reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1A-06 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-06 - Response

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, on receipt of a written complaint, the Board promptly shall:        (1)    send the complaint to the custodian identified in the complaint; and        (2)    request that a response to the complaint be sent to the Board.    (b)    (1)    The custodian shall file a written response to the complaint within 15 days after the custodian receives the complaint.        (2)    On request of the Board, the custodian shall include with its written response to the complaint the basis for the fee that was charged.    (c)    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. §  4-1A-07 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-07 - Decision of 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 based on the Board’s own interpretation of the evidence, 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)    (i)    Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, 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 custodian, or any other person with relevant information about the subject of the complaint.            (ii)    The Board shall hold the informal conference under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph in a location that is as convenient as practicable to the complainant and the custodian.        (2)    When conducting a conference that is scheduled under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Board may allow the parties to testify by teleconference or submit written testimony by electronic mail.        (3)    An informal conference scheduled by the Board is not a contested case within the meaning of § 10–202(d) of the State Government Article.        (4)    The Board shall issue a written opinion within 30 days after the informal conference.    (c)    (1)    If the Board is unable to issue 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 issue 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 custodian.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1A-08 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-08 - Sending Opinions to Custodians; Posting on Website

    (a)    The Board may send to any custodian in the State any written opinion that will provide the custodian with guidance on compliance with this title.    (b)    The Attorney General shall post on the website of the Office of the Attorney General all of the Board’s written opinions under this subtitle.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1A-09 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-09 - Effect of Compliance by Custodian

    Compliance by a custodian with an order of the Board:        (1)    is not an admission to a violation of this title by the custodian; and        (2)    may not be used as evidence in a proceeding conducted in accordance with § 4–362 of this title.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1A-10 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1A - State Public Information Act Compliance Board|Section 4-1A-10 - Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Not Required; Appeals

    (a)    A person or governmental unit need not exhaust the administrative remedy under this subtitle before filing suit.    (b)    (1)    A complainant or custodian may appeal the decision issued by the Board under this subtitle in accordance with § 4–362 of this title.        (2)    An appeal under this subsection automatically stays the decision of the Board pending the circuit court’s decision or no more than 30 days after the date on which the defendant serves an answer or otherwise pleads to the complaint, whichever is sooner.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1B-01 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1B - Public Access Ombudsman|Section 4-1B-01 - "Ombudsman" Defined

    In this subtitle, “Ombudsman” means the Public Access Ombudsman.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1B-02 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1B - Public Access Ombudsman|Section 4-1B-02 - Office Established; Office Space and Staffing

    (a)    There is an Office of the Public Access Ombudsman.    (b)    The Office of the Attorney General shall provide office space and staff for the Ombudsman, with appropriate steps taken to protect the autonomy and independence of the Ombudsman.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1B-03 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1B - Public Access Ombudsman|Section 4-1B-03 - Appointment

    (a)    Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Attorney General shall appoint the Ombudsman.    (b)    The Ombudsman shall have been admitted to practice law in the State.    (c)    (1)    The Office of the Attorney General shall publish, on its website, notice of the Attorney General’s intent to consider applicants for the Ombudsman position.        (2)    The notice shall include:            (i)    application procedures;            (ii)    criteria for evaluating an applicant’s qualifications; and            (iii)    procedures for resolving any conflicts of interest.        (3)    (i)    An individual may submit to the Attorney General an application for the Ombudsman position as provided under paragraph (2) of this subsection.            (ii)    The Office of the Attorney General shall post on its website the names and qualifications of applicants.    (d)    (1)    The term of the Ombudsman is 4 years.        (2)    At the end of a term, the Ombudsman continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.        (3)    An Ombudsman who is appointed after a term begins serves for the remainder of the term until a successor is appointed and qualifies.    (e)    The Ombudsman shall be a full–time State employee.    (f)    The Ombudsman is entitled to an annual salary as provided for in the State budget.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-1B-04 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 1B - Public Access Ombudsman|Section 4-1B-04 - Duties

    (a)    Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Ombudsman shall make reasonable attempts to resolve disputes between applicants and custodians relating to requests for public records under this title, including disputes over:        (1)    the custodian’s application of an exemption;        (2)    redactions of information in the public record;        (3)    the failure of the custodian to produce a public record in a timely manner or to disclose all records relevant to the request;        (4)    overly broad requests for public records;        (5)    the amount of time a custodian needs, given available staff and resources, to produce public records;        (6)    a request for or denial of a fee waiver under § 4–206(e) of this title; and        (7)    repetitive or redundant requests from an applicant.    (b)    (1)    When resolving disputes under this section, the Ombudsman may not:            (i)    compel a custodian to disclose public records or redacted information in the custodian’s physical custody to the Ombudsman or an applicant; or            (ii)    except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, disclose information received from an applicant or custodian without written consent from the applicant and custodian.        (2)    The Ombudsman may disclose information received from an applicant or custodian to the assistant Attorney General assigned to the Office of the Ombudsman.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 2 - Inspection of Public Records|Section 4-201 - Inspection of Public Records

