2050                                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 684

by an employer, except that "employee" does not include any
person elected to public office or any person chosen by the
officer to be on the officer's personnel staff, or an
appointee in the policy making level or an immediate advisor
with respect to the exercise of the constitutional or legal
powers of the office. The exception set forth in the
preceding sentence does not include employees subject to the
State or local civil service laws.

(f)    The term "religion" includes all aspects of
religious observances and practice, as well as belief,
[unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable
reasonably to accommodate to an employee's or prospective
employee's religious observances or practice without] EXCEPT
IN THOSE CASES WHEN THE OBSERVANCE, PRACTICE, OR BELIEF
CANNOT BE REASONABLY ACCOMMODATED BY AN EMPLOYER WITHOUT
CAUSING undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's
business.

(g)    The term "physical or mental handicap" means any
physical disability, infirmity, malformation or
disfigurement which is caused by bodily injury, birth defect
or illness including epilepsy, and which shall include, but
not be limited to, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack
of physical coordination, blindness or visual impairment,
deafness or hearing impairment, muteness or speech
impediment or physical reliance on a seeing eye dog,
wheelchair, or other remedial appliance or device; and any
mental impairment or deficiency as, but not limited to,
retardation or such other which may have necessitated
remedial or special education and related services.

[211 19.

(a)    It is the policy of the State of Maryland to
provide for fair housing throughout the State of Maryland,
to all its citizens, regardless of race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, marital status, or physical or mental
handicap; and to that end to prohibit discriminatory
practices with respect to residential housing by any person
or group of persons, in order that the peace, health,
safety, prosperity and general welfare of all the
inhabitants of the State may be protected and insured. This
law shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the
State of Maryland for the protection of the people of the
State, and shall be administered and enforced by the State
of Maryland Commission on Human Relations.

(b)    For purposes of this subtitle:

(1) "Dwelling" means any building, structure,
or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or
intended for occupancy as a residence by one or more
families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or
lease for the construction or location thereon of any such
building, structure, or portion thereof.

(2) "Family" includes a single individual.