MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                               1283

BUILDING SERVING COMMUNITIES WHERE HOUSING REHABILITATION
IS DESIRABLE;

(4) THAT THE REHABILITATION OF HOUSING, THE
DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY, SAFE, AND VIABLE COMMUNITIES IN
MARYLAND, AND THE REHABILITATION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
TO FACILITATE THE REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
HOUSING ARE A PROPER PUBLIC PURPOSE AND STATE USE FOR
WHICH PUBLIC MONEY MAY BE EXPENDED AND PROPERTY MAY BE
ACQUIRED.

(B) DEFINITIONS.

(1)    AS USED IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING
TERMS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2)    "COUNTY" INCLUDES BALTIMORE CITY.

(3)    "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND "SECRETARY" MEANS
THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.

(4) "FAMILIES OF LIMITED INCOME" MEANS
PERSONS AND FAMILIES (INCLUDING THOSE DEFINED AS
"ELDERLY" IN FEDERAL HOUSING LEGISLATION) WHOSE INCOMES
DO NOT EXCEED LIMITS ESTABLISHED BY THE SECRETARY, TAKING
INTO CONSIDERATION FACTORS INCLUDING (I) THE AMOUNT OF
THE TOTAL INCOME OF THE FAMILY AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING
NEEDS, (II) THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY, (III) THE COST AND
CONDITION OF AVAILABLE HOUSING FACILITIES, (IV) THE
ABILITY OF THE FAMILY TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY IN THE
PRIVATE HOUSING MARKET, AND (V) STANDARDS AND DEFINITIONS
ESTABLISHED FOR PERTINENT FEDERAL AND MARYLAND HOUSING
PROGRAMS. THE SECRETARY MAY WAIVE INCOME LIMITS AS TO
BORROWERS OR OCCUPANTS, FOR LOANS TO REHABILITATE
BUILDINGS OF HISTORIC OR ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AS
DEFINED BY THE STATE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OFFICER.

(5) "REHABILITATION" MEANS THE REPAIR,
RECONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, REDEVELOPMENT, OR IMPROVEMENT
OF AN EXISTING BUILDING TO RESTORE IT TO A DECENT, SAFE,
AND SANITARY CONDITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE
CONSTRUCTION, HEALTH, SAFETY, FIRE, OCCUPANCY, AND OTHER
CODES AND STANDARDS, TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDING CAN BE
MAINTAINED IN THAT CONDITION, AND TO IMPROVE THE GENERAL
UTILITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE BUILDING. APPLICABLE
CODES AND STANDARDS SHALL BE THOSE IN FORCE IN THE
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION WHERE THE BUILDING IS LOCATED. IF
THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION LACKS CODES AND STANDARDS
DEEMED SUFFICIENT BY THE SECRETARY TO PROMOTE THE OBJECTS
OF THIS ACT, THE DEPARTMENT MAY BY REGULATION PRESCRIBE
CODES AND STANDARDS WHICH SHALL APPLY IN THAT SUBDIVISION
SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT. THE SECRETARY MAY ALLOW