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LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 21

REVISOR'S NOTE TO SECTION: Former Article 59A, § 3(g),
(h), and (u), which defined the terms "county",
"Department", and "Secretary", is deleted as
unnecessary in light of the similar definitions
of those terms in § 1-101 of this article.

Former Article 59A, § 3(c), which defined "Board"
to mean the "Board of Public Works", is deleted
as unnecessary since reference to the Board of
Public Works appears only twice in this title
and, therefore, the full term is used. This
deletion also allows the definition of "Board",
in § 7-304 of this title, to mean a citizens'
advisory board for a State facility.

Former Article 59A, § 3(o), which defined
"parent" to mean a natural or adoptive parent, is
deleted as unnecessary.

7-102. LEGISLATIVE POLICY.

TO ADVANCE THE PUBLIC INTEREST, IT IS THE POLICY OF

THIS STATE:

(1)  TO PROMOTE, PROTECT, AND PRESERVE THE HUMAN
DIGNITY,. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES, SOCIAL
WELL-BEING, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF MENTALLY RETARDED
INDIVIDUALS IN THIS STATE;

(2)  TO ENCOURAGE THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE
ABILITY AND POTENTIAL OF EACH MENTALLY RETARDED INDIVIDUAL
IN THIS STATE, NO MATTER HOW SEVERE THE DISABILITY;

(3)  TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC SECURITY, STANDARD
OF LIVING, AND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT OF MENTALLY RETARDED
INDIVIDUALS;

(4)  TO FOSTER THE INTEGRATION OF MENTALLY
RETARDED INDIVIDUALS INTO THE ORDINARY LIFE OF THE
COMMUNITIES WHERE THESE INDIVIDUALS LIVE;

(5)  TO RECOGNIZE THE RIGHT OF THOSE MENTALLY
RETARDED INDIVIDUALS FOR WHOM CARE IN A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY
IS NECESSARY TO LIVE IN SURROUNDINGS AS NEARLY NORMAL AS
POSSIBLE AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR THIS
PURPOSE;

(6)  TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SOCIAL AND PROTECTIVE
SERVICES FOR THOSE MENTALLY RETARDED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
UNABLE TO MANAGE THEMSELVES AND THEIR AFFAIRS WITH ORDINARY
PRUDENCE;

(7)  TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS AND TO HELP
PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IN PLANNING FOR AND MANAGING MENTALLY
RETARDED INDIVIDUALS;