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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 09.12.51.07" title_num="09" subtitle_num="12" chapter_num="51" heading="Utilization of Standards.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Central Data Base.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department shall establish an automated central data base which shall contain or provide a link to access the following information:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Standards;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Local amendments;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>State Fire Prevention Code and amendments to the State Fire Prevention Code promulgated by the State Fire Prevention Commission, or the State Fire Prevention Commission's successor;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The fire codes adopted by the local jurisdictions and any amendments to them;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The electrical code required under Public Safety Article, §12-603, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Local amendments to the electrical code required under Public Safety Article, §12-603, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Local code provisions that are more restrictive than the IECC as modified in Regulation .04 of this chapter and the energy code defined under Public Utilities Article, §7-401, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>The Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Local amendments to the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Department may compile and include in the central data base:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Any information provided by the local jurisdiction on the implementation and interpretation of the Standards by the local jurisdiction;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Interim amendments to the IBC and IRC, including subsequent printing of the most recent edition; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Any other information the Department determines is relevant to the construction or rehabilitation of buildings and structures in the State.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Software.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Department shall be responsible for the development and distribution among the local jurisdictions of software related to the operation of the central data base.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Any software developed by or on behalf of the Department shall be owned by the Department, or the developer of the software.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Neither the local jurisdiction nor any other user acquires any proprietary right in any of the ICC copyrighted material or ICC trademark contained in the software.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Voluntary Dispute Resolution.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Upon the written request of a local jurisdiction and any person aggrieved by the Standards or any local amendments to them, the Codes Administration shall conduct an informal mediation or conciliation with the local jurisdiction and any person aggrieved by the Standards or any local amendments to them.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The aggrieved person and the local jurisdiction shall each submit to the Codes Administration a written statement of the dispute and include any related material either party feels is appropriate. In addition to the written statement, either party may request a meeting with the other party and the Codes Administration to discuss the dispute.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Within the latter to occur of 30 days of receipt of both statements of the disputed and any related material, or 30 days after a meeting conducted in accordance with §B(2) of this regulation, the Director of the Codes Administration shall issue a decision on behalf of the Department regarding resolution of the dispute.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Within 15 days of the date of the decision of the Director of the Codes Administration, either party may appeal to the Secretary of the Department or the Secretary's designee, in writing. The Secretary of the Department or the Secretary's designee shall respond to the appeal within 15 days of receipt of the appeal.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Neither a decision by the Codes Administration nor the Department under §B(3) or (4) of this regulation shall constitute a contested case proceeding under the Maryland Administrative Procedure Act and is not subject to the provisions of COMAR 09.01.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>