§ 8-215

# (a)

# (1)

A person claiming to be aggrieved by discrimination prohibited by § 8-214 of this subtitle may file a sworn, written complaint with the Attorney General.

# (2)

The Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee shall investigate all written complaints.

# (3)

The Attorney General may initiate an investigation of a suspected violation.

# (4)

If there is reasonable cause for believing that a country club or golf course has practiced or is practicing discrimination in violation of § 8-214 of this subtitle, the Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee shall hold a hearing to determine the existence of the alleged violation.

# (5)

The Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee may:

(i) administer oaths; and

(ii) issue subpoenas to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of books, papers, records, and documents.

# (b)

If the Attorney General finds evidence of a pattern or practice of discrimination, the Attorney General shall make a consent agreement with the country club or golf course to end the discrimination.

# (c)

If a country club or golf course refuses to make a consent agreement, or breaches or violates a consent agreement, the Attorney General shall issue an order to the country club or golf course to end the discrimination.

# (d)

# (1)

If a country club or golf course fails to comply with an order issued under subsection (c) of this section, the country club or golf course may not be assessed as a country club or golf course under § 8-213 of this subtitle until the Attorney General determines that the country club or golf course complies with the order.

# (2)

A country club or golf course that has failed to comply with an order issued under subsection (c) of this section shall be assessed as if there were no agreement under § 8-213 of this subtitle. However, the country club or golf course is not liable for the unpaid taxes described in § 8-216 of this subtitle.

# (e)

A country club or golf course may appeal any action taken under this section as provided by §§ 10-222 and 10-223 of the State Government Article.

# (f)

# (1)

If a country club or golf course fails to provide information requested by the Attorney General to investigate a charge of discrimination, the Attorney General may request that the circuit court for the county in which the country club or golf course is located issue a subpoena for the information.

# (2)

If the circuit court finds that the information sought relates to proof of discrimination by a country club or golf course, the court shall issue a subpoena for the information.

# (g)

# (1)

After a complaint has been filed, the Attorney General may bring an action to obtain a temporary injunction.

# (2)

The action shall be brought in the circuit court for the county where the country club or golf course which is the subject of the alleged discrimination is located.