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Maryland Commission on Civil Rights

Public Information Act Requests

Filing a PIA Request

​You may submit a Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) request to MCCR by mail or email:

S. Spencer Dove
Special Assistant to the Executive Director Maryland Commission on Civil Rights
6 Saint Paul Street, Suite 900
Baltimore, Maryland 21202-1631
[email protected]

Please note that per Maryland law all PIA requests must be made in writing. MCCR does not accept verbal PIA requests. You may direct any questions by email or call 410-767-8576.

What to Include

To ensure that your PIA request is quickly identified for processing, please include the term "PIA request" in either the subject line or within the body of your request. For copies of investigative records, please also include a charge number (EEOC/HUD/MCCR) and a copy of a court accepted bill of complaint filed with a court of jurisdiction.​

This bill of complaint is necessary to satisfy MCCR's confidentiality statute contained in State Government Article, § 20-1101, Annotated Code of Maryland - PDF - 143.42 KB. This law requires that the contents of an investigative file (including the existence of a complaint alleging unlawful discrimination) must be protected from public disclosure "...until the matter reaches the stage of public hearings". The only exception to this is if both the Complainant and Respondent agree in writing to the Commission to the disclosure of information contained in the investigative file, then MCCR may permit the inspection and/or copying of records from the investigative file.

Fees

The PIA permits an agency to charge reasonable fees directly related to recouping costs associated with fulfilling a PIA request. Generally, MCCR charges 25 cents per copied page plus postage (if mailed) for physical copies of records. MCCR does not have a fee schedule for per page/per file costs for electronic copies of records.

Under the PIA, the first two hours of work performed by agency staff to process and fulfill a PIA request are free. However, if the scope of the request requires MCCR to dedicate a large amount of time and/or staff to fulfilling the PIA request, then you may be charged the prorated hourly rate, excluding benefits, for the employee(s) that worked on the PIA request.

If fees are charged then you will be provided an invoice detailing the charges. This invoice must be paid in full before the records will be released.

Policy of Proactive Disclosure

Pursuant to § 4-104 of the General Provisions Article of Maryland's Annotated Code, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights provides the following policy of proactive disclosure:

The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (“MCCR”; “Commission”) believes that transparency is the bedrock of effective communication and public service. Accordingly, it is both the policy and the practice of MCCR to publish via the Commission’s website all records that MCCR believes may be of interest to the public and that are fully disclosable under the law. These records include, but are not limited to, the documents and materials already posted on MCCR’s website, including:

  • MCCR’s annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly, due annually on or before January 1.
  • Mandated reports, public meeting documents, and other official Commission publications required by statute.
  • Commission-issued public guidances and additional information regarding MCCR services and process.
  • Publications designed to inform individuals of their rights and responsibilities under Maryland law.
  • Training materials and educational resources produced by the Commission.

The documents and materials produced under this policy of proactive disclosure are done so as a public service, and should not be construed as MCCR’s providing legal advice to the public.

As the State’s lead independent executive agency charged with enforcing Maryland’s anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing, public accommodations, state contracts, health services, commercial leasing, and insurance, MCCR serves as neutral finders of fact when investigating complaints alleging unlawful discrimination. Because MCCR’s investigations are conducted in strict confidence pursuant to § 20-1101 of the State Government Article, the Commission’s investigative records are expressly excluded from this policy of proactive disclosure.

Download a copy of MCCR's Policy of Proactive Disclosure here - PDF - 272.26 KB

PIA Manual

Want to learn more about the PIA? Check out the Maryland Office of the Attorney General's PIA Manual. The PIA Manual is a comprehensive resource for both:

  • members of the public seeking information about the ​affairs of government, and the official acts of public officials and employees; and
  • government officials seeking to meet their responsibilities under the Act.