HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                      1269

(i) An adult residential environment or home
that is certified by the Department of Human Resources;

(ii) A nursing facility or visiting nurse
service that is conducted only by or for adherents of a bona fide
church or religious organization, in accordance with tenets and
practices that include reliance on treatment by spiritual means
alone for healing; or

(iii) Any   sheltered housing for the elderly, as

defined in Article 70B, § 1   of the Code, that is certified by the

Office on Aging, unless     the housing provides for more than 15
individuals:

1.  In one building that does not have
more than one apartment unit; or

2.  If there are apartment units in the
building, in one apartment unit.

19-347.

(a)  (1) In this section the following words have the
meanings indicated.

(2)  (i) "Abuse" means the nontherapeutic infliction
of physical pain or injury, or any persistent course of conduct
intended to produce or resulting in mental or emotional distress.

(ii) "Abuse" does not include the performance
of an accepted medical procedure that a physician orders.

(3)  "Law enforcement agency" means the Maryland State
Police or a police agency of a county or municipal corporation.

(b)  (1) A person who believes that a resident of a related
institution has been abused shall report promptly the alleged
abuse to an appropriate law enforcement agency, the Secretary, or
the Office on Aging.

(2)  A report:

(i) May be oral or written; and

(ii) Shall contain as much information as the
reporter is able to provide.

(3)  The recipient of the report promptly shall
notify:

(i) The other parties referred to in paragraph
(1) of this subsection; and

(ii) Unless the administrator is the alleged
abuser, the administrator of the related institution.