.01 Purpose.

A. The purpose of the Maryland Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program is to:

(1) Allow a survivor of threatened, attempted, or actual domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, or human trafficking to have a State or local government agency and private entities use a substitute address in place of an actual address;

(2) Enable State and local agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing the location of a survivor of threatened, attempted, or actual domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, or human trafficking;

(3) Enable interagency cooperation in providing address confidentiality for survivors of threatened, attempted, or actual domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, or human trafficking; and

(4) Enable a Program participant to use an address designated by the Secretary as a substitute address.

B. This chapter describes the process to be followed to apply for participation in the Program. While the law permits an individual to apply for participation in the Program on that individual's own behalf, it is anticipated and encouraged that assistance with the application be provided by domestic violence programs or other professionals who may be counseling the survivor. In this regard, the regulations streamline the application process when the required documentation is provided by individuals associated with domestic violence programs or other application assistants registered with the Secretary.

C. This chapter requires the use of a participant’s substitute address designated by the Secretary and prohibits disclosure of a participant’s identity information as defined in Real Property Article, §3-114 (e), Annotated Code of Maryland, by both governmental and nongovernmental entities. The Secretary shall forward all first-class, registered, and certified mail received by the Secretary for a participant.