802

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 22

Article 44B - Housing Cooperation and Aid

[6B.

(a)  It is hereby found and declared that there exists
within the area of operation of the housing authority of
Baltimore City AND WASHINGTON COUNTY unsafe and unsanitary
housing conditions and a shortage of safe and sanitary
dwelling accommodations for persons of eligible income; that
these conditions necessitate excessive and disproportionate
expenditures of public funds for crime prevention and
punishment, public health and safety, fire and accident
protection, and other public services and facilities; and
that the public interest requires the remedying of these
conditions.

It is hereby declared that the assistance herein
provided for the remedying of the conditions set forth in
the Housing Authorities Law constitutes a public use and
purpose and an essential governmental function for which
public moneys may be spent, and that the provisions
hereinafter enacted are necessary in the public interest.

(b)  Within the area of operation of the housing
authority of Baltimore City AND WASHINGTON COUNTY, the State
public body shall have the powers enumerated in this article
to aid and cooperate with the housing authority of Baltimore
City AND WASHINGTON COUNTY in the planning, undertaking,
construction or operation of housing or housing projects for
persons of eligible income. For purposes of this section,
the phrase "persons of eligible income" shall mean persons
who individually or as part of a family unit lack sufficient
income or assets (as determined by the mayor of Baltimore
City or his designee OR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY) to enable them, without financial
assistance, to live in decent, safe and sanitary dwellings
without overcrowding. For purposes of this section the
phrase "housing or housing project for persons of eligible
income" means any undertaking or project, or portion
thereof, including lands, buildings and improvements, real,
mixed and personal properties or interest therein that is
planned, acquired, owned, developed, constructed,
reconstructed, rehabilitated or improved for purposes of
providing dwelling accommodations, a substantial portion of
which accommodations shall be for persons of eligible
income, and such streets, roads, sewer and waterlines and
other supporting public and private facilities intended for
commercial, educational, cultural, recreational, community
or other civic purposes as may be deemed necessary for sound
community development.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1981.

Approved April 14, 1981.