HARRY HUGHES, Governor                             3279

end all the provisions of this Act are declared to be
severable.

SUBTITLE 5. PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

4-501.

(A)  IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(B)  "ABUSE" MEANS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTS
BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS:

(1)  TO CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY HARM;

(2)  TO PLACE ANOTHER IN FEAR OF IMMINENT SERIOUS
BODILY HARM; OR

(3)  TO SEXUALLY ABUSE A CHILD, AS DEFINED BY
ARTICLE 27, § 35A(B)8.

(C)  "COURT" MEANS THE DISTRICT COURT OR A CIRCUIT
COURT IN THIS STATE.

(D)  "FAMILY HOME" IS THE PROPERTY IN THIS STATE THAT:

(1)  IS THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF THE HOUSEHOLD
MEMBERS; AND

(2)  AT THE TIME OF THE PROCEEDING IS OWNED,
RENTED, OR LEASED BY AT LEAST ONE OF THE HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.

(E)  "HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS" MEANS SPOUSES, PARENTS, OR
MINOR CHILDREN WHO RESIDED TOGETHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACT
OF ABUSE.

4-502.

(A)  A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER MAY SEEK RELIEF BY FILING A
PETITION WITH THE COURT ALLEGING ABUSE BY ANOTHER HOUSEHOLD
MEMBER.

(B)  THE PETITION SHALL BE UNDER OATH AND SHALL CONTAIN
INFORMATION KNOWN TO THE PETITIONER OF ANY PRIOR OR PENDING
ACTION BETWEEN THE PARTIES IN ANY COURT.

(C)  (1) THE COST OF FILING THE PETITION MAY BE WAIVED
OR DEFERRED BY THE COURT IN ADVANCE ON A SHOWING BY
AFFIDAVIT THAT THE PETITIONER IS:

(I)  INDIGENT; OR

(II)  THAT BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THE
PETITIONER OTHERWISE ABLE TO PAY, IS UNABLE TO PAY THE COST
AT THE TIME OF FILING.