<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 10.51.07.02" title_num="10" subtitle_num="51" chapter_num="07" heading="Sanctions — Departmental Actions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Deficiency Posing Immediate Jeopardy.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a forensic laboratory’s deficiency poses immediate jeopardy to public safety or individual rights, the Secretary shall take one or more of the actions listed in §A(2) and (3) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Initial Actions. When a deficiency involving immediate jeopardy is first identified, the Secretary shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Require the forensic laboratory to take immediate action to remove the jeopardy; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Impose:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A principal sanction after giving the forensic laboratory at least 24 hours’ notice; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>One or more alternative sanctions.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Follow-up Actions. If the Department finds, in a follow-up audit of a forensic laboratory under an alternative sanction, that the forensic laboratory has not eliminated the immediate jeopardy, the Secretary shall impose a principal sanction after giving the forensic laboratory at least 24 hours’ notice.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Deficiency Not Posing Immediate Jeopardy.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a forensic laboratory’s deficiency does not pose immediate jeopardy to personal or public safety, the Secretary may take one or more of the actions listed in §B(2)—(4) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Initial Actions. When a deficiency is first identified, the Secretary may impose one or more alternative sanctions or a principal sanction.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Unsuccessful Proficiency Testing Participation. If a forensic laboratory exhibits unsuccessful proficiency testing, as set forth in this subtitle, the Secretary may impose the training and technical assistance requirements set forth in Regulation .04 of this chapter as a directed plan of correction, as well as any other sanction.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Follow-up Actions. If the Department finds in a follow-up audit, that a forensic laboratory has not initiated a corrective action for a deficiency within 30 days after the deficiency was identified, the Secretary may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Impose, or continue if already imposed, one or more sanctions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Conduct one or more on-site audits to evaluate progress in the correction of a deficiency; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Conduct an additional follow-up on-site audit to determine whether all corrections have been made.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Duration of a Sanction. A sanction shall remain in force until:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A forensic laboratory corrects the deficiency; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A forensic laboratory’s license is revoked.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Withdrawal of a Sanction.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>General. The Secretary may not withdraw a sanction until the Secretary verifies regulatory compliance with this subtitle.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Credible Allegation of Compliance. When a sanctioned forensic laboratory submits a credible allegation of compliance, the Secretary may determine compliance through one or more of the following ways:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>On the basis of the evidence submitted by the forensic laboratory in the allegation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A follow-up audit to verify whether the forensic laboratory has achieved compliance.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If a forensic laboratory does not correct all deficiencies within 30 days after imposition of a sanction, the Secretary may initiate action to suspend or revoke the license.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>