WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 990
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Chapter 990
(Senate Bill 1038)
AN ACT concerning
Anne Arundel County – Human Relations Commission – Subpoena Enforcement
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Human Relations Commission of Anne Arundel County
to seek relief in a certain manner if a party fails to comply with a subpoena; and
generally relating to the subpoena authority granted to the Human Relations
Commission of Anne Arundel County.
BY adding to
Article – Local Government
Section 12–905
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2013 Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Local Government
12–905.
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
(B) (1) IF A PERSON FAILS TO OBEY A SUBPOENA SERV ED BY THE ANNE
ARUNDEL COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION:
(1) THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHO RIZING THE SERVICE O F THE SUBPOENA
MAY AUTHORIZE THE IN DIVIDUAL SERVING THE SUBPOENA TO CERTIFY THE
DEFAULT TO THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT ; AND
(2) ON CERTIFICATION OF THE DEFAULT , THE CLERK SHALL ISSU E A
BODY ATTACHMENT TO T HE SHERIFF AGAINST THE P ERSON NAMED IN THE
SUBPOENA, RETURNABLE ON THE DA TE SPECIFIED IN THE ATTACHME NT, TO
COMPEL COMPLIANCE WI TH THE SUBPOENA .
(I) THE COMMISSION MAY APPLY TO A CIRCUIT COURT I N ANY
COUNTY FOR AN ORDER REQUIRING THE ATTEND ANCE AND TESTIMONY O F
WITNESSES AND THE PR ODUCTION OF BOOKS , PAPERS, RECORDS, ELECTRONICALLY
STORED INFORMATION , DOCUMENTS , AND TANGIBLE PROPERT Y; AND
Ch. 990 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(II) THE COURT MAY ISSUE AN ORDER REQUIRING T HE
ATTENDANCE AND TESTI MONY OF THE WITNESS AND THE PRODUCTION O F THE
BOOKS, PAPERS, RECORDS, ELECTRONICALLY STORE D INFORMATION , DOCUMENTS ,
AND TANGIBLE PROPERT Y:
1. AFTER NOTICE TO THE PERSON SUBPOENAED AS A
WITNESS OR DIRECTED TO PRODUCE BOOKS , PAPERS, RECORDS, ELECTRONICALLY
STORED INFORMATION , DOCUMENTS , AND TANGIBLE PROPERT Y; AND
2. ON A FINDING THAT TH E ATTENDANCE AND
TESTIMONY OF THE WIT NESS OR THE PRODUCTION OF THE BO OKS, PAPERS,
RECORDS, ELECTRONICALLY STORE D INFORMATION , DOCUMENTS , AND TANGIBLE
PROPERTY IS RELEVANT OR NECESSARY FOR THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE
COMMISSION.
(2) AN ORDER ISSUED BY TH E COURT UNDER THIS S UBSECTION
SHALL BE SERVED ON T HE PERSON TO WHOM IT IS DIRECTED BY THE SHER IFF OR
DEPUTY SHERIFF .
(3) A FAILURE TO OBEY AN O RDER ISSUED BY THE C OURT UNDER
THIS SUBSECTION MAY BE PUNISHED BY THE C OURT AS CONTEMPT OF COURT.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2024.