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<chapter num="07" heading="Decisions of Board" title_num="14" subtitle_num="02">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Written Decision.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The Board shall issue a written decision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>In its written decision, the Board shall refer to any confidential records or information in accordance with COMAR 14.02.06.05.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>A decision of the Board may state that it is unable to resolve the complaint.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The Board shall send a copy of the written decision to the complainant and the affected custodian or applicant.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>The Board may send to any custodian in the State any written decision that will provide the custodian with guidance on compliance with the Act.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>As required by statute, the Attorney General shall post on the website of the Office of the Attorney General all of the Board’s written decisions.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Timing Generally.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Except as provided in Regulation .03 of this chapter, the Board shall issue a written decision within 30 days after receiving the written response, a reply, if filed, and all records or information requested under COMAR 14.02.05.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Except as provided in Regulation .03 of this chapter, if the Board holds an informal conference under COMAR 14.02.04, the Board shall issue a written decision within 30 days after the informal conference.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Statement of Delay.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>If the Board is unable to issue a decision within the time periods specified in Regulation .02 of this chapter, it shall state in writing the reason for its inability to issue a decision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The Board shall issue a decision as soon as possible, but no later than 120 days after the filing of the complaint.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Remedies.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>If the Board finds that a custodian has denied inspection of all or part of a public record in violation of the Act, the Board may order the custodian to produce the public record for inspection.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>If the Board finds that a custodian charged an unreasonable fee or charged an unreasonable estimated fee under General Provisions Article, §4-206, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Board may order the custodian to reduce the fee or estimated fee to an amount the Board determines is reasonable and refund the difference, if applicable.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Remedies for Custodian’s Failure to Respond.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>If the Board finds that a custodian failed to respond to a request for a public record within the time limits established under General Provisions Article, §4-203(a) or (d), Annotated Code of Maryland, the Board may order the custodian to promptly respond.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The Board may order a custodian to waive all or part of the fee that the custodian is entitled to charge under General Provisions Article, §4-206, Annotated Code of Maryland, if:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The Board finds that a custodian failed to respond to a request for a public record within the time limits established under General Provisions Article, §4-203(a) or (d), Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>The Board includes its reasons for ordering the waiver in its written decision.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>If the Board finds that an applicant’s request is frivolous, vexatious, or in bad faith based on the totality of the circumstances, the Board may issue an order authorizing the custodian to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Ignore the request that is the subject of the custodian’s complaint;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Ignore any future requests that are substantially the same as the request that is the subject of the custodian’s complaint; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Respond to a less burdensome version of the request within a time frame that the Board determines is reasonable.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Appeal Rights.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A complainant or custodian may appeal the Board’s decision in accordance with General Provisions, §4-362(a)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>An appeal filed pursuant to §A of this regulation automatically stays the Board’s decision pending the circuit court’s decision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>A party may not appeal a decision of the Board that states that the Board is unable to resolve the complaint.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">General Provisions Article, §§4-1A-04, 4-1A-07, and 4-362(a)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: June 13, 2022 (49:12 Md. R. 641)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>