<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<chapter num="08" heading="Sanctions" title_num="33" subtitle_num="20">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Penalties.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Late Filing Fee Penalty. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, the State Board shall assess a late filing fee for a failure to file the statement of contributions required under Election Law Article, §14-104, Annotated Code of Maryland, in the same method and manner as prescribed by Election Law Article, §13-331(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Maximum Fee. The maximum fee assessed under §A of this regulation is $1,000.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Retention Penalty. An officer or partner of a business entity doing public business who knowingly and willfully fails to retain records required under Election Law Article, §14-105(g), Annotated Code of Maryland may be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, or both.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Referral for Prosecution.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Show Cause Notice. If the State Board determines that there has been, for more than 30 days, a failure to file a statement of contributions by a person doing public business or that the statement of contributions does not include the information required by Election Law Article, §14-104, Annotated Code of Maryland, the State Board shall issue a notice prescribed in §B of this regulation to the person doing public business.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Contents of the Notice. The notice shall demand that, within 30 days after its issuance of the notice:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The failure to file must be rectified and any late filing fee due be paid; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The person doing public business shall show cause why the State Board should not ask the appropriate prosecuting authority to prosecute the person doing public business for a failure to file.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Delivery. The notice shall be provided:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>By first-class mail; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>To the officer authorized by the person to file the statement of contributions.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Central Collection. In its discretion, the appropriate prosecuting authority may refer the matter for action to the Central Collection Unit within the Department of Budget and Management.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Penalty. A person doing public business who fails, without cause, to file a statement of contributions and pay the late fee within 30 days after the issuance of the notice prescribed in §B is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction subject to the penalties prescribed in of the Election Law Article, §14-107, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4), 14-107, and 14-109, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: February 29, 2016 (43:4 Md. R. 340)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 amended effective February 12, 2018 (45:3 Md. R. 159)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01A, B amended effective July 11, 2022 (49:14 Md. R. 705)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01C adopted effective September 12, 2016 (43:18 Md. R. 1018)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02 adopted effective February 12, 2018 (45:3 Md. R. 159)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>