EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0296*
SENATE BILL 296
P3 5lr2145
CF HB 331
By: Senator Augustine
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 11, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Information Act – Public Access Ombudsman – Delegation of Powers 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Public Access Ombudsman to delegate certain powers 3
and duties to a staff member of the Office of the Public Access Ombudsman; and 4
generally relating to the Public Access Ombudsman. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – General Provisions 7
Section 4–1B–01 and 4–1B–02 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – General Provisions 12
Section 4–1B–03 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – General Provisions 18
4–1B–01. 19
2 SENATE BILL 296
In this subtitle, “Ombudsman” means the Public Access Ombudsman. 1
4–1B–02. 2
(a) There is an Office of the Public Access Ombudsman. 3
(b) Subject to § 4–1A–03(d)(2) of this title, the Office of the Attorney General shall 4
provide office space and staff for the Ombudsman, with appropriate steps taken to protect 5
the autonomy and independence of the Ombudsman. 6
4–1B–03. 7
(a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Attorney General shall 8
appoint the Ombudsman. 9
(b) The Ombudsman shall have been admitted to practice law in the State. 10
(c) (1) The Office of the Attorney General shall publish, on its website, notice 11
of the Attorney General’s intent to consider applicants for the Ombudsman position. 12
(2) The notice shall include: 13
(i) application procedures; 14
(ii) criteria for evaluating an applicant’s qualifications; and 15
(iii) procedures for resolving any conflicts of interest. 16
(3) (i) An individual may submit to the Attorney General an application 17
for the Ombudsman position as provided under paragraph (2) of this subsection. 18
(ii) The Office of the Attorney General shall post on its website the 19
names and qualifications of applicants. 20
(d) (1) The term of the Ombudsman is 4 years. 21
(2) At the end of a term, the Ombudsman continues to serve until a 22
successor is appointed and qualifies. 23
(3) An Ombudsman who is appointed after a term begins serves for the 24
remainder of the term until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 25
(e) The Ombudsman shall be a full–time State employee. 26
(f) The Ombudsman is entitled to an annual salary as provided for in the State 27
budget. 28
SENATE BILL 296 3
(G) THE OMBUDSMAN MAY DELEGAT E TO A STAFF MEMBER OF THE OFFICE 1
OF THE PUBLIC ACCESS OMBUDSMAN ANY OF THE POWERS AND DUTIES GR ANTED 2
TO THE OMBUDSMAN UNDER THIS SUBTITLE THAT ARE APPROPRIATE TO THE STAFF 3
MEMBER’S TRAINING AND EXPERTISE. 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 5
October 1, 2025. 6
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.