<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="2-1003" title_number="2" title_name="Maryland Department of Health" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Prohibition on Discrimination">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary or a unit of the Department has exclusive jurisdiction to enforce by administrative action the laws of the State as provided for under this article and the Health Occupations Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commission on Civil Rights has concurrent jurisdiction with the Secretary or a unit of the Department over alleged discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>When the Secretary or a unit of the Department has exclusive jurisdiction under subsection (a) of this section, the Commission may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Refer complaints about discriminatory practices to the Secretary or the unit of the Department;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Appear before the Secretary or the unit of the Department as a party at a hearing about discriminatory practices;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Make recommendations about discriminatory practices to the Secretary or the unit of the Department;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Represent a complainant in a proceeding authorized under this article or the Health Occupations Article that is related to discriminatory practices; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Appeal as a party aggrieved by an order or decision of the Secretary or the unit of the Department in a proceeding authorized under this article or the Health Occupations Article that is related to discriminatory practices.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Secretary or a unit of the Department shall notify the Commission of any hearing scheduled on a complaint about alleged discriminatory practices.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>On request of the Commission and unless the complainant objects, the Secretary or a unit of the Department shall give the Commission all information regarding any complaint alleging discriminatory practices received by the Secretary or unit of the Department.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Secretary or a unit of the Department and the Commission shall set guidelines for determining when allegations of discriminatory practices in a complaint are sufficient to warrant a hearing.</text>
  </level>
</section>
