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<chapter num="02" heading="Correction or Amendment of Public Records" title_num="02" subtitle_num="06">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <text>This chapter sets out procedures under which a person in interest may request the correction or amendment of public records of the Office of the Attorney General.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Act” means the Public Information Act, General Provisions Article, §§4-101—4-601, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Custodian” has the meaning stated in General Provisions Article, §4-101(d), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Office” means the Office of the Attorney General.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“Person in interest” has the meaning stated in General Provisions Article, §4-101(g), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>“Public record” has the meaning stated in General Provisions Article, §4-101(k), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Who May Request.">
    <text>A person in interest may request that the Office correct or amend any public record that:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The Office keeps; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The person in interest is authorized to inspect.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Contents of Request.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A person in interest shall make a request to correct or amend a public record in writing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The request shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Identify the public record to be corrected or amended;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>State the precise correction or amendment requested;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>State the reason for the correction or amendment; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Include a statement that, to the best of the requester's belief, the public record is inaccurate or incomplete.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Addressee.">
    <text>A request to correct or amend a public record shall be addressed to the custodian of the record. If the custodian is unknown, the request may be addressed to the Attorney General.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Return of Nonconforming Request.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The Office shall accept a request to correct or amend a public record when it is received if it reasonably complies with Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>If the request does not reasonably comply with Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter, the Office shall return the request to the requester with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>An explanation of the reason for the return; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A statement that, on receipt of a request that reasonably complies with Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter, the request will be accepted.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" heading="Response to Request.">
    <text>Within 30 days after the Office receives a request for correction or amendment that reasonably complies with Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter, the custodian shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Make the requested correction or amendment, and inform the requester in writing of the action; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Inform the requester in writing that the Office will not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Make the requested correction or amendment, and the reason for the refusal; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Act on the request because:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The requester is not a person in interest;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>The requester is not authorized to inspect the record; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Of any other reason authorized by law.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" heading="Response to Refusal of Request—Statement of Disagreement.">
    <text>If the Office refuses to make a requested correction or amendment, a person in interest may file with the Office a concise statement of the reasons for:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The requested correction or amendment; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The person's disagreement with the refusal of the Office to make the correction or amendment.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" heading="Requirements for Statement of Disagreement.">
    <text>The statement submitted under Regulation .08 of this chapter shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Be on pages not larger than 8-1/2 × 11 inches;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Use only one side of each page; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Consist of not more than five pages.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".10" heading="Disclosure of Statement of Disagreement.">
    <text>If a person in interest files a statement of disagreement concerning a public record under Regulations .08 and .09 of this chapter, the Office shall provide a copy of the statement whenever the Office discloses the public record to a third party.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".11" heading="Administrative Review.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A person may request administrative review under this regulation if the Office:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Has refused the person's request to correct or amend a public record under Regulation .07 of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Has rejected the person's statement of disagreement under Regulation .08 of this chapter; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Has not provided a statement of disagreement to a third party under Regulation .10 of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A request for review shall be filed with the Attorney General within 30 days after the requester is advised of the Office’s action.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The review proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">General Provisions Article, §4-502, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: August 18, 2003 (30:16 Md. R. 1073)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .2B amended effective May 30, 2022 (49:11 Md. R. 609)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .11B amended effective May 30, 2022 (49:11 Md. R. 609)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>