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<chapter num="16" heading="Petition for Declaratory Ruling" title_num="10" subtitle_num="44">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <text>These regulations govern the State Board of Dental Examiners and a petitioner for a declaratory ruling.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Board” means the State Board of Dental Examiners.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Person” means an individual, an agency, an association, a corporation, or any other entity.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Petition.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>An interested person may file with the Board a petition for a declaratory ruling with respect to the manner in which the Board would apply a statute, a regulation, or an order that the Board enforces to a particular case based on the facts presented in the petition.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The petition for a declaratory ruling shall be filed in writing on a form provided by the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The petition shall contain a statement describing in detail the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Interest of the petitioner in making a request;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Issue involved;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Facts to be considered; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Documents or statements, or both, to be considered.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The petition shall contain 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 num="E.">
      <text>Within 60 days after receipt of the petition, the Board shall inform the petitioner whether the petition will be granted.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>If the petition is denied, the Board shall inform the petitioner in writing of the reasons for denial.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>If the petition is granted, the Board or its designee shall inform the petitioner of the date on which the Board will issue the declaratory ruling.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Consideration and Disposition.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A petition will be granted unless the Board or its designee considers a declaratory ruling inadvisable due to considerations listed in §H of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>In rendering its ruling, the Board or its designee:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Shall consider all materials submitted with the petition;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>May consider any document, data, or other relevant material;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>May consult individuals;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>May consider comments from the staff; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>May require argument of the question or permit the introduction of evidence.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>A declaratory ruling issued shall be in writing, stating the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Issue;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Conclusion;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Facts upon which the conclusion was based; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Sources relied upon.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>A declaratory ruling issued by the Board shall plainly state that it is a declaratory ruling made pursuant to these regulations.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>A written answer from the Board or any employee of the Board to an inquiry may not be construed as a declaratory ruling unless made in conformity with these regulations.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>The Board shall keep a record of each declaratory ruling issued and index all declaratory rulings issued by reference to statute or regulation involved.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>The Board 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 num="H.">
      <text>A petition may be denied if the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Request contains incomplete information upon which to base an informed declaratory ruling;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Board or its 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>Prior 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; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Board or its designee concludes that a ruling would not be in the public interest.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Effect, Revision, and Appeal.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A declaratory ruling shall be binding upon the Board and the petitioner on the statement of facts covered in the declaratory ruling and set forth in the petition.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A petitioner may apply for revision of a declaratory ruling.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The petitioner's application for revision of the declaratory ruling shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Be filed within 10 days after the issuance of the declaratory ruling;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>State the grounds for the revision; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Stay enforcement of the declaratory ruling until disposition.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Upon receipt of the application, the Board may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Reopen the declaratory ruling to receive additional information;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Amend its ruling or its statement of reasons for the ruling;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Set forth additional findings or reasons; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Enter new findings, new reasons, or a new ruling.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>The Board shall grant or deny the application for revision within 45 days of its receipt.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>The Board may exercise revisory power and control over the declaratory ruling in the case of fraud, mistake, or irregularity.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>A declaratory ruling is subject to review as provided in State Government Article, §10-305, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">State Government Article, §§10-304 and 10-305, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: February 19, 1990 (17:3 Md. R. 300)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>