<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" citation="COMAR 22.01.02.08" title_num="22" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="02" heading="Fees.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Fee Schedule for Certifying and Copying a Public Record.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If the public records are susceptible to photocopying, the charge for each copy of a document is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>25 cents per page for copies made on a photocopying machine within the Retirement Agency offices; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Based on actual costs of reproduction if the copies could not be made on a photocopying machine within the Retirement Agency offices.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the public records are not susceptible to photocopying, for example, diskettes, magnetic cartridges, magnetic tapes, drawings, maps, blueprints, microfilm, or photographs, the fee for copies will be based on the actual costs of reproduction.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the public record requested to be reproduced is more than 25 pages, the Agency custodian shall charge a $3.50 per hour photocopying processing fee in addition to the per page fee.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If an applicant requests that a copy of a public record be certified as a true copy, the Agency custodian shall charge an additional fee of $1 per record.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If the Agency custodian is required to provide a computer printout, the charge for the printout shall include all related expenses associated with the time expended to produce the computer printout.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Search, Review, and Preparation Fees.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Except as provided in §B(6)(b) of this regulation, the Agency custodian may charge reasonable fees for the time that an official or employee of the Agency, or an employee of the Office of the Attorney General on behalf of the Agency, spends to search for public records and review and prepare them for inspection and copying, in addition to the cost for reproduction.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Agency custodian may not charge a fee for the first 2 hours that are needed to search for a public record and prepare it for inspection.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The Agency custodian shall determine the search, review, and preparation fees by multiplying the employee’s salary, prorated to an hourly basis, by the actual time attributable to the search for, review of, and preparation of public records for inspection and copying.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Payment of Fees.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Agency custodian shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Estimate the cost of reproduction, including any search fee; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Advise the applicant of the estimated costs.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Before reproducing a public record, the Agency custodian shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Obtain the written agreement of the applicant that the cost shall be paid; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Request prepayment of the estimated fee before reproducing the public record.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Subject to §C of this regulation, the Agency custodian shall provide the requested and completed copies and printouts only on:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Payment of all applicable fees by the applicant; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If an applicant requests transmittal of the copies by mail or delivery to the applicant, payment of or written agreement to pay the cost of postage or delivery.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The Executive Director may waive or reduce any fee charged under this regulation, on request, if the Executive Director determines that the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Item requested is promotional in nature, is routinely distributed to the public, or may be reproduced free of charge;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Applicant is indigent and files an affidavit verifying facts that support a claim of indigency; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Waiver or reduction is in the public interest based upon relevant factors including the applicant’s ability to pay the fee.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>