Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1391

(g) "Mobile home" means an industrialized building unit con-
structed on a chassis for towing to the point of use and designed
to be used without a permanent foundation for continuous year-
round occupancy as a dwelling,; or two or more such units sepa-
rately towable, but designed to be joined together at the point of
use to form a single dwelling, and which is designed for removal to,
and installation or erection on other sites. The removal of the unit
from its wheels shall not be used to change its character under
this Act.

(h) "Secretary" means Secretary of the Department of Economic
and Community Development.

(i) "Site" means the entire tract, subdivision or parcel of land
on which an industrialized building is installed.

266EE-3. Rules and Regulations.

(a) The Department shall (1) from time to time, promulgate rules
and regulations prescribing standards to which industrialized build-
ings and mobile homes must comply for protection against the
hazards thereof to safety, health and property; (2) have due regard
for model codes, regulations and standards of nationally recognized
organizations when issuing regulations; and (3) establish such regu-
lations and modifications of regulations only after adequate public
notice and public hearings are held.

(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, FROM TIME. TO TIME,
PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS PRESCRIBING
STANDARDS TO WHICH INDUSTRIALIZED BUILDINGS AND
MOBILE HOMES MUST COMPLY FOR PROTECTION AGAINST
THE HAZARDS THEREOF TO SAFETY, HEALTH AND PROP-
ERTY. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT FOR INDUSTRIAL-
IZED BUILDINGS, THE BUILDING OFFICIALS CONFERENCE
OF AMERICA BASIC CODE WITH SUCH EXCEPTIONS OR
MODIFICATIONS WHICH, AFTER ADEQUATE PUBLIC NO-
TICE AND PUBLIC HEARING IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE TO
MEET THE NEEDS AND JUDGMENTS OF MARYLAND.

(b)   Where practical, the rules and regulations shall be stated in
terms of required levels of performance, so as to facilitate the
prompt approval of acceptable new building materials and methods.
When generally recognized standards of performance are not avail-
able, the rules and regulations shall provide for acceptance of ma-
terials and methods whose performance have been found by the
Department, on the basis of reliable test and evaluation data pre-
sented by the proponent, to be substantially equal in safety to those
specified when used for the purpose and in the manner recommended.

(c)   The Department shall have printed and keep in pamphlet form,
all rules and regulations prescribing standards for industrialized
buildings and mobile homes. Such pamphlets shall be furnished, on
request, at cost, to members of the public.

(d)  No rules or regulations promulgated under this Act shall be
made effective earlier than twelve months after the effective date
of this Act.

266EE-4. Certification and Inspection.

(a) The Department shall, through its own personnel or by an
approved testing facility and/or qualified local enforcement agency