(a) The Office of Information Privacy may:
(1) Request that a person or governmental entity use a substitute address designated by the Office of Information Privacy as the Program participant’s address;
(2) Request the shielding of real property records on behalf of a Program participant who has an ownership interest in real property in accordance with Title 3, Subtitle 1, Part II of the Real Property Article; and
(3) Request that a Program participant’s actual address be shielded from public inspection in a record maintained by a governmental entity.
(b) A request made by the Office of Information Privacy under this subtitle certifies that a requester is a Program participant.
(c) On receipt of a request by the Office of Information Privacy, a person or governmental entity shall:
(1) Promptly acknowledge receipt of the request in writing by certified mail or by e–mail; and
(2) Take steps reasonably necessary to comply.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(3) of this section, a custodian of record may:
(1) Maintain a copy of a record containing a Program participant’s actual address in a separate secure area to which persons who do not have a legitimate reason for access are denied access;
(2) Permit public inspection of a record with the consent of the Program participant;
(3) Permit public inspection of a record with the actual address redacted from the record; or
(4) After notification to the Program participant, permit public inspection of a record if the inspection will further a substantial public interest or a legitimate business need.