<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 19A.01.03.04" title_num="19A" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="03" heading="Complaints.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Complaints from a Person.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A person may file a complaint with the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A complaint filed by a person pursuant to this section shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be written, signed, and under oath;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Allege a violation of General Provisions Article, Title 5, Annotated Code of Maryland, by an official, employee, or any other person subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission as set forth in Regulation .01 of this chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Contain sufficient facts to permit a preliminary investigation to be undertaken.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Commission shall accept for further proceedings any complaint filed by a person pursuant to this section unless the complaint:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Is plainly frivolous; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Does not comply with the requirements of this section.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Complaints by the Commission.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Commission may issue a complaint on its own motion.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Commission may issue a complaint pursuant to this section when:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A preliminary inquiry pursuant to Regulation .03 of this chapter results in sufficient evidence to believe a violation of General Provisions Article, Title 5, Annotated Code of Maryland, may have occurred; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Informal review in connection with an advisory opinion request under COMAR 19A.01.02 discloses information suggesting that past or continuing conduct of an official, employee, or other person subject to General Provisions Article, Title 5, may constitute a violation of General Provisions Article, Title 5.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A Commission complaint shall be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Signed on the Commission's behalf by the Chairman or another member as authorized by the Commission;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Otherwise in the same format as a complaint from any other person as set forth in §A(2) of this regulation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Issued pursuant to action by the Commission taken consistent with the procedures set forth in COMAR 19A.01.01.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Amended Complaints.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Consistent with the requirements of §B of this regulation, the Commission may on its own motion issue an amended complaint in any complaint either accepted or issued pursuant to §A or B of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An amended complaint may be issued based on additional information submitted by a complainant or on information available to the Commission as a result of a preliminary investigation and review as set forth in Regulations .05 and .06 of this chapter, and may either:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Add or delete allegations as justified by the information; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Clarify the allegations of the original complaint.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An amended complaint is subject to the same investigatory, review, and notice procedures as the original complaint.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A copy of any complaint or amended complaint accepted or issued by the Commission pursuant to §§A—C of this regulation shall be served on the respondent as set forth in Regulation .02F of this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>