1800                                                 LAWS OF MARYLAND [Ch. 508

to Article 44A — Housing Authorities, of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume and 1973
Supplement) to read as follows:

Article 44A - Housing Authorities
8A.

(A)    IT IS HEREBY FOUND AND DECLARED THAT THERE
EXISTS WITHIN MONTGOMERY COUNTY A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF
DECENT, SAFE AND SANITARY DUELLING ACCOMMODATIONS
AVAILABLE EITHER TO RENT OR PURCHASE WHICH PERSONS OF
ELIGIBLE INCOME CAN AFFORD AND THAT, AS A RESULT, SUCH
PERSONS ARE FORCED TO OCCUPY OVERCROWDED AND CONGESTED
DWELLING ACCOMMODATIONS, OR ARE REQUIRED TO PAY AN
INORDINATE SHARE OF THEIR INCOME FOR SHELTER; THAT THE
AFORESAID CONDITIONS NECESSITATE EXCESSIVE AND
DISPROPORTIONATE EXPENDITURES OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SAFETY, FIRE AND ACCIDENT PROTECTION, AND
OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES; THAT THE SHORTAGE
OF DECENT, SAFE AND SANITARY DWELLINGS CANNOT WHOLLY BE
RELIEVED THROUGH THE OPERATION OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE; AND
THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING FOR PERSONS OF ELIGIBLE
INCOME, AID/OR THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO ASSIST
IN SECURING THE PRODUCTION OF SUCH HOUSING ARE,
THEREFORE, NOT COMPETITIVE WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE; AND
THAT THE NECESSITY FOR SUCH CONSTRUCTION AND THE
EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, FOR
THE PROVISIONS HEREINAFTER ENACTED, ARE HEREBY DECLARED
AS A MATTER OF LEGISLATIVE DETERMINATION TO BE VALID
PUBLIC PURPOSES.

(B)    FROM AND AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT,
IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, THE PUBLIC BODY CORPORATE AND
POLITIC ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, HERETOFORE
KNOWN AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY,
SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION OF
MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND SHALL HAVE SEVEN, RATHER THAN FIVE,
COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED AND EXERCISING THE POWERS AND
DUTIES AS SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE. THE COMMISSIONERS
PRESENTLY IN OFFICE SHALL CONTINUE TO SERVE FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TERMS. THE TWO ADDITIONAL
COMMISSIONERS PROVIDED FOR HEREIN SHALL BE DESIGNATED TO
SERVE FOR TERMS OF FOUR AND FIVE YEARS, RESPECTIVELY,
FROM THE DATE OF THEIR APPOINTMENT, BUT THEREAFTER SAID
COMMISSIONERS SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF OFFICE OF
FIVE YEARS.

(C)    THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION OF
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHALL, IN ADDITION TO THE POWERS
ENUMERATED IN THIS ARTICLE, HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
EXERCISE ALL OR ANY PART OR COMBINATION OF SUCH POWERS TO
PROVIDE FOR HOUSING OR HOUSING PROJECTS FOR PERSONS OF
ELIGIBLE INCOME; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE EXERCISE OF