reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-204 - Duties

    (a)    The Board shall:        (1)    receive, review, and, subject to § 3–207 of this subtitle, resolve complaints from any person alleging a violation of this title; and        (2)    issue a written opinion as to whether a violation has occurred.    (b)    The Board shall receive and review any complaint alleging a prospective violation of this title as provided under § 3–212 of this subtitle.    (c)    The Board shall:        (1)    study ongoing compliance with this title by public bodies; and        (2)    make recommendations to the General Assembly for improvements in this title.    (d)    The Board, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General and other interested organizations or persons, shall develop and conduct educational programs and distribute educational materials on the requirements of the open meetings law for the staffs and attorneys of:        (1)    public bodies;        (2)    the Maryland Municipal League;        (3)    the Maryland Association of Counties; and        (4)    the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.    (e)    (1)    On or before October 1 of each year, the Board shall submit an annual report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.        (2)    The report shall:            (i)    describe the activities of the Board;            (ii)    describe the opinions of the Board;            (iii)    state the number and nature of complaints filed with the Board and discuss complaints that reasonable notice of a meeting was not given;            (iv)    identify the provisions of this title that the Board has found a public body to have violated and the number of times each provision has been violated;            (v)    identify each public body that the Board has found to have violated a provision of this title; and            (vi)    recommend any improvements to this title.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-205 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-205 - Complaint

    (a)    Any person may file a written complaint with the Board seeking a written opinion from the Board on the application of this title to the action of a public body covered by this title.    (b)    The complaint shall:        (1)    identify the public body that is the subject of the complaint;        (2)    describe the action of the public body, the date of the action, and the circumstances of the action; and        (3)    be signed by the complainant.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-206 - Receipt of Complaint; Response

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, on receipt of the written complaint, the Board promptly shall:        (1)    send the complaint to the public body identified in the complaint; and        (2)    request that a response to the complaint be sent to the Board.    (b)    (1)    The public body shall file a written response to the complaint within 30 days after it receives the complaint.        (2)    On request of the Board, the public body shall include with its written response to the complaint a copy of:            (i)    the notice provided under § 3–302 of this title;            (ii)    any written statement made under § 3–305(d)(2)(ii) of this title; and            (iii)    the minutes and any recording made by the public body under § 3–306 of this title.        (3)    The Board shall maintain the confidentiality of the minutes and any recording submitted by a public body that are sealed in accordance with § 3–306(c)(3)(ii) of this title.    (c)    (1)    If the public body identified in the complaint no longer exists, the Board promptly shall send the complaint to the official or entity that appointed the public body.        (2)    The official or entity that appointed the public body shall comply, to the extent feasible, with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.    (d)    If a written response is not received within 45 days after the notice is sent, the Board shall decide the case on the facts before the Board.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-207 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-207 - Review and Written Opinion by Board

    (a)    (1)    The Board shall review the complaint and any response.        (2)    If the information in the complaint and response is sufficient for making a determination, within 30 days after receiving the response the Board shall issue a written opinion as to whether a violation of this title has occurred or will occur.    (b)    (1)    If the Board is unable to reach a determination based on the written submissions before it, the Board may schedule an informal conference to hear from the complainant, the public body, or any other person with relevant information about the subject of the complaint.        (2)    An informal conference scheduled by the Board is not a contested case within the meaning of § 10–202(d) of the State Government Article.        (3)    The Board shall issue a written opinion within 30 days after the informal conference.    (c)    (1)    If the Board is unable to render an opinion on a complaint within the time periods specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the Board shall:            (i)    state in writing the reason for its inability to render an opinion; and            (ii)    issue an opinion as soon as possible but not later than 90 days after the filing of the complaint.        (2)    An opinion of the Board may state that the Board is unable to resolve the complaint.    (d)    The Board shall send a copy of the written opinion to the complainant and the affected public body.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-208 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-208 - Distribution of Opinions

    (a)    The Board may send to any public body in the State any written opinion that will provide the public body with guidance on compliance with this title.    (b)    On request, the Board shall provide a copy of a written opinion to any person.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-209 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-209 - Opinions Are Advisory Only

    The opinions of the Board are advisory only.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-210 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-210 - Limit on Authority of Board

    Except as provided in § 3–211 of this subtitle, the Board may not require or compel any specific actions by a public body.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-211 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-211 - Announcement of Violation; Summary of Opinion

    (a)    This section does not apply to a public body that is:        (1)    in the Judicial Branch of State government; or        (2)    subject to governance by rules adopted by the Court of Appeals.    (b)    If the Board determines that a violation of this title has occurred:        (1)    at the next open meeting of the public body after the Board has issued its opinion, a member of the public body shall announce the violation and orally summarize the opinion; and        (2)    a majority of the members of the public body shall sign a copy of the opinion and return the signed copy to the Board.    (c)    The public body may not designate its counsel or another representative to provide the announcement and summary.    (d)    Compliance by a public body or a member of a public body with subsections (b) and (c) of this section:        (1)    is not an admission to a violation of this title by the public body; and        (2)    may not be used as evidence in a proceeding conducted in accordance with § 3–401 of this title.    (e)    If the Board determines that a public body has violated a provision of this title, the Board shall post on the Maryland Open Meetings Act page of the Office of the Attorney General website the name of the public body and the opinion that describes the violation.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-212 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-212 - Complaint Process for Prospective Violation

