Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1971

formation," providing for the inspection of public records, pro-
viding penalties for the violation of these provisions and generally
relating thereto.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Article 76A be and it is hereby added to the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume), to follow immedi-
ately after Section ARTICLE 76 thereof, and to read as follows:

76A.

1. As used in this Article:

(a)    The term "public records" when not otherwise specified shall
include any paper, correspondence, form, book, photograph, photo-
stat, film, microfilm, sound recording, map drawing, or other docu-
ment, regardless of physical form or characteristics, and including
all copies thereof, that have been made by the State and any coun-
ties, municipalities and political subdivisions thereof and by any
agencies of the State, counties, municipalities, and political subdivi-
sions thereof, or received by them in connection with the transaction
of public business, except those privileged or confidential by law.

(b)    Public records shall be classified as follows:

(i) The term "official public records" shall include all original
vouchers, receipts, and other documents necessary to isolate and
prove the validity of every transaction relating to the receipt, use
and disposition of all public property and public income from all
sources whatsoever; all agreements and contracts to which the State
or any agency or subdivision thereof may be a party; all fidelity,
surety and performance bonds; all claims filed against the State or
any agency or subdivisions thereof; all records or documents required
by law to be filed with or kept by any agency or the State; and all

other documents or records determined by the records committee to

be official public records.

(ii) The term "office files and memoranda" shall include all rec-
ords, correspondence, exhibits, books, booklets, drawings, maps, blank
forms, or documents not above defined and classified as official public
records; all duplicate copies of official public records filed with any
agency of the State or subdivision thereof; all documents and reports
made for the internal administration of the office to which they
pertain but not required by law to be filed or kept with such agency;
and all other documents or records, determined by the records com-
mittee to be office files and memoranda.

(c)    The term "writings" means and includes all books, papers,
maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings or other documentary
materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics.

(d)    The term "political subdivision" means and includes every
county, city and county, city, incorporated and unincorporated town,
school district and special district within the state.

(e)    The term "official custodian" means and includes any officer
or employee of the state or any agency, institution or political sub-
division thereof, who is responsible for the maintenance, care and
keeping of public records, regardless of whether such records are in
his actual personal custody and control.