HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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(3)  "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION.

(4)  "DWELLING" MEANS THE DWELLING UNIT OF A
RENTER WHICH IS USED AS THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF THAT
RENTER. A DWELLING MAY NOT BE DEEMED A PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE
WHICH IS NOT ACTUALLY OCCUPIED OR EXPECTED TO BE ACTUALLY
OCCUPIED BY THE RENTER FOR AT LEAST 6 CALENDAR MONTHS OF THE
CALENDAR YEAR FOR WHICH THE TAX CREDIT IS SOUGHT.

(5)  "GROSS INCOME" MEANS TOTAL INCOME FROM ALL
SOURCES FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE
TAXABLE YEAR, WHETHER OR NOT INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITIONS OF
GROSS INCOME FOR FEDERAL OR STATE TAX PURPOSES, AND
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BENEFITS UNDER THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ACT OR RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT AS THESE ACTS MAY BE
AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE AGGREGATE OF GIFTS IN EXCESS
OF $300, ALIMONY, SUPPORT MONEY, NONTAXABLE STRIKE BENEFITS7
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECEIVED IN CASH GRANTS, PENSIONS,
ANNUITIES, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS, AND WORKMEN'S
COMPENSATION BENEFITS. THE TERM INCLUDES THE NET INCOME
RECEIVED FROM BUSINESS, RENTAL, OR OTHER ENDEAVORS. A LOSS
FROM BUSINESS, RENTAL, OR OTHER ENDEAVORS MAY NOT BE USED IN
THE DETERMINATION OF GROSS INCOME.

(6)  "NET WORTH" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS IN
SECTION 12F-1 OF THIS ARTICLE.

(7)  "OCCUPANCY RENT" MEANS THE RENT PAID FOR THE
RIGHT TO OCCUPY THE DWELLING. IN INSTANCES WHERE UTILITIES
AND FURNISHINGS ARE INCLUDED IN THE PAYMENT, OCCUPANCY RENT
IS THE RENT PAYMENT REDUCED BY THE REASONABLE VALUE OF
UTILITIES AND FURNISHINGS.

(8)  "RENTER" MEANS EVERY PERSON WHO IS 60 YEARS
OF AGE OR OLDER OR WHO IS DISABLED AS DEFINED IN SECTION
12F-1 OF THIS ARTICLE AND WHO, DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR FOR
WHICH THE CREDIT IS TO BE ALLOWED, ACTUALLY RESIDES IN A
DWELLING IN WHICH HE THEN HAD A LEASEHOLD INTEREST.
LEASEHOLD INTEREST INCLUDES ANY JOINT TENANCY, TENANCY IN
COMMON, TENANCY BY THE ENTIRETIES, OR THROUGH MEMBERSHIP IN
A COOPERATIVE WHICH IS LEASING THE PREMISES.

(B)  FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR, 1979 AND EACH YEAR
THEREAFTER, THERE IS CREATED A PROGRAM OF PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF FOR PERSONS RESIDING IN A DWELLING.

(C)  A RENTER MAY RECEIVE, UPON APPLICATION TO THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION, PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF FROM RENT PAID WHICH CONSISTS OF PAYMENT OF A PORTION
OF THE ASSUMED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCLUDED IN THE OCCUPANCY
RENT PAID BY THE RENTER. THE PAYMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED $450
AND SHALL BE EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF ASSUMED REAL PROPERTY
TAX INCLUDED IN OCCUPANCY RENT WHICH IS IN EXCESS OF A
PERCENTAGE OF THE GROSS INCOME, OR COMBINED INCOME, OF THE
RENTER. THE PERCENTAGE SHALL NOT EXCEED 1.5 PERCENT OF THE