State Public Information Act Compliance Board

The Public Information Act Compliance Board reviews and resolves complaints related to disputes that arise under the Public Information Act (PIA). The Board was created by legislation enacted in 2015, and originally the Board had jurisdiction to review only complaints that a custodian had charged an unreasonable fee higher than $350 for public records. However, a law passed in 2021 expanded the Board's jurisdiction. That law, which became effective on July 1, 2022, allows the Board to review and resolve complaints that:

A custodian wrongfully denied inspection of public records;
A custodian charged an unreasonable fee higher than $350 for public records;
A custodian failed to respond to a request for public records; and
A PIA applicant's request is “frivolous, vexatious, or in bad faith."

Before filing a complaint, you must first attempt to resolve your dispute through the Public Access Ombudsman. Typically, the Ombudsman tries to resolve disputes via a confidential mediation process. At the conclusion of the mediation, the Ombudsman will issue a final determination that states that the dispute was either resolved, not resolved, or partially resolved. For disputes that remain unresolved after mediation, an applicant (i.e., a PIA requester) or custodian may file a complaint with the Board within 30 days after receiving the Ombudsman's final determination.

The Board is an independent State entity and its members serve as volunteers. All five members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Although the Board is not a part of the Office of the Attorney General, this Office provides the Board with administrative staff and legal counsel, and also publishes the Board's decisions, meeting notices, and other material on the Office's website. The Board has no office or budget of its own.

Board Members and Staff

Board Members:

Sareesh Rawat, Chair
Samuel G. Encarnacion
Debra Lynn Gardner
Nivek M. Johnson

Staff:

Sara Klemm, Assistant Attorney General, Counsel
Kentiara Moore, Administrator

Notice of Upcoming Meetings

PIACB Annual Meeting Agenda - PDF

Contact the Board

By mail:

Public Information Act Compliance Board

c/o Office of the Attorney General

200 St. Paul Place

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

By phone: (410) 576-6560

By email: [email protected]