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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 14.03.05.05" title_num="14" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="05" heading="Commercial Discrimination or Retaliation Complaint—Filing.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Who May File. Any business entity who claims to have been aggrieved by an act or acts of unlawful commercial discrimination or retaliation prohibited by State Finance and Procurement Article, §§19-101—19-120, Annotated Code of Maryland, may file a complaint with the Commission.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Persons Against Whom Complaint May Be Filed. A complaint may be filed against any business entity that has entered into a contract with the State and is alleged to have engaged in commercial discrimination or retaliation as prohibited by State Finance and Procurement Article, §§19-101—19-120, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Manner of Filing.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A complaint 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>Telephone Initiated Complaints.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A complaint may be initiated by telephone to the Commission.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If a complaint is issued by telephone:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The Commission shall reduce information provided by telephone to writing on the prescribed complaint form; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The Commission shall send the complaint form to the aggrieved person to be signed and affirmed as provided in §E of this regulation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A telephone initiated complaint is considered filed only upon receipt of the signed form or signed writing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>When Filed.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A complaint shall be filed within 4 years after an alleged unlawful commercial discrimination or retaliation practice has occurred or terminated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the alleged commercial discrimination or retaliation is of a continuing nature, the date of the occurrence of the unlawful practice shall be considered to be the date up to and including that date on which the unlawful practice ceased.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A complaint is timely if filed within 4 years of the last alleged occurrence of an unlawful commercial discrimination or retaliation practice.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Form and Content of Complaint.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A complaint shall be in writing and shall be signed and affirmed by the aggrieved person filing the complaint.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The affirmation shall state “I declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Complaint Forms.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A complaint may be filed on a form provided by the Commission.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A complaint form shall be made available to all persons at the Commission in Baltimore, Maryland, or other offices within the State that may be established.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Personnel of the Commission shall render appropriate assistance to a complainant in filling out forms.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Notwithstanding the availability of a Commission form, the Commission shall accept a written statement which substantially sets forth under this section the allegations of commercial discrimination or retaliation practices prohibited under State Finance and Procurement Article, §§19-101—19-120, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Each complaint shall contain substantially the following information:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The name and address of the aggrieved person;</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 to include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A description of the activities constituting the alleged unlawful commercial discrimination or retaliation practice;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Pertinent dates showing that the alleged unlawful practice occurred within the past 4 years; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A statement indicating that the discrimination or retaliation occurred in the State pursuant to State Finance and Procurement Article, §19-107(f)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <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:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Curing technical defects or omissions, including failure to sign or affirm the complaint;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Clarifying and amplifying an allegation made in the complaint;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Joining additional or substitute respondents; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Alleging additional acts that constitute unlawful commercial discrimination or retaliation practices under State Finance and Procurement Article, §§19-101—19-120, Annotated Code of Maryland, and that 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>