1. (a) The Office of Information Privacy may:

   1. (1) Request that a person or governmental entity use a substitute address designated by the Office of Information Privacy as the Program participant's address;
   2. (2) Request the shielding of real property records on behalf of a Program participant who has an ownership interest in real property in accordance with Title 3, Subtitle 1, Part II of the Real Property Article; and
   3. (3) Request that a Program participant's actual address be shielded from public inspection in a record maintained by a governmental entity.
2. (b) A request made by the Office of Information Privacy under this subtitle certifies that a requester is a Program participant.

3. (c) On receipt of a request by the Office of Information Privacy, a person or governmental entity shall:

   1. (1) Promptly acknowledge receipt of the request in writing by certified mail or by e-mail; and
   2. (2) Take steps reasonably necessary to comply.

4. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(3) of this section, a custodian of record may:

   1. (1) Maintain a copy of a record containing a Program participant's actual address in a separate secure area to which persons who do not have a legitimate reason for access are denied access;
   2. (2) Permit public inspection of a record with the consent of the Program participant;
   3. (3) Permit public inspection of a record with the actual address redacted from the record; or
   4. (4) After notification to the Program participant, permit public inspection of a record if the inspection will further a substantial public interest or a legitimate business need.

Added by Acts 2024, c. 414, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024; Acts 2024, c. 415, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024.