<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 14.01.01.05" title_num="14" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="01" heading="Public Comment Procedures.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Public Oral Comments for a Board Meeting.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A member of the public may register to provide oral comments at a Board meeting by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Submitting a written notice that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Contains the individual’s name and email address or phone number;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Identifies whether the individual is affiliated with or commenting on behalf of an organization, agency, employer, or other entity; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Identifies the agenda item the individual wishes to address; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Submitting the written notice to the Board at least 2 work days before the scheduled meeting.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Oral comments shall be made to the Board in open session.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Public Written Comment Procedures.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>General Procedures.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Unless expressly exempted, these provisions apply to all written public comments.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Except as provided in §B(5) of this regulation, a member of the public may submit written comments to the Board by email, courier, or postal service.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An individual submitting comments on behalf of an organization, agency, employer, or other entity shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Submit the comments on the letterhead of the organization, agency, employer, or other entity; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Disclose in writing the organization, agency, employer, or other entity with which the individual is affiliated;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Written comments received by the date prescribed by regulation or set by the Board will be:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Shared with the Board;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Where applicable, made part of the record on the issue or matter before the Board where applicable; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Posted on the Board’s website.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Board staff shall redact sociological information prior to posting the written comments on the Board website.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Public Written Comments for a Board Meeting.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A member of the public may submit written comments concerning any agenda item of the Board or any decision pending before the Board in accordance with the procedures in §B(1) and (5) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Written comments received more than 2 work days before the scheduled Board meeting will be shared with the Board prior to the Board meeting.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Written comments received less than 2 work days before the scheduled Board meeting will be shared with the Board and posted on the Board’s website after the scheduled meeting.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Written comments received less than 2 work days before the scheduled Board meeting may be considered at the next Board meeting if the issue, matter, or decision is still pending.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Public Written Comments Authorized by Regulation.  If a regulation expressly provides for public written comment, a member of the public may submit written comments to the Board within the time period prescribed by regulation in accordance with the procedures in §B(1) and (5) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Public Written Comments Requested by the Board. If the Board requests public comment by posting notice of the request and a due date on its website, a member of the public may submit written comments to the Board within the time period prescribed by the notice in accordance with the procedures in §B(1) and (5) this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Public Written Comments Containing Confidential, Trade-Secret, and Proprietary Information.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A member of the public that wishes to submit written comments or attachments to written comments that contain confidential, trade-secret, and proprietary information shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Redact the specific information the person considers to be confidential, trade-secret, or proprietary from the written comments and attachments;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Submit a form certifying that the redacted information is not otherwise publicly available and has been handled and maintained to preserve its confidential, trade-secret, or proprietary nature;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Submit the redacted comments and attachments to the Board by email, courier, or postal service; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Submit the unredacted comments and attachments to the Board in paper form using a tracked common carrier, courier, or postal service, or electronically using secure file transfer.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Board and Board staff shall use, protect, and manage written comments and attachments containing confidential, trade-secret, and proprietary information in compliance with Regulation .04 of this chapter and Health-General Article, §§21-2C-03 and 21-2C-10, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>