    (a)    (1)    Except as otherwise provided by law, a custodian shall allow a person or governmental unit to inspect any public record at any reasonable time.        (2)    Inspection or copying of a public record may be denied only to the extent provided under this title.    (b)    To protect public records and to prevent unnecessary interference with official business, each official custodian shall adopt reasonable rules or regulations that, subject to this title, govern timely production and inspection of a public record.    (c)    Each official custodian shall:        (1)    designate types of public records of the governmental unit that are to be made available to any applicant immediately on request; and        (2)    maintain a current list of the types of public records that have been designated as available to any applicant immediately on request.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 2 - Inspection of Public Records|Section 4-202 - Application to Inspect Public Record Required

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person or governmental unit that wishes to inspect a public record shall submit a written application to the custodian.    (b)    A person or governmental unit need not submit a written application to the custodian if:        (1)    the person or governmental unit seeks to inspect a public record listed by an official custodian in accordance with § 4–201(c)(2) of this subtitle; or        (2)    the custodian waives the requirement for a written application.    (c)    If the individual to whom the application is submitted is not the custodian of the public record, within 10 working days after receiving the application, the individual shall give the applicant:        (1)    notice of that fact; and        (2)    if known:            (i)    the name of the custodian; and            (ii)    the location or possible location of the public record.    (d)    When an applicant requests to inspect a public record and a custodian determines that the record does not exist, the custodian shall notify the applicant of this determination:        (1)    if the custodian has reached this determination on initial review of the application, immediately; or        (2)    if the custodian has reached this determination after a search for potentially responsive public records, promptly after the search is completed but not more than 30 days after receiving the application.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 2 - Inspection of Public Records|Section 4-203 - Timeliness of Decision on Application

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the custodian shall grant or deny the application promptly, but not more than 30 days after receiving the application.        (2)    The custodian shall grant or deny an application that is the subject of § 4–356 of this title not more than 50 days after receiving the application.    (b)    (1)    A custodian who approves the application shall produce the public record immediately or within a reasonable period that is needed to retrieve the public record, but not more than 30 days after receipt of the application.        (2)    If the custodian reasonably believes that it will take more than 10 working days to produce the public record, the custodian shall indicate in writing or by electronic mail within 10 working days after receipt of the request:            (i)    the amount of time that the custodian anticipates it will take to produce the public record;            (ii)    an estimate of the range of fees that may be charged to comply with the request for public records; and            (iii)    the reason for the delay.        (3)    Failure to produce the public record in accordance with this subsection constitutes a denial of an application that may not be considered the result of a bona fide dispute unless the custodian has complied with paragraph (2) of this subsection and is working with the applicant in good faith.    (c)    (1)    A custodian who denies the application shall:            (i)    within 10 working days, give the applicant a written statement that gives:                1.    the reasons for the denial;                2.    if inspection is denied under § 4–343 of this title:                A.    a brief explanation of why the denial is necessary; and                B.    an explanation of why redacting information would not address the reasons for the denial;                3.    the legal authority for the denial;                4.    without disclosing the protected information, a brief description of the undisclosed record that will enable the applicant to assess the applicability of the legal authority for the denial; and                5.    notice of the remedies under this title for review of the denial; and            (ii)    allow inspection of any part of the record that is subject to inspection.        (2)    A custodian may not ignore an application to inspect public records on the grounds that the application was intended for purposes of harassment.    (d)    Any time limit imposed under this section:        (1)    with the consent of the applicant, may be extended for not more than 30 days; and        (2)    if the applicant seeks resolution of a dispute under § 4–1B–04 of this title, shall be extended pending resolution of that dispute.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 2 - Inspection of Public Records|Section 4-204 - Improper Conditions on Granting Application

    (a)    Except to the extent that the grant of an application is related to the status of the applicant as a person in interest and except as required by other law or regulation, the custodian may not condition the grant of an application on:        (1)    the identity of the applicant;        (2)    any organizational or other affiliation of the applicant; or        (3)    a disclosure by the applicant of the purpose for an application.    (b)    This section does not preclude an official custodian from considering the identity of the applicant, any organizational or other affiliation of the applicant, or the purpose for the application if:        (1)    the applicant chooses to provide this information for the custodian to consider in making a determination under Subtitle 3, Part IV of this title;        (2)    the applicant has requested a waiver of fees under § 4–206(e) of this subtitle; or        (3)    the identity of the applicant, any organizational or other affiliation of the applicant, or the purpose for the application is material to the determination of the official custodian in accordance with § 4–206(e)(2) of this subtitle.    (c)    Consistently with this section, an official may request the identity of an applicant for the purpose of contacting the applicant.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 2 - Inspection of Public Records|Section 4-206 - Fees

