2202

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 627

within 12 months from the date of the receipt of such prepayment
shall be applied as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection.

(7)  The Department shall report to the Governor and,
subject to § 2-1312 of the State Government Article, to the
General Assembly before January 1 of each year the financial
status of the program and a summary of its operations for the
preceding fiscal year.

(8)  EACH OF THE SPECIAL LOAN PROGRAMS SHALL OPERATE
WITH MONEYS APPROPRIATED BY THE STATE TO THE FUND SPECIFICALLY
FOR EACH SUCH PROGRAM, AND SUCH OTHER MONEYS OR GRANT FUNDS
AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SPECIAL LOAN PROGRAMS. IN
THE EVENT THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WHICH QUALIFY FOR A SPECIAL
LOAN UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS OF A PARTICULAR SPECIAL LOAN PROGRAM
ARE INSUFFICIENT TO COMMIT ALL MONEYS APPROPRIATED TO THE PROGRAM
WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE APPROPRIATION, THEN THE DEPARTMENT MAY
REALLOCATE ANY REMAINING MONEYS APPROPRIATED TO THAT PROGRAM TO
ANY OTHER SPECIAL LOAN PROGRAM OR THE MARYLAND HOUSING
REHABILITATION PROGRAM.

257L-1.

(A)(1) THE SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SHALL ADOPT, BY REGULATION, A MINIMUM LIVABILITY CODE THAT SETS
MINIMUM PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS PER HOUSING IN THE STATE.
THE STANDARDS MAY BE EQUAL TO BUT MAY NOT EXCEED THOSE OF THE
BUILDING OFFICIALS AND CODE ADMINISTRATORS NATIONAL EXISTING
STRUCTURES CODE, 1984.

(A) (1) EACH LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISION SHALL ADOPT, BY
REGULATION, A LOCAL HOUSING CODE THAT SETS MINIMUM PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE STANDARDS FOR HOUSING IN THE SUBDIVISION.

(2) THE SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT SHALL ADOPT, BY REGULATION, A MINIMUM LIABILITY CODE
THAT:

(I) SETS MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS FOR HOUSING
IN THE STATE: AND

(II) ALLOWS FOR EXCEPTIONS AND VARIATIONS
BETWEEN SUBDIVISIONS TO REFLECT GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES OR WHEN
THE SECRETARY DETERMINES THAT UNIQUE LOCAL CONDITIONS JUSTIFY
VARIATIONS OR EXCEPTIONS RECOMMENDED BY LOCAL SUBDIVISIONS.

(2) (3) THE LIVABILITY CODE SHALL INCLUDE MINIMUM
STANDARDS FOR:

(I) BASIC EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES USED FOR
LIGHT, VENTILATION, HEAT, AND SANITATION; AND

(II) SAFE AND SANITARY MAINTENANCE OF
RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES AND PREMISES.