<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 16.02.04.04" title_num="16" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="04" heading="Hearing by Telephone or Other Electronic Means.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In General.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary may conduct all or part of the hearing by telephone, video conference, or other electronic means, if each participant in the hearing has an opportunity to participate in, hear, and (for video means) see the entire proceeding.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>On objection for good cause, the hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the alternatives specified in State Government Article, §10-211(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Rights Unaffected. All substantive and procedural rights apply to telephone, video conference, or other electronic hearings, subject only to the limitations of the physical arrangement.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Documentary Evidence. For a hearing conducted by electronic means, documentary evidence to be offered must be delivered by the proponent to all parties and the Secretary at least 1 day before the hearing.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Default. For a hearing conducted by electronic means, the following may be considered as a failure to appear and grounds for default, if the condition exists for more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start of the hearing:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Failure to answer telephone;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Failure to free telephone for a hearing;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Failure to be present in the designated video or audio hearing room; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Any other failure to be ready to proceed with the hearing as scheduled.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>