<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 10.32.16.03" title_num="10" subtitle_num="32" chapter_num="16" heading="Consideration and Disposition.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Consideration.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A petition will be granted whenever the Board or the Board's designee considers issuing a declaratory ruling advisable under the circumstances.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In rendering its ruling, the Board or the Board's designee:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Shall consider all materials submitted with the petition;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>May consider any document, data, or other relevant material;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>May consult individuals;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>May consider comments from the staff; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>May require argument of the question or permit the introduction of evidence by the petitioner or, in the Board's sole discretion, by other persons.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Consideration of the proposed rulings prepared by the Board's designee shall be conducted according to procedures adopted by the Board in each case.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Disposition.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A declaratory ruling issued shall be in writing, stating the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Issue;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Conclusion;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Facts on which the conclusion was based; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Sources relied upon.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A declaratory ruling issued by the Board shall plainly state that it is a declaratory ruling pursuant to this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A written answer from the Board or any employee or committee of the Board to an inquiry is not a declaratory ruling unless made in conformity with this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Publication and Inspection.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Board shall keep a record of each declaratory ruling issued and index all declaratory rulings issued by reference to the statute or regulation involved.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Board may publish declaratory rulings of general interest subject to the mandates of State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 6, Part III, Annotated Code of Maryland, and allow inspection of the declaratory rulings subject to that statute.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Denial. A petition may be denied if the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Request contains incomplete information on which to base an informed declaratory ruling;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Board or the Board's designee concludes that a declaratory ruling cannot reasonably be given on the matter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Matter is adequately covered by a:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Regulation,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Declaratory ruling,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Decision, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Legal opinion;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Matter is the subject of a pending disciplinary proceeding; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The Board or the Board's designee concludes that a ruling would not be in the public interest.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>