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.        (2)    “Indigent” means an individual’s family household income is less than 50% of the median family income for the State as reported in the Federal Register.        (3)    “Reasonable fee” means a fee bearing a reasonable relationship to the recovery of actual costs incurred by a governmental unit.    (b)    (1)    Subject to the limitations in this section, the official custodian may charge an applicant a reasonable fee for:            (i)    the search for, preparation of, and reproduction of a public record prepared, on request of the applicant, in a customized format; and            (ii)    the actual costs of the search for, preparation of, and reproduction of a public record in standard format, including media and mechanical processing costs.        (2)    The staff and attorney review costs included in the calculation of actual costs incurred under this section shall be prorated for each individual’s salary and actual time attributable to the search for and preparation of a public record under this section.    (c)    The official 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.    (d)    (1)    If another law sets a fee for a copy, an electronic copy, a printout, or a photograph of a public record, that law applies.        (2)    The official custodian may charge for the cost of providing facilities for the reproduction of the public record if the custodian did not have the facilities.    (e)    The official custodian may waive a fee under this section if:        (1)    the applicant asks for a waiver; and        (2)    (i)    the applicant is indigent and files an affidavit of indigency; or            (ii)    after consideration of the ability of the applicant to pay the fee and other relevant factors, the official custodian determines that the waiver would be in the public interest.    (f)    If the custodian of a public record for a local school system charges an applicant a fee under subsection (b) of this section, the custodian shall provide written notice to the applicant that the applicant may file a complaint with the Board to contest the fee.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-401 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 4 - Liability; Prohibited Acts; Penalties; Immunity|Section 4-401 - Unlawful Disclosure of Public Records

    (a)    A person, including an officer or employee of a governmental unit, is liable to an individual for actual damages that the court considers appropriate if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that:        (1)    (i)    the person willfully and knowingly allows inspection or use of a public record in violation of this subtitle; and            (ii)    the public record names or, with reasonable certainty, otherwise identifies the individual by an identifying factor such as:                1.    an address;                2.    a description;                3.    a fingerprint or voice print;                4.    a number; or                5.    a picture; or        (2)    the person willfully and knowingly obtains, discloses, or uses personal information in violation of § 4–320 of this title.    (b)    If the court determines that the complainant has substantially prevailed, the court may assess against a defendant reasonable counsel fees and other litigation costs that the complainant reasonably incurred.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-402 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 4 - Liability; Prohibited Acts; Penalties; Immunity|Section 4-402 - Prohibited Acts; Criminal Penalties

    (a)    A person may not:        (1)    willfully or knowingly violate any provision of this title;        (2)    fail to petition a court after temporarily denying inspection of a public record; or        (3)    by false pretenses, bribery, or theft, gain access to or obtain a copy of a personal record if disclosure of the personal record to the person is prohibited by this title.    (b)    A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-403 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 4 - Liability; Prohibited Acts; Penalties; Immunity|Section 4-403 - Immunity for Certain Disclosures

    A custodian is not civilly or criminally liable for transferring or disclosing the contents of a public record to the Attorney General under § 5–313 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.
MD. General Provisions Code Ann. §  4-502 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|General Provisions|Title 4 - Public Information Act|Subtitle 5 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Section 4-502 - Corrections of Public Record

    (a)    A person in interest may request a unit of the State to correct inaccurate or incomplete information in a public record that:        (1)    the unit keeps; and        (2)    the person in interest is authorized to inspect.    (b)    A request under this section shall:        (1)    be in writing;        (2)    describe the requested change precisely; and        (3)    state the reasons for the change.    (c)    (1)    Within 30 days after receiving a request under this section, a unit shall:            (i)    make or refuse to make the requested change; and            (ii)    give the person in interest written notice of the action taken.        (2)    A notice of refusal shall contain the unit’s reasons for the refusal.    (d)    (1)    If the unit finally refuses a request under this section, the person in interest may submit to the unit a concise statement that, in five pages or less, states the reasons for the request and for disagreement with the refusal.        (2)    If the unit provides the disputed information to a third party, the unit shall provide to that party a copy of the statement submitted to the unit by the person in interest.    (e)    If a unit is subject to Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article, a person or governmental unit may seek administrative and judicial review in accordance with that subtitle of:        (1)    a decision of the unit to deny:            (i)    a request to change a public record; or            (ii)    a right to submit a statement of disagreement; or        (2)    the failure of the unit to provide the statement to a third party.