number or any other identification number; medical or disability information; photograph or computer–generated image; Social Security number; and telephone number. “Personal information” does not include an individual’s: driver’s status; driving offenses; five–digit zip code; or information on vehicular accidents. “Police officer” has the meaning stated in § 3–201 of the Public Safety Article. “Political subdivision” means: a county; a municipal corporation; an unincorporated town; a school district; or a special district. “Public record” means the original or any copy of any documentary material that: is made by a unit or an instrumentality of the State or of a political subdivision or received by the unit or instrumentality in connection with the transaction of public business; and is in any form, including: a card; a computerized record; correspondence; a drawing; film or microfilm; a form; a map; a photograph or photostat; a recording; or a tape. “Public record” includes a document that lists the salary of an employee of a unit or an instrumentality of the State or of a political subdivision. “Public record” does not include: a digital photographic image or signature of an individual, or the actual stored data of the image or signature, recorded by the Motor Vehicle Administration; or a record or any information submitted to the Public Access Ombudsman or the Board under Subtitle 1B of this title. “Technical infraction” means a minor rule violation by an individual solely related to the enforcement of administrative rules that: does not involve an interaction between a member of the public and the individual; does not relate to the individual’s investigative, enforcement, training, supervision, or reporting responsibilities; and is not otherwise a matter of public concern.

The State, a political subdivision, or a unit of the State or of a political subdivision may keep only the information about a person that: is needed by the State, the political subdivision, or the unit to accomplish a governmental purpose that is authorized or required to be accomplished under: a statute or any other legislative mandate; an executive order of the Governor; an executive order of the chief executive of a local jurisdiction; or a judicial rule; and is relevant to accomplishment of the purpose.

All persons are entitled to have access to information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees. To carry out the right set forth in subsection (a) of this section, unless an unwarranted invasion of the privacy of a person in interest would result, this title shall be construed in favor of allowing inspection of a public record, with the least cost and least delay to the person or governmental unit that requests the inspection. This title does not preclude a member of the General Assembly from acquiring the names and addresses of and statistical information about individuals who are licensed or, as required by a State law, registered.

Each official custodian shall adopt a policy of proactive disclosure of public records that are available for inspection under this title. The policy adopted under subsection (a) of this section may: vary as appropriate to the type of public record and to reflect the staff and budgetary resources of the governmental unit; and include publication of public records on the website of the governmental unit, to the extent practicable, or publication of prior responses to requests for inspection made under this title.