<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" citation="COMAR 10.51.02.01" title_num="10" subtitle_num="51" chapter_num="02" heading="Responsibilities of the Department.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Department shall conduct audits, as set forth in this chapter, of forensic laboratories that obtain or retain a license.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Audits. The Department shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Conduct or oversee an announced or unannounced audit of a forensic laboratory, at any time during a forensic laboratory’s hours of operation, to assess compliance with applicable sections of Health-General Article, Title 17, Subtitle 2A, Annotated Code of Maryland, and this subtitle; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Examine, as part of an audit, a forensic laboratory’s facilities, equipment, quality assurance records and procedures, operating procedures, employees, employee records, proficiency testing, results and reports of forensic analyses, and other records and files pertinent and subject to this subtitle.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Issuance of Licensing Documents. The Department shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>License a person to operate a forensic laboratory by issuing a license when the forensic laboratory is in compliance with the applicable standards set forth in this subtitle; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Issue a license that includes the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Name of the forensic laboratory;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Name of the licensee or owner;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Name of the forensic laboratory director;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Expiration date of the license; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Forensic science disciplines and subdisciplines in which the forensic laboratory is authorized to perform forensic analyses.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Administration and Information Management. The Department shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Maintain a list of licensed forensic laboratories;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Document information regarding denial, suspension, or revocation of a license and submit this documentation to the Secretary;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Monitor the proficiency testing performance of a forensic laboratory required to participate in proficiency testing;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Impose alternative sanctions and initiate actions leading to imposition of principal sanctions against a forensic laboratory under the appropriate provisions of this subtitle and Health-General Article, Title 17, Subtitle 2A, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Forensic Laboratory Advisory Committee.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Secretary shall provide staff for the Forensic Laboratory Advisory Committee established by the Governor pursuant to Health-General Article, Title 17, Subtitle 2A, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Forensic Laboratory Advisory Committee:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Shall advise the Secretary on matters relating to forensic laboratories as set forth in Health-General Article, Title 17, Subtitle 2A, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>May make recommendations to the Secretary concerning the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Implementation of the requirements for forensic laboratories set forth in Health-General Article, Title 17, Subtitle 2A, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Regulations required by Health-General Article, Title 17, Subtitle 2A, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Department’s oversight and licensing of forensic laboratories.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>