Sec. 01.02.11.07. Authorization Card

A. Within 10 working days of receipt of a completed and signed application, the Secretary shall approve or deny the applicant as a participant.

B. If an application is approved, an authorization card shall be issued within 5 working days after the application is approved. The Secretary shall issue an authorization card to each victim of domestic violence named on the application form. The authorization card shall include:

(1) The participant's name;

(2) The authorization number;

(3) The substitute mailing address;

(4) The participant's signature;

(5) The expiration date;

(6) The phone number of the Program; and

(7) A list of the Program requirements for the purposes of a notification under Family Law Article, §4-529(c)(1), and State Government Article, §7-311(c)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland.

C. If an applicant is denied, the Secretary shall notify the applicant of the denial and the reasons for the denial within 5 working days of the denial.

D. Use of Authorization Card.

(1) A participant may request that a State or local agency or any person use the substitute address designated by the Secretary as the participant’s address.

(2) The participant shall show the participant's authorization card to the agency employee responsible for the record or to any person and request use of the substitute address.

(3) Agency personnel or any person:

(a) May make a photocopy of the authorization card; and

(b) Shall return the card to the participant.

(4) The agency shall accept the substitute address unless there is a waiver granted for a specific participant by the Secretary.

(5) Agency personnel or any person:

(a) May not question the participant regarding the details of the participant's inclusion in the Program;

(b) May not require a participant to submit any address that could be used to physically locate the participant either instead of or in addition to the substitute address, or as a condition of receiving a service or benefit, unless the service or benefit would be impossible to provide without knowledge of the participant’s physical location;

(c) May not require any additional proof of Program participation other than the Notice of ACP Participation in accordance with Family Law Article, §4-526 (b)(2), or State Government Article, §7-308(b)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland;

(d) May not charge any fee to comply with this chapter; and

(e) Shall accept the substitute address as the address of the participant.

(6) A current and valid authorization card presented to agency personnel or any person shall be acceptable as a form to put an agency or a person on notice of Program participation in accordance with Family Law Article, §4-529, or State Government Article, §7-311, Annotated Code of Maryland.

E. Lost or Stolen Authorization Card. The Secretary shall replace an authorization card after the participant has filed an affidavit with the Secretary certifying that the card has been lost or stolen. The affidavit shall be on a form provided by the Secretary.