2548

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 493

removing a household member who is an alleged child abuser
from the home to protect another household member under
certain circumstances.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,

Article - Family Law
Section 4-507 and 4-510
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1984 Volume)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Family Law

Section 4-501, 4-504, 4-505, 4-506, 4-508, and 4-509

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 Volume)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

4-501.

(a)  In this subtitle the following words have the meanings
indicated.

(b)  (1) "Abuse" means any of the following acts committed
by a household member against another household member:

(1) (I) an act that causes serious bodily harm;

(2) (II) an act that places another in fear of
imminent serious bodily harm; or

(3) (III) [sexual] abuse of a child, as defined in
Title 5, Subtitle 9 of this article.

(2) NOTHING IN THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO
PROHIBIT REASONABLE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, IN LIGHT OF THE AGE AND
CONDITION OF THE CHILD, FROM BEING PERFORMED BY A PARENT OR
STEPPARENT OF THE CHILD.

(c)  "Court" means the District Court or a circuit court in
this State.

(d)  "Family home" means the property in this State that:

(1) is the principal residence of the household
members; and