1670

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 325

[(b)] (C) As funds become available, the Secretary may
extend the battered spouses program or any portion thereof
to other areas in this State. Expansion of the program may
include the establishment of additional shelters or the
provision of funds and technical assistance to local
organizations or agencies which demonstrate a capability and
willingness to administer a battered spouse program.

[(c)] (D) The Secretary shall annually submit a report
to the Maryland General Assembly which shall include a
report on the program.

104.

[Funds for the establishment and operation of the model
shelter home shall be provided as follows:

(a)  The Secretary of Human Resources shall by rule and
regulation set charges for services rendered by the model
shelter home. The rules and regulations shall require that:

(1)  Housing shall be provided by the model
shelter home only if the applicant for housing assigns to
the State, to the extent of any charges for services of the
model shelter home, any right, title, and interest in
support from any source or person that the applicant has in
his or her own behalf, or in behalf of any other family
members for whom he or she is applying for housing,
including any right accrued when the assignment is executed.

(2)  Payment of any charge, or a portion thereof,
for services of the model shelter home shall be waived by
the Department of Human Resources if, after an investigation
of the financial condition of the person receiving services
and the person's spouse, the Department determines that the
financial means of the person receiving services and the
person's spouse are insufficient to make the required
payment.

(3)  Collection of any unpaid charge for services
of the model shelter home shall be made by the central
collection unit within the Department of Budget and Fiscal
Planning. In collecting any unpaid charges, the central
collection unit shall have the right to sue, for recovery of
such charges, the spouse who committed the battering act
which caused the spouse who incurred such charges to become
a battered spouse.

(4)  Any payment made pursuant to this
subparagraph for services of the model shelter home shall be
applied toward the costs of establishment and operation of
the model shelter home.

(b)  The State shall pay fifty percent of the cost of
establishment and operation of the model shelter home which
remains after the application of any funds received under
(a) above, provided that the Secretary of Human Resources