<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 16.17.05.05" title_num="16" subtitle_num="17" chapter_num="05" heading="Program Monitoring.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Each program certified under these regulations shall be monitored by the Department to determine compliance with these regulations.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The program shall allow the Department to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Meet with staff and clients;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Observe program activities;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Review:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Fiscal information and expenditure of State funds,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Personnel records,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Case records, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Administrative records and policies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Verify reports submitted by the program to the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Monitoring shall be conducted by the Department regularly through announced or unannounced visits.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Monitoring Reports.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department shall issue reports based on the monitoring of the program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the Department determines that a program is not in compliance with these regulations, the Department shall issue a report that describes the areas of noncompliance.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Within 15 days of receipt of the report, the program shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>File with the Department a plan of corrective action which addresses the concerns raised by the report and provides a timetable for compliance; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>File with the Secretary or with the Secretary's designee a protest of the report providing a detailed explanation of why the report of noncompliance is unsubstantiated.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>