(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Commissioner shall publish a notice of the filing of the agreement.

(2) The notice shall be published in the Maryland Register as provided in the State Documents Law.

(b) Subject to confirmation by the Secretary of Labor, the Commissioner may approve an agreement without the notice required by this section if:

(1) The agreement and proposed transaction meet the requirements of § 3-706 of this subtitle;

(2) The financial condition or stability of one of the constituent banks is such that a delay of the proposed transaction will cause an economic hardship to it; and

(3) Approval of the agreement is in the public interest.