Maryland State Government Section 9-1011

      (a)      The Archives is the central depository for and custodian of each deed, title insurance policy, and other record that relates to real property acquired by the State.

      (b)      The Archives may allow a unit of the State government to have custody of an original record that relates to real property acquired by the State, if the unit:

            (1)      needs the record for the daily operation of the unit;

            (2)      demonstrates to the Archives that the unit will preserve the record adequately; and

            (3)      deposits with the Archives a security microform copy of the record.

      (c)      (1)      The Archives shall receive, index, and file durable-backed, microfilm aperture card copies or electronic images of plats showing property or rights-of-way acquired or conveyed by the State Roads Commission and the State Highway Administration.

            (2)      (i)      The Archives electronically shall post an image of each plat on the Archives website (https://www.plats.net) for the county where the property or right-of-way is located.

                  (ii)      The posted image shall conform to a generally accepted archival standard in quality and permanence.

                  (iii)      The image shall include or be linked to a certification by the State Archivist that the image is an authentic representation of the plat received by the Archives.

                  (iv)      Such certification by the State Archivist shall constitute a recordation of the plat.

                  (v)      The Archives may charge a reasonable fee to the State Roads Commission, the State Highway Administration, and the courts to recover the cost of electronically posting and maintaining the images of plats.

                  (vi)      The Archives may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed $3, to the public for the cost of reproducing a copy of a plat under this subsection.