5302

COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

Bill No. 29-73

AN ACT to add a new Chapter 23A to the Montgomery
County Code 1972, title "Group Residential Facilities",
to follow immediately after Chapter 23 thereof to
establish licensing and related regulatory requirements
for single—family facilities in which residential and
supportive services are provided to certain classes of
persons including but not limited to those with
emotional, mental, familial or social differences.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, MARYLAND, that -

Sec. 1. There is hereby added to the Montgomery
County Code 1972 a new chapter to be Known as Chapter
23A, title "Group Residential Facilities" to follow
immediately after Chapter 23 thereof and to read as
follows:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

23A-1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES FROM ITS OWN
INVESTIGATION, REPORTS, HEARINGS, AND FROM COMMUNITY
GROUPS THAT:

(A)   THERE ARE PERSONS WHO IN THE COURSE OF PROGRAMS
OF FORMAL REHABILITATION THERAPY GREATLY BENEFIT FROM A
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOME ENVIRONMENT.

(B)    THERE ARE PERSONS WHO ARE ABLE TO FUNCTION AS
PRODUCTIVE, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY THROUGH
GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT BUT WHO BENEFIT FROM A STYLE OF LIVING
IN WHICH THEY ARE HOUSED WITH PERSONS OF COMPATIBLE
BACKGROUNDS AND CAPABILITIES WITHIN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME
ENVIRONMENT.

(C)    THERE ARE PERSONS WHO AT SOME STAGE IN LIFE
DESIRE AND BENEFIT FROM LIVING IN A SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT WITH INDIVIDUALS OF A COMPARABLE
AGE GROUP.

(D)   SUCH PERSONS ARE ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT THE
INTENSIVE CARE AND SERVICES NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH
INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS ESTABLISHED FOR THE AGED,
DISABLED, OR EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED AND ARE ABLE TO BECOME
ACCEPTED MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.