Marvin Mandel, Governor                       1559

Section 40 thereof, to require landlords to assure tenants that
tenants may peaceably enter rented premises at the beginning of
the term.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 40A be and it is hereby added to Article 53 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume and 1971
Supplement), title "Landlord and Tenant," subtitle "Public Policy,"
to follow immediately after Section 40 thereof, and to read as follows:

(a) A landlord shall assure his tenant that the tenant may peace-
ably and quietly enter upon the leased premises at the beginning of
the term of any lease.

(B) IF THE LANDLORD FAILS TO PROVIDE THE TEN-
ANT WITH POSSESSION OF THE DWELLING UNIT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE TERM OF ANY LEASE, THE RENT PAY-
ABLE UNDER THE LEASE SHALL ABATE UNTIL SUCH TIME
AS POSSESSION IS DELIVERED; AND THE TENANT MAY,
UPON WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE LANDLORD, TERMINATE,
CANCEL AND RESCIND THE RENTAL AGREEMENT, AND
UPON THE TERMINATION, CANCELLATION AND RESCIS-
SION, THE LANDLORD SHALL RETURN ALL MONEY OR
PROPERTY GIVEN AS PREPAID RENT, DEPOSIT, OR SECUR-
ITY, AND, IN ADDITION, PAY SUCH CONSEQUENTIAL DAM-
AGES AS A COURT MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE.

(b) (C) This section shall only apply to residential dwellings.
SINGLE OR MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING UNITS.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1972.

Approved May 26, 1972.

CHAPTER 574
(House Bill 996)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 16 of
Article 77 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement
Volume and 1971 Supplement), title "Public Education," subtitle
"Chapter 2. State Board of Education," to provide that no person
otherwise possessing the qualifications of a teacher may be denied
either certification or a job solely on the basis that that person is
blind; and to reletter as appropriate AND ELIMINATING A PRO-
VISION IN THE LAW CONCERNING RENEWAL REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR CERTIFICATION.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 16 of Article 77 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1969 Replacement Volume and 1971 Supplement), title "Public Ed-

40A.