Maryland § 12-112

§ 12-112.

    (a)    To enforce this subtitle, the Authority:

        (1)    shall accept and review complaints for violations of this subtitle; and

        (2)    may recommend necessary enforcement actions.

    (b)    (1)    The Authority shall:

            (i)    hear complaints for violations of this subtitle:

                1.    at the request of a probable violator; or

                2.    after notifying a probable violator that the Authority has scheduled a hearing on its own motion; and

            (ii)    after a hearing, assess a civil penalty under § 12–135 of this subtitle.

        (2)    The Authority may reach a settlement instead of assessing a civil penalty.

        (3)    If a probable violator fails to appear at a scheduled hearing, the Authority may vote to proceed to hear the complaint against the probable violator in the absence of the probable violator.

    (c)    (1)    The Authority may:

            (i)    establish reasonable complaint filing fees and administrative fees for complaints heard by the Authority; and

            (ii)    use the services of a third party to collect civil penalties.

        (2)    If the Authority determines that an individual cannot afford to pay a fee established under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection, the Authority may exempt the individual wholly or partly from the fee.

    (d)    The Authority may not assess a civil penalty against a person unless the person:

        (1)    receives reasonable prior notice of the complaint; and

        (2)    has an opportunity to be heard under § 12–113 of this subtitle.