2786

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 799

The Secretary of Human Resources shall establish and
[maintain] ADMINISTER A PROGRAM TO ASSIST BATTERED SPOUSES
AND THEIR CHILDREN. AS ONE COMPONENT OF THE STATE PROGRAM, A
[a model] THE shelter [home] SHALL BE located ESTABLISHED in
a major population center of the State AND SHALL SERVE THE
SURROUNDING AREA. [The model shelter shall be located so as
to facilitate the use of the shelter by battered spouses and
their children living in the region surrounding the shelter.
The purpose of the model shelter shall be to house, care
for, and rehabilitate battered spouses and their children.
The shelter home shall be designed and staffed as follows:]
IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE BATTERED SPOUSES
AND THEIR CHILDREN, IN EACH GEOGRAPHICAL REGION OF THE
STATE, AS FUNDS ARE PROVIDED IN THE BUDGET, TEMPORARY
SHELTER, OR ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING SHELTER, COUNSELING,
INFORMATION, REFERRAL, AND REHABILITATION.

(A)  THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS GOVERN THE EACH
SHELTER;

[(a)] (1) The shelter shall provide battered spouses
and their children with a temporary residence and necessary
counselling.

[(b)] (2) The Social Services Administration shall
supervise, direct, control and manage the EACH shelter home.

[(c)] (3) The Social Services Administration shall
establish standards of care and admission policies. The
Administration shall monitor the operation of the EACH
shelter home and annually evaluate its effectiveness.

[(d)] (4) The EACH shelter home is subject to rules
and regulations promulgated by the Social Services
Administration. The home shall accept, from the police and
other referral sources in the community, battered spouses
and their children for temporary shelter. Housing may be
provided under this subtitle only if the applicant for
housing is a resident of Maryland at the time application
for housing is made.

(B)  AS FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE, THE SECRETARY MAY
EXTEND THE BATTERED SPOUSES PROGRAM OR ANY PORTION THEREOF
TO OTHER AREAS IN THIS STATE. EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM MAY
INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL SHELTER SHELTERS
OR THE PROVISION OF FUNDS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL
ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATIONS OR AGENCIES WHICH DEMONSTRATE A
CAPABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO ADMINISTER A BATTERED SPOUSE
PROGRAM.

(C)  THE SECRETARY SHALL ANNUALLY SUBMIT A REPORT TO
THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A REPORT
ON THE CENTER AND ITS PROGRAMS PROGRAM.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1980.