1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Administrative Procedure Act” means State Government Article, §§10-201—10-217, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   2. (2) “Authorized representative” means a person designated by a party to represent the party during the Division’s dispute resolution process.
   3. (3) “Contribution liability” means the amount the Division tells an employer is due each quarter, covering both the employer and employee portion.
   4. (4) “Final order” means the final decision of the hearing officer which contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a disposition which grants or denies FAMLI benefits and/or FAMLI leave.

   5. (5) “Good cause” means a demonstration by a party that a failure to timely file for EPIP denial or termination review, reconsideration, appeal, or postponement was due to:

      1. (a) A serious health condition that resulted in an unanticipated and prolonged period of incapacity and that prevented all individuals with authority to file from filing in a timely manner;
      2. (b) A demonstrated inability to reasonably access a means to file in a timely manner, such as due to a natural disaster, power outage, or a significant and prolonged Department system outage; or
      3. (c) A demonstrated failure of the entity which issued the adverse determination to provide notice of dispute resolution procedures.
   6. (6) “Hearing officer” means the individual or entity who issues the final order in a FAMLI appeal.
   7. (7) “Party” means a claimant, an individual who has been disqualified from receiving benefits under Labor and Employment Article, §8.3-901, Annotated Code of Maryland, an EPIP administrator, or the Division, or all or some of them, as applicable.

Authority: Labor and Employment Article, §§8.3-101, 403, and 906, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: March 30, 2026 (53:6 Md. R. 290)