108                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                  Ch. 59

NOT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, OR BY BOTH.

(C) WHOEVER KNOWINGLY MAKES ANY FALSE STATEMENT,
REPRESENTATION, OR CERTIFICATION IN ANY APPLICATION,
RECORD, REPORT, PLAN OR OTHER DOCUMENT FILED OR
REQUIRED TO BE MAINTAINED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBTITLE,
SHALL UPON CONVICTION, BE PUNISHED BY A FINE OF NOT MORE
THAN $5,000.00 OR BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN SIX
MONTHS, OR BY BOTH.

42.  TRADE SECRETS.

(A)  ALL INFORMATION REPORTED TO OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED
BY THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY INSPECTION OR PROCEEDING UNDER
THIS SUBTITLE WHICH CONTAINS OR MIGHT REVEAL A TRADE
SECRET AS DEFINED HEREAFTER, SHALL BE CONSIDERED
CONFIDENTIAL, EXCEPT THAT SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE
DISCLOSED TO OTHER OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES CONCERNED
WITH CARRYING OUT THIS SUBTITLE OR WHEN RELEVANT IN
ANY PROCEEDING OF THIS SUBTITLE. IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING
THE COMMISSIONER, HIS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, OR A
COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, AS THE CASE MAY BE,
SHALL ISSUE SUCH ORDERS AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO
PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF TRADE SECRETS.

(B)    FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUBSECTION (A) ABOVE, TRADE
SECRETS SHALL MEAN ANY CONFIDENTIAL FORMULA, PATTERN,
DEVICE OR COMPILATION OF INFORMATION WHICH IS USED IN
THE EMPLOYER'S BUSINESS AND WHICH GIVES HIM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN AN ADVANTAGE OVER COMPETITORS
WHO DO NOT KNOW OR USE IT. IT IS KNOWN ONLY TO THE
EMPLOYER AND THOSE EMPLOYEES TO WHOM IT IS NECESSARY
TO CONFIDE IT.

43.  DISCRIMINATION.

(A)   NO PERSON OR EMPLOYER SHALL DISCHARGE OR IN ANY
MANNER DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY EMPLOYEE BECAUSE SAID
EMPLOYEE HAS FILED ANY COMPLAINT OR INSTITUTED OR
CAUSED TO BE INSTITUTED ANY PROCEEDING UNDER OR
RELATED TO THIS SUBTITLE OR HAS TESTIFIED OR IS ABOUT TO
TESTIFY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING OR BECAUSE OF THE
EXERCISE BY SAID EMPLOYEE ON BEHALF OF HIMSELF OR
OTHERS OF ANY RIGHT AFFORDED BY THIS SUBTITLE.

(B)     ANY EMPLOYEE WHO BELIEVES THAT HE HAS BEEN
DISCHARGED OR OTHERWISE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY ANY
PERSON IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY, WITHIN THIRTY
DAYS AFTER SUCH VIOLATION OCCURS, FILE A COMPLAINT WITH
THE COMMISSIONER, IN WRITING AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY SAID
EMPLOYEE, ALLEGING SUCH DISCRIMINATION. UPON RECEIPT OF
THE COMPLAINT, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CAUSE SUCH
INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE AS HE DEEMS APPROPRIATE. WITHIN
NINETY DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINT FILED UNDER
THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL NOTIFY THE
COMPLAINANT OF HIS DETERMINATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION
(B). IF UPON SUCH INVESTIGATION, THE COMMISSIONER