<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 14.03.01.03" title_num="14" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="01" heading="Complaint Filing.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Who May File.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Any person or organization whose membership includes any person or persons, who claim to have been aggrieved by an act or acts of unlawful discrimination prohibited by State Government Article, Title 20, Annotated Code of Maryland, may file a complaint with the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Commission may file a complaint in accordance with State Government Article, Title 20, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Manner of Filing.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Complaints shall be filed at the offices of the Commission in person, by registered, certified, or regular mail, facsimile or other electronic media, or by delivery to any duly appointed representative of the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Complaints Initiated by Telephone.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Complaints may be initiated by telephone to the Commission.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If a complaint is initiated by telephone, the Commission shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Reduce information provided by telephone to writing on the prescribed complaint form; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Send the complaint form to the aggrieved person to be signed and affirmed as provided in §D of this regulation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A telephone-initiated complaint is considered filed only upon receipt of the form or a signed writing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>When Filed.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Individual complaints, except those involving allegations of housing discrimination, shall be filed within 6 months from the date of the occurrence of the alleged unlawful discrimination.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the alleged unlawful discrimination practice is of a continuing nature, the date of the occurrence of this unlawful discrimination is considered to be any date up to and including that date on which the unlawful practice shall have ceased.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An individual complaint filed with a federal or a local commission within the 6-month period required under §C(1) of this regulation shall be deemed as being a timely filing in compliance with that requirement.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Form and Content of Complaint.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The original complaint and two additional copies shall be signed and affirmed by the complainant or, if the complaint is filed by the Commission, in accordance with Regulation .11 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An individual complaint may be filed on a form provided by the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Complaint forms will be made available to all persons at the office of the Commission in Baltimore, Maryland or other offices within the State which may be established.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Appropriate assistance in filling out forms will be rendered to complainants or to persons filing on behalf of a complainant, by personnel of the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Complaints filed on forms provided by other local commissions, including federal civil rights agencies, shall be considered complaints filed with the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Notwithstanding the requirement for using a required form, the Commission will accept a written statement which substantially sets forth the allegations of a discriminatory practice under State Government Article, Title 20, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Each complaint shall contain substantially the following information:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The name and address of the complainant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The name and address of the respondent; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A concise statement of facts including pertinent dates, constituting the alleged discriminatory practice.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Amendment of Complaint.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A complaint may be reasonably and fairly amended at any time.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The amendments may include but are not limited to amendments to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Cure technical defects or omissions, including failure to sign or affirm the complaint;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Clarify and amplify any allegation made in the complaint;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Join additional or substitute respondents; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Allege additional acts which constitute discriminatory practices under State Government Article, Title 20, Annotated Code of Maryland, which relate back to or grow out of the subject matter of the original complaint.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>All amendments shall relate back to the original filing date.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>