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<section article="ggp" article_name="General Provisions" number="4-203" title_number="4" title_name="Public Information Act" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Inspection of Public Records">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the custodian shall grant or deny the application promptly, but not more than 30 days after receiving the application.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The custodian shall grant or deny an application that is the subject of § 4–356 of this title not more than 50 days after receiving the application.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A custodian who approves the application shall produce the public record immediately or within a reasonable period that is needed to retrieve the public record, but not more than 30 days after receipt of the application.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the custodian reasonably believes that it will take more than 10 working days to produce the public record, the custodian shall indicate in writing or by electronic mail within 10 working days after receipt of the request:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the amount of time that the custodian anticipates it will take to produce the public record;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>an estimate of the range of fees that may be charged to comply with the request for public records; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the reason for the delay.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Failure to produce the public record in accordance with this subsection constitutes a denial of an application that may not be considered the result of a bona fide dispute unless the custodian has complied with paragraph (2) of this subsection and is working with the applicant in good faith.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A custodian who denies the application shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>within 10 working days, give the applicant a written statement that gives:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the reasons for the denial;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>if inspection is denied under § 4–343 of this title:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>a brief explanation of why the denial is necessary; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>an explanation of why redacting information would not address the reasons for the denial;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>the legal authority for the denial;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>without disclosing the protected information, a brief description of the undisclosed record that will enable the applicant to assess the applicability of the legal authority for the denial; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>notice of the remedies under this title for review of the denial; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>allow inspection of any part of the record that is subject to inspection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A custodian may not ignore an application to inspect public records on the grounds that the application was intended for purposes of harassment.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Any time limit imposed under this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>with the consent of the applicant, may be extended for not more than 30 days; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>if the applicant or custodian seeks resolution of a dispute under Subtitle 1A or 1B of this title, shall be extended pending resolution of that dispute.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
