2846                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 987

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 59A — Mental Retardation

Section 3(q) and (r), 20A, 20B, and 20C

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 59A - Mental Retardation

Section 3(h), (p), and (r), 5, 8(d) and (h), 10(c) and

(d), 15(e), 19(c), 20(b) and (d), 22(b), and 38

through 42, inclusive
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1972 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds and declares that
there is a need for private group homes for persons who are
mentally retarded and whose development would be enhanced by
residing in an appropriate private group home in lieu of a
large State institution. These private group homes are but
one component in providing for the residential needs of the
mentally retarded and in alleviating shortages of living
accommodations for the mentally retarded. It is eminently
desirable to standardize throughout the State the areas in
which private group homes may be located, and thereby to
eliminate discriminatory housing practices because of mental
retardation. The public interest requires, to the extent
practicable, some affirmative effort to supplement public
expenditure to satisfy the need for housing for mentally
retarded persons by promoting the establishment of private
group homes. These private group homes should be licensed
by the State and should be allowed in any area in which a
public group home may be allowed; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section(s) 3(q), (c) , (d) , (e) , (s), (f),
(g), (i), (j), (t), (k), (1), (m), (n), and (o),
respectively, of Article 59A - Mental Retardation, of the
Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s)
3 (c) through (i) , (1) through (p), and (s) through (u),
respectively.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That section(s)
of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed, amended, or
enacted to read as follows:

Article 59A - Mental Retardation