<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<chapter num="12" heading="Declaratory Ruling" title_num="10" subtitle_num="01">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" 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>“Declaratory ruling” means a ruling made by a promulgating authority with respect to the manner in which the promulgating authority would apply a regulation or order of the promulgating authority, or a statute that the promulgating authority enforces, to a person or a property based on a given set of facts.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Department” means the Maryland Department of Health.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Person” means:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>An individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, or representative of any kind;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>A partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>A political subdivision of the State or an instrumentality of a political subdivision.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“Promulgating authority” means the promulgating authority's designee or an officer or unit of the Department that is authorized by law to adopt regulations subject to State Government Article, §§10-101—10-139, Annotated Code of Maryland, or adjudicate contested cases subject to State Government Article, §§10-201—10-207, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Petition.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>An interested person may file with the promulgating authority a petition for a declaratory ruling.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Petition for Declaratory Ruling. The petition for a declaratory ruling shall be filed in writing and shall describe in detail:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The interest of the petitioner in making the request;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The issues involved;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A statement of the facts;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>A list of documents or statements the petitioner believes should be considered; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>A sworn statement by the petitioner that the facts contained in the petition are true to the best of the person's knowledge and belief.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Consideration and Disposition.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Consideration and Disposition. The promulgating authority shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Consider the petition and may issue the declaratory ruling requested;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Notify the petitioner in writing of the action decided upon and state the reasons for the decision.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Publication and Inspection.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The promulgating authority shall keep a record of each declaratory ruling issued and index all declaratory rulings issued by reference to statutes or regulations involved.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The promulgating authority may publish declaratory rulings of general interest subject to the mandates of the Public Information Act, State Government Article, §10-601 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland, and allow inspection of the declaratory rulings subject to the Public Information Act.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Appeal.">
    <text>A declaratory ruling is subject to judicial review as provided in State Government Article, §10-305, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">State Government Article, §§10-301—10-305, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: June 15, 1987 (14:12 Md. R. 1350)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Chapter adopted as COMAR 10.01.13 recodified to COMAR 10.01.12</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02C amended effective January 23, 1989 (16:1 Md. R. 69)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03B amended effective January 23, 1989 (16:1 Md. R. 69)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Chapter revised effective April 11, 1994 (21:7 Md. R. 530)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>