A party may request the Office’s assistance in resolving a dispute by contacting the Office via telephone, mail, email, or website submission. If possible, an applicant or custodian shall complete the form entitled Request for Mediation Assistance available on the Office website. An applicant or custodian requesting dispute resolution through the Office shall provide the Office with: A copy of the applicant’s written request for public records; The custodian’s 10-day letter, if applicable; The custodian’s final response, if any; and A brief description of the dispute. An applicant or custodian may provide the Office with: Any records produced to the applicant by the custodian; and Any relevant correspondence between the applicant and custodian. Upon the Office’s request, an applicant or custodian may provide the Office with any other documents that the Ombudsman believes may facilitate the mediation process. Upon receipt of all necessary information and documents, and subject to Regulation .05 of this chapter, the Office shall open a file as soon as practicable. The failure of an applicant or custodian who is requesting dispute resolution to provide the Office with the documents identified in §A of this regulation may result in the Office declining to open a file. The Ombudsman may request that the parties enter into a written mediation agreement if, in the Ombudsman’s discretion, such agreement would facilitate the mediation process. Ordinarily, the Ombudsman will handle matters in the order in which a request for dispute resolution is received and the file is opened. The Ombudsman has discretion to handle a matter out of order if there is a compelling reason to do so. Time for Mediation. The Ombudsman has up to 90 days from the date a file is opened with the Office in which to attempt to resolve a dispute and bring a matter to closure. The 90-day deadline may be extended if: An extension is needed and desirable in light of the progress that has already been made to resolve the dispute; An extension is likely to result in the ultimate resolution of the dispute; and The applicant, the custodian, and the Ombudsman agree to the extension and the extension is confirmed in writing. Definitions. In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Repetitive request for dispute resolution” means a request: For the Ombudsman’s assistance to resolve a dispute; That relates to a PIA request that in substance has been the subject of mediation between the same parties through the Office in the past; and For which the dispute is substantially the same. “Significantly changed circumstances” means: A change in the law, subsequent to mediation, that may affect the outcome of the mediation; or A change in the custodian or applicant’s position regarding the dispute. The Ombudsman has discretion to decline to mediate repetitive requests for dispute resolution, absent significantly changed circumstances. The Ombudsman’s mediation process is voluntary for each party. If the applicant or custodian that is the subject of the request for dispute resolution declines to mediate the dispute, the Ombudsman shall, as soon as practicable, issue a final determination as provided in Regulation .11 of this chapter stating that the dispute was not resolved and indicating that mediation was declined. Withdrawing a Request for Dispute Resolution. A party requesting dispute resolution through the Ombudsman may withdraw the request. If a request for dispute resolution is withdrawn after the Office has opened a file, then the Ombudsman shall issue a final determination as provided in Regulation .11 of this chapter stating that the request for dispute resolution was withdrawn. Renewing a Request for Dispute Resolution. A party that has withdrawn a request for dispute resolution through the Ombudsman may renew the request one time. If a party renews the request for dispute resolution and withdraws that request again, the Ombudsman may decline to mediate a second or subsequent renewed request for dispute resolution. The Ombudsman shall read and, consistent with State law, shall abide by the Standards of Conduct for Mediators during the mediation process. The Ombudsman shall remain neutral, impartial, and independent during the mediation process. Conflicts of Interest. The Ombudsman shall disclose to the parties all actual and potential conflicts of interest reasonably known to the Ombudsman. Notwithstanding an actual or potential conflict of interest, the Ombudsman may proceed to attempt to resolve a dispute if: The Ombudsman is able to conduct the mediation in a neutral, impartial, and independent manner; and The applicant and custodian have consented to proceed in writing. If the Ombudsman is unable to proceed in a neutral, impartial, and independent manner, or if the parties have not consented to proceed in light of an actual or potential conflict, then the Ombudsman shall: Withdraw from that mediation; and Issue a final determination as provided in Regulation .11 of this chapter stating that the dispute was not resolved through the Ombudsman due to conflict. If the Ombudsman withdraws from a mediation due to conflict, the Ombudsman may suggest to the parties an alternative dispute resolution resource. In addition to or in lieu of mediation, the Ombudsman may engage in other reasonable efforts to resolve or prevent a dispute or potential dispute, such as by answering questions about the Act, by providing trainings on the Act, and by engaging in preliminary conversations with an applicant or custodian about the subject of a dispute or potential dispute. The Ombudsman may establish written standards of conduct with which the parties will be expected to comply during the mediation process. The Ombudsman shall disclose all written standards of conduct to the parties at the outset of the mediation. A party’s failure to abide by a written standard of conduct may result in termination of the mediation process. The Ombudsman may terminate the mediation process at any time if the Ombudsman determines that mediation will not reasonably lead to resolution of the dispute. In making the decision whether to terminate a mediation, the Ombudsman may consider, among other factors: The duration of the mediation process; The parties’ efforts to resolve the dispute; The Ombudsman’s efforts to resolve the dispute; The likelihood that the parties will change their positions; A party’s failure to abide by the written standards of conduct; A party’s failure to abide by the party’s confidentiality obligations; and A party’s use of the mediation process for purposes of delay or harassment. Upon termination of a mediation, the Ombudsman shall issue a final determination as provided in Regulation .11 of this chapter and, without disclosing confidential mediation communications, indicate the reason why mediation was terminated. If, during the course of attempting to resolve a dispute, a new and distinct dispute related to the same PIA request arises, a new file may be opened pursuant to Regulations .01 and .02 of this chapter. Definitions. In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Not resolved” means that the parties were unable to reach a mutually agreeable resolution of a dispute. “Partially resolved” means that the parties have reached a mutually agreeable resolution as to one or more, but not all, segregable sub-issues within a dispute. “Resolved” means that the parties have reached a mutually agreeable resolution of a dispute. At the conclusion of a mediation, the Ombudsman shall issue a written final determination stating that the dispute has been resolved, partially resolved, or not resolved. The written final determination shall include: The name of the applicant, the name of the custodian, and the Office file number; A brief summary of the matter, including: The date of the PIA request; A description of the records sought; The date of the custodian’s response, if any; and A summary of the custodian’s response, if any; A brief description of the dispute for which dispute resolution was sought; The date and length of an extension, if one was granted; and Notice of PIA Compliance Board procedures and contact information. The Ombudsman shall send the final determination to the relevant applicant and custodian. Board. The Ombudsman does not automatically provide the final determination to the Board. If a complaint is filed with the Board, the Ombudsman may provide the final determination to the Board upon the Board’s request. General Provisions Article, §§4-1B-01—4-1B-04, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: June 17, 2019 (46:12 Md. R. 547) Regulation .01 amended effective September 18, 2023 (50:18 Md. R. 800) Regulation .02 amended effective September 18, 2023 (50:18 Md. R. 800) Regulations .03—.06 repealed and new Regulations .03—.11 adopted effective September 18, 2023 (50:18 Md. R. 800)