HCPSSHouse Bill 1105 Submit Your Comments!
September 7th, 2016
During the 2016 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill (“H.B. 1105”). This bill tasked the Maryland Office of the Public Access Ombudsman to investigate and issue a public report by January 1, 2017 concerning the Howard County Public School System pertaining to the handling of public records and Public Information Act requests during the period from July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2015. The Ombudsman is seeking comments on the following topics:
- the integrity and propriety of any refusal by the custodian of a public record for the Howard County Public School System, on the request of an applicant, to disclose the public record;
- the validity of any declaration by the custodian of a public record for the Howard County Public School System that a public record requested by an applicant does not exist and cannot be produced; and
- the reasonableness of any complaint by an applicant for a public record from the Howard County Public School System as to:
- any delay by a custodian in furnishing the public record that was requested;
- any other matter involving compliance by a custodian with the requirements of Title 4 of the General Provisions Article of the Public Information Act
The Ombudsman invites all persons who have knowledge, information, or comment they wish to offer concerning any of these topics to submit their comments (including any supporting documentation you wish to submit) by Close of Business September 30 to: Office of the Public Access Ombudsman 200 Saint Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202-2021 or email: HB1105Comment@oag.state.md.us. Use the subject “Re: HB 1105”