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<chapter num="09" heading="Correction or Amendment of Public Records" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="01">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <text>This chapter sets out procedures under which a person in interest may request the correction or amendment of public records of the State Department of Education.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" 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>“Act” means the Public Information Act, General Provisions Article, §§4-101—4-601, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Custodian” has the meaning stated in General Provisions Article, §4-101(d), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Department” means the State Department of Education.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“Person in interest” has the meaning stated in General Provisions Article, §4-101(g), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>“Public record” has the meaning stated in General Provisions Article, §4-101(k), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Who May Request.">
    <text>A person in interest may request that the Department correct or amend any public record that:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The Department keeps; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The person in interest is authorized to inspect.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Contents of Request.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A person in interest shall make a request to correct or amend a public record in writing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The request shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Identify the public record to be corrected or amended;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>State the precise correction or amendment requested;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>State the reason for the correction or amendment; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Include a statement that, to the best of the requester’s belief, the public record is inaccurate or incomplete.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Who May Request Public Records.">
    <text>Any person may request to inspect or copy public records of the Department.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Return of Nonconforming Request.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The Department shall accept a request to correct or amend a public record when it is received if it reasonably complies with Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>If the request does not reasonably comply with Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter, the Department shall return the request to the requester with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>An explanation of the reason for the return; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A statement that, on receipt of a request that reasonably complies with Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter, the request will be accepted.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" heading="Contents of Written Request.">
    <text>A written request shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Contain the applicant's contact information; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Reasonably identify, by brief description, the public record sought.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" heading="Response to Refusal of Request—Statement of Disagreement.">
    <text>If the Department refuses to make a requested correction or amendment, a person in interest may file with the Department a concise statement of the reasons for:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The requested correction or amendment; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The person’s disagreement with the refusal of the Department to make the correction or amendment.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" heading=". Requirements for Statement of Disagreement.">
    <text>The statement submitted under Regulation .08 of this chapter shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Be on pages not larger than 8-1/2 by 11 inches;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Use only one side of each page; and</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".10" heading="Disclosure of Statement of Disagreement.">
    <text>If a person in interest files a statement of disagreement concerning a public record under Regulations .08 and .09 of this chapter, the Department shall provide a copy of the statement whenever the Department discloses the public record to a third party.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".11" heading="Administrative Review.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A person may request administrative review under this regulation if the Department:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Has refused the person’s request to correct or amend a public record under Regulation .07 of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Has rejected the person’s statement of disagreement under Regulation .08 of this chapter; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Has not provided a statement of disagreement to a third party under Regulation .10 of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A request for review shall be filed with the State Superintendent within 30 days after the requester is advised of the Department’s action.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The review proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">General Provisions Article, §4-502, Annotated Code of Maryland;</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: July 24, 2023 (50:14 Md. R. 594)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>