    (a)    On receipt of an oral or written complaint by any person that a meeting required to be open under this title will be closed in violation of this title, the Board, acting through its chair, a designated Board member, or any authorized staff person available to the Board, may contact the public body to determine the nature of the meeting that will be held and the reason for the expected closure of the meeting.    (b)    When at least two members of the Board conclude that a violation of this title may occur if the closed meeting is held, the person acting for the Board immediately shall inform the public body of the potential violation and any lawful means that are available for conducting its meeting to achieve the purposes of the public body.    (c)    The person acting for the Board shall inform the person who filed the complaint under subsection (a) of this section of the result of any effort to achieve compliance with this title under subsection (b) of this section.    (d)    The person acting for the Board shall file a written report with the Board describing the complaint, the effort to achieve compliance, and the results of the effort.    (e)    The filing of a complaint under subsection (a) of this section and action by a person acting for the Board under subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section may not prevent or bar the Board from considering and acting on a written complaint filed in accordance with § 3–205 of this subtitle.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-213 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 2 - State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board|Section 3-213 - Required Training

    (a)    This section does not apply to a public body that is:        (1)    in the Judicial Branch of State government; or        (2)    subject to governance by rules adopted by the Court of Appeals.    (b)    Each public body shall designate at least one individual who is an employee, an officer, or a member of the public body to receive training on the requirements of the open meetings law.    (c)    Within 90 days after being designated under subsection (b) of this section, an individual shall complete a class on the open meetings law.    (d)    (1)    This subsection applies only to a public body that meets in a closed session on or after October 1, 2017.        (2)    A public body may not meet in a closed session unless the public body has designated at least one member of the public body to receive training on the requirements of the open meetings law.        (3)    (i)    Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, at least one individual designated under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be present at each open meeting of the public body.            (ii)    If an individual designated under paragraph (2) of this subsection cannot be present at an open meeting of the public body, the public body shall complete the Compliance Checklist for Meetings Subject to the Maryland Open Meetings Act developed by the Office of the Attorney General and include the completed checklist in the minutes for the meeting.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-301 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 3 - Open Meetings Requirements|Section 3-301 - Open Sessions Generally Required

    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this title, a public body shall meet in open session.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-302 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 3 - Open Meetings Requirements|Section 3-302 - Notice

    (a)    Before meeting in a closed or open session, a public body shall give reasonable advance notice of the session.    (b)    Whenever reasonable, a notice under this section shall:        (1)    be in writing;        (2)    include the date, time, and place of the session; and        (3)    if appropriate, include a statement that a part or all of a meeting may be conducted in closed session.    (c)    A public body may give the notice under this section as follows:        (1)    if the public body is a unit of State government, by publication in the Maryland Register;        (2)    by delivery to representatives of the news media who regularly report on sessions of the public body or the activities of the government of which the public body is a part;        (3)    if the public body previously has given public notice that this method will be used:            (i)    by posting or depositing the notice at a convenient public location at or near the place of the session; or            (ii)    by posting the notice on an Internet website ordinarily used by the public body to provide information to the public; or        (4)    by any other reasonable method.    (d)    A public body shall keep a copy of a notice provided under this section for at least 1 year after the date of the session.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-302.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 3 - Open Meetings Requirements|Section 3-302.1 - Availability of Agenda to Public

    (a)    (1)    Subject to subsection (b) of this section, before meeting in an open session, a public body shall make available to the public an agenda:            (i)    containing known items of business or topics to be discussed at the portion of the meeting that is open; and            (ii)    indicating whether the public body expects to close any portion of the meeting in accordance with § 3–305 of this subtitle.        (2)    If an agenda has been determined at the time the public body gives notice of the meeting under § 3–302 of this subtitle, the public body shall make available the agenda at the same time the public body gives notice of the meeting.        (3)    If an agenda has not been determined at the time the public body gives notice of the meeting, the public body shall make available the agenda as soon as practicable after the agenda has been determined but no later than 24 hours before the meeting.    (b)    If a public body is unable to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section because the meeting was scheduled in response to an emergency, a natural disaster, or any other unanticipated situation, the public body shall make available on request an agenda of the meeting within a reasonable time after the meeting occurs.    (c)    A public body is not required to make available any information in the agenda regarding the subject matter of the portion of the meeting that is closed in accordance with § 3–305 of this subtitle.    (d)    (1)    A public body required to make available an agenda under subsection (a) of this section may make available the agenda using a method authorized for giving notice under § 3–302(c) of this subtitle.        (2)    The method a public body uses for making available an agenda may be different from the method a public body uses for giving notice.    (e)    Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent a public body from altering the agenda of a meeting after the agenda has been made available to the public.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-303 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 3 - Open Meetings Requirements|Section 3-303 - Attendance at Open Session

