1354

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 284

In paragraph (2) of this subsection, the former phrase
"in the classified and nonclassified service" is
deleted as surplusage.

Defined terms: "Includes";"including" § 1-101

REVISOR'S NOTE TO SECTION: Former Art. 76A, § 1(e), which
defined the term "[p]olitical subdivision", now
appears in Art. 24, § 5-101 of the Code, since, in
light of the revision of this Part III of this
subtitle to apply only to the State and its units, a
definition of the term "political subdivision" is not
needed here. As to political subdivisions, see Art.
24, §§ 5-101 through 5-117 of the Code.

Former Art. 76A, § 1(h), which defined "person" to
"mea[n] and includ[e] any natural person, corporation,
partnership, firm, association, or governmental
agency", is deleted as unnecessary, except as to
governmental units, in light of the definition of
"person" in § 1-101 of this article and to avoid
confusion with that definition, which generally is not
construed to include governmental units. Therefore,
throughout this Part III of this subtitle, a specific
reference to a "governmental unit" is added in those
provisions derived from former provisions in which the
word "person" was used as defined.

10-612. GENERAL RIGHT TO INFORMATION.

(A)  GENERAL RIGHT TO INFORMATION.

ALL PERSONS ARE ENTITLED TO HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT
THE AFFAIRS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE OFFICIAL ACTS OF PUBLIC
OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES.

(B)  GENERAL CONSTRUCTION.

TO CARRY OUT THE RIGHT SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS
SECTION, UNLESS AN UNWARRANTED INVASION OF THE PRIVACY OF A
PERSON IN INTEREST WOULD RESULT, THIS PART III OF THIS SUBTITLE
SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN FAVOR OF PERMITTING INSPECTION OF A PUBLIC
RECORD, WITH THE LEAST COST AND LEAST DELAY TO THE PERSON OR
GOVERNMENTAL UNIT THAT REQUESTS THE INSPECTION.

(C)  GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THIS PART III OF THIS SUBTITLE DOES NOT PRECLUDE A MEMBER OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM ACQUIRING THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF
AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LICENSED
OR, AS REQUIRED BY A LAW OF THE STATE, REGISTERED.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived
without substantive change from former Art. 76A, §
3(f) and the second and third sentences of § 1A.