1282                                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [Ch. 257

Article 41 — Governor — Executive and Administrative

Departments
Section 257L

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1971 Replacement Volume and 1974 Supplement)

BY repealing and re—enacting, with amendments,

Article 41 — Governor — Executive and Administrative

Departments
Section 257K(a) and (d)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1971 Replacement Volume and 1974 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 257L be and it is hereby added
to Article 41 — Governor — Executive and Administrative
Departments, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971
Replacement Volume and 1974 Supplement) to read as
follows:

Article 41 — Governor — Executive and Administrative

Departments

257L.

(A) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES,

(1)    THAT MANY RESIDENTS OF MARYLAND ARE
LIVING IN DWELLING UNITS WHICH DO NOT CONFORM TO
BUILDING, HEALTH, SAFETY, FIRE, OCCUPANCY OR OTHER CODES
AND STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO HOUSING, AND THAT THIS
CONDITION IMPEDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY, SAFE, AND
VIABLE COMMUNITIES IN MARYLAND;

(2)    THAT OWNER-OCCUPANTS OF HOUSING IN NEED
OF REHABILITATION ARE FREQUENTLY OF LOW INCOME, THAT
NONOCCUPANT OWNERS OF SUCH HOUSING FREQUENTLY INCUR HIGH
RISKS IN ITS OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, AND THAT FINANCING
BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS THEREFORE FREQUENTLY NOT
AVAILABLE TO ACCOMPLISH NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE
REHABILITATION;

(3)    THAT THE REHABILITATION OF SUITABLE
HOUSING WILL INCREASE ITS ECONOMIC LIFE, IS OFTEN MORE
ECONOMICAL AND LESS DISRUPTIVE THAN REPLACEMENT OF THE
HOUSING AND THE RELOCATION OF ITS OCCUPANTS, CAN BETTER
PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHEN CONDUCTED THROUGH
ORGANIZED HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, IS ESSENTIAL
TO PROMOTE SOUND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE, AND
CAN BE FACILITATED BY THE REHABILITATION OF COMMERCIAL