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<chapter num="04" heading="Correction of Personal Records" title_num="16" subtitle_num="03">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Purpose.">
    <text>This chapter sets out procedures for requesting the correction of personal records under State Government Article, §10-625, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Custodian” has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §10-611, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Personal record” has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §10-624, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Person in interest” has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §10-611, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Request Authorized.">
    <text>A person in interest may request the Department to correct inaccurate or incomplete information in any public record of the Department that the person in interest is authorized to inspect.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Form and Contents of Request.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Form. The request shall be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>In writing; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Filed with:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The custodian of the record; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>If the custodian is unknown to the person in interest, the Secretary.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Contents. The request shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Contain the name, address, and telephone number of the person requesting the correction;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Identify the personal records sought to be corrected;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Specify the precise correction sought; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>State the reason for the correction.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Return of Incomplete Request.">
    <text>If a request does not reasonably comply with Regulation .04 of this chapter, it shall be returned to the person with an explanation of the reason for the return and a statement that, on completion, it may be refiled with the Department.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Response to Request.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. Within 30 days after receiving a request that complies with Regulation .04 of this chapter, the custodian shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Make or refuse to make the requested correction; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Notify the person in writing of the action taken.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>If Refused.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>If the custodian refuses to make the requested correction, the notice shall inform the person of the reason for the refusal.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The notice shall specify whether the refusal is because:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The person is not a person in interest;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>The records sought to be corrected are not personal records;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>The records sought to be corrected are not of the type the person is authorized to inspect;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>The records are correct as they stand; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(e)">
          <text>Of any other reason authorized by law.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" heading="Statement of Disagreement.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. On receipt of a refusal under Regulation .06B of this chapter, the person in interest may submit to the custodian a concise statement of the reasons for:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The requested correction; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The person's disagreement with the refusal to make the correction.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Form of Statement.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The statement of disagreement may not exceed five pages.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The pages may not exceed 81/2" × 11" each.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Only one side of a page may be used for the statement.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" heading="Information Provided Third Parties.">
    <text>When the Department discloses to a third party information about which a statement of disagreement has been filed in compliance with Regulation .07 of this chapter, a copy of the statement shall also be provided to that third party.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" heading="Administrative Review.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Authorized. A person may seek administrative review of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A denial of the person's request under this chapter to correct a record;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A denial of the person's right to submit a statement of disagreement; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A failure to provide a copy of a statement of disagreement to a third party, as required by Regulation .08 of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Time for Requesting. A request for administrative review shall be filed within 30 days of the date the person first learns of the denial or failure in question.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Proceedings. The administrative review shall be conducted as provided in State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 16.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Human Services Article, §9-204; State Government Article, §10-625; Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: June 18, 2007 (34:12 Md. R. 1067)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>