(a) Except to the extent that the grant of an application is related to the status of the applicant as a person in interest and except as required by other law or regulation, the custodian may not condition the grant of an application on:
(1) the identity of the applicant;
(2) any organizational or other affiliation of the applicant; or
(3) a disclosure by the applicant of the purpose for an application.
(b) This section does not preclude an official custodian from considering the identity of the applicant, any organizational or other affiliation of the applicant, or the purpose for the application if:
(1) the applicant chooses to provide this information for the custodian to consider in making a determination under Subtitle 3, Part IV of this title;
(2) the applicant has requested a waiver of fees under § 4–206(e) of this subtitle; or
(3) the identity of the applicant, any organizational or other affiliation of the applicant, or the purpose for the application is material to the determination of the official custodian in accordance with § 4–206(e)(2) of this subtitle.
(c) Consistently with this section, an official may request the identity of an applicant for the purpose of contacting the applicant.