<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 02.05.01.05" title_num="02" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="01" heading="Public Access to Documents.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Any person may request to inspect or copy all or part of an application or documents generated upon review of an application.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Unless it conflicts with this chapter or State Government Article, Title 6.5, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 6, Annotated Code of Maryland applies to public access to the application or documents generated upon review of an application, including provisions concerning judicial review of a denial of access.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>General Rule of Confidentiality and Nondisclosure. Except as provided in §D or E of this regulation or otherwise by law, all information and documents gathered by or filed with the Attorney General pursuant to an application, investigation, or examination under this chapter are:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Confidential;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Not subject to subpoena; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Not to be made public by the Attorney General or any other party.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Waiver by Written Consent of Person to Which the Material Relates. If the person to whom the material relates gives prior written consent by delivery in a form considered acceptable by the Attorney General, the material may be made public.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Attorney General's Discretion to Disclose. After giving the applicant notice and an opportunity to be heard, if the Attorney General determines that disclosure is in the interest of the stockholders of the transferor or the public, the Attorney General may disclose all or part of material otherwise confidential under §C of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Process for Requesting Access.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A request to inspect or copy materials shall be in writing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The request shall be directed to the Attorney General.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The request shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Contain the requestor's name and address;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Be signed by the requestor; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Contain a brief description of the information sought.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If the Attorney General grants a request for inspection or copying, the materials shall be produced within a reasonable period not to exceed 30 days from the date of the receipt of the request.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If the Attorney General denies the request in whole or in part, the denial shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be mailed within 30 days from the date of the receipt of the request; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>State the reasons for the denial.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>With the consent of the requestor, any time limit imposed in this process may be extended for an additional period.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Fee for Copying Materials. The Attorney General may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Charge a reasonable fee per page of material copied comparable to fees currently charged by other agencies for copies provided under the State Government Article, §10-621, Annotated Code of Maryland; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Waive the fee if the Attorney General decides that waiver of the fee is in the public interest.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Judicial Review. The requestor may seek judicial review of a decision by the Attorney General to deny access to materials, but, unless otherwise ordered by a court, the appeal may not delay action upon the application for conversion.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>