BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                         1981

AND PLANNING COMMISSION.

(C) "AGENCY'S COUNT" MEANS:

(1) FOR A COUNTY AGENCY, THE COUNTY OF THE

GOVERNMENT OF WHICH THE AGENCY IS A PART.

(2) FOR A MUNICIPALITY, THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE

MUNICIPALITY OR ANY PART OF IT LIES.

(D) (C) "CONTESTED CASE" MEANS A PROCEEDING BEFORE AN
AGENCY IN WHICH THE LEGAL RIGHTS, DUTIES, OR PRIVILEGES OF
SPECIFIC PARTIES ARE REQUIRED BY LAW OR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
TO BE DETERMINED AFTER AN AGENCY HEARING.

(E) "CIRCUIT COURT" INCLUDES THE SUPREME BENCH OF

BALTIMORE CITY.

(F) "COUNTY" INCLUDES BALTIMORE CITY.

(G) (D) "RULE" INCLUDES EVERY REGULATION, STANDARD,
OR STATEMENT OF POLICY OR INTERPRETATION OF GENERAL
APPLICATION AND FUTURE EFFECT, INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT OR
REPEAL THEREOF, ADOPTED BY AN AGENCY, WHETHER WITH OR
WITHOUT PRIOR HEARING, TO IMPLEMENT OR MAKE SPECIFIC THE LAW
ENFORCED OR ADMINISTERED BY IT OR TO GOVERN ITS ORGANIZATION
OR PROCEDURE, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE REGULATIONS CONCERNING
ONLY THE INTERNAL MANAGEMENT OF THE AGENCY AND NOT DIRECTLY
AFFECTING THE RIGHTS OF OR PROCEDURES AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC.

233.

(A)          BEFORE PROMULGATING OR ADOPTING A RULE AN AGENCY
SHALL PUBLISH THE PROPOSED RULE IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL
CIRCULATION IN THE AGENCY'S WASHINGTON COUNTY AT LEAST 45
DAYS BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE RULE.

(B)          AT LEAST 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION AND NOT LESS
THAN 15 DAYS BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE RULE, THE
AGENCY SHALL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RULE.

(C)          NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE PUBLISHED
IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE AGENCY'S
WASHINGTON COUNTY AT LEAST 15 DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING.
THIS NOTICE MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLICATION OF THE
PROPOSED RULE.

(D)          IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS OF
THIS SECTION, AN AGENCY SHALL TAKE EVERY MEANS IT DEEMS
PROPER TO PUBLICIZE THE PROPOSED RULE AND TO SOLICIT PUBLIC
COMMENT ON IT.

(E)         THE AGENCY SHALL ACCEPT FROM ANY PERSON WRITTEN
COMMENTS OR TESTIMONY ON A PROPOSED RULE ANY TIME BEFORE ITS
EFFECTIVE DATE.

(F)          IF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES ARE MADE IN THE PROPOSED