1728                                   LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 622

CHAPTER 622

(House Bill 1246)

AN ACT concerning

Physically Handicapped - State Building Code

FOR the purpose of providing for local enforcement of the
State Building Code for the Handicapped; providing that
the Maryland Society of Architects, rather than the
State Board of Architects, assist in developing certain
rules and regulations; requiring the Department of
Economic and Community Development to carry out
certain functions; and relating generally to the State
Building Code for the Handicapped.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 41 — Governor — Executive and Administrative

Departments
Section 257JK

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1978 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 41 — Governor — Executive and Administrative

Departments

257JK.

The Department of Economic and Community Development,
or the appropriate division thereof, shall promulgate and
adopt a State building code for the purpose of developing
rules and regulations for making buildings and facilities
accessible and usable by the physically handicapped to the
extent feasible. The rules and regulations shall be
developed in conjunction with the Governor's Committee for
Employment of the Handicapped, the Maryland Rehabilitation
Association, and the [State Board of Architects] MARYLAND
SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE CODE SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES HAVING
AUTHORITY OVER BUILDINGS OR FACILITIES. HOWEVER, THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SHALL
DECIDE QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION OF THE CODE AND AUTHORIZE
ANY WAIVERS OR EXEMPTIONS UNDER THE CODE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.