    (a)    Whenever a public body meets in open session, the general public is entitled to attend.    (b)    A public body shall adopt and enforce reasonable rules regarding the conduct of persons attending its meetings and the videotaping, televising, photographing, broadcasting, or recording of its meetings.    (c)    (1)    If the presiding officer determines that the behavior of an individual is disrupting an open session, the public body may have the individual removed.        (2)    Unless the public body or its members or agents act maliciously, the public body, members, and agents are not liable for having an individual removed under this subsection.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-304 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 3 - Open Meetings Requirements|Section 3-304 - Interpreters

    (a)    This section applies only to the Executive and Legislative branches of the State government.    (b)    On request and to the extent feasible, a unit that holds a public hearing shall provide a qualified interpreter to assist deaf individuals to understand the proceeding.    (c)    A request for an interpreter must be submitted in writing or by telecommunication at least 5 days before the proceeding begins.    (d)    The unit shall determine, in each instance, whether it is feasible to provide an interpreter.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-402 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 4 - Enforcement|Section 3-402 - Penalty

    (a)    In accordance with § 3–401 of this subtitle, a public body that willfully meets with knowledge that the meeting is being held in violation of this subtitle is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed:        (1)    $250 for the first violation; and        (2)    $1,000 for each subsequent violation that occurs within 3 years after the first violation.    (b)    When determining the amount of a fine under subsection (a) of this section, the court shall consider the financial resources available to the public body and the ability of the public body to pay the fine.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  3-501 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 3 - Open Meetings Act|Subtitle 5 - Short Title|Section 3-501 - Short Title

    This title may be cited as the Open Meetings Act.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 4-102 - Limitation on Records

    The State, a political subdivision, or a unit of the State or of a political subdivision may keep only the information about a person that:        (1)    is needed by the State, the political subdivision, or the unit to accomplish a governmental purpose that is authorized or required to be accomplished under:            (i)    a statute or any other legislative mandate;            (ii)    an executive order of the Governor;            (iii)    an executive order of the chief executive of a local jurisdiction; or            (iv)    a judicial rule; and        (2)    is relevant to accomplishment of the purpose.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-103 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 4-103 - General Right to Information

    (a)    All persons are entitled to have access to information about the affairs of government and the official acts of public officials and employees.    (b)    To carry out the right set forth in subsection (a) of this section, unless an unwarranted invasion of the privacy of a person in interest would result, this title shall be construed in favor of allowing inspection of a public record, with the least cost and least delay to the person or governmental unit that requests the inspection.    (c)    This title does not preclude a member of the General Assembly from acquiring the names and addresses of and statistical information about individuals who are licensed or, as required by a State law, registered.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1A-01 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-01 - Board Established

    There is a State Public Information Act Compliance Board.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1A-03 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-03 - Quorum; Meetings; Compensation; Staffing and Office Space

    (a)    A majority of the full authorized membership of the Board is a quorum.    (b)    The Board shall determine the times and places of its meetings.    (c)    A member of the Board:        (1)    may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; but        (2)    is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.    (d)    The Office of the Attorney General shall provide staff and office space for the Board.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1A-04 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-04 - Duties

    (a)    The Board shall:        (1)    receive, review, and, subject to § 4–1A–07 of this subtitle, resolve complaints filed under § 4–1A–05 of this subtitle from any applicant or the applicant’s designated representative alleging that a custodian charged an unreasonable fee under § 4–206 of this title;        (2)    issue a written opinion as to whether a violation has occurred; and        (3)    if the Board finds that the custodian charged an unreasonable fee under § 4–206 of this title, order the custodian to reduce the fee to an amount determined by the Board to be reasonable and refund the difference.    (b)    The Board shall:        (1)    study ongoing compliance with this title by custodians; and        (2)    make recommendations to the General Assembly for improvements to this title.    (c)    (1)    On or before October 1 of each year, the Board shall submit a report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.        (2)    The report shall:            (i)    describe the activities of the Board;            (ii)    describe the opinions of the Board;            (iii)    state the number and nature of complaints filed with the Board; and            (iv)    recommend any improvements to this title.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1A-05 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-05 - Unreasonable Fee Complaints

    (a)    Any applicant or the applicant’s designated representative may file a written complaint with the Board seeking a written opinion and order from the Board if:        (1)    a custodian charged a fee under § 4–206 of this title of more than $350; and        (2)    the complainant alleges in the complaint that the fee is unreasonable.    (b)    The complaint shall:        (1)    identify the custodian that is the subject of the complaint;        (2)    describe the action of the custodian, the date of the action, and the circumstances of the action;        (3)    be signed by the complainant;        (4)    if available, include a copy of the original request for public records; and        (5)    be filed within 90 days after the action that is the subject of the complaint occurred.