Ch. 638

LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 638

(House Bill 187)

AN ACT concerning

Respite Care - Developmental and Functional Disability

FOR the purpose of expanding the scope of the respite care
program to include short-term care of individuals who have a
functional disability; defining a certain term; making this
Act subject to a certain contingency; and generally relating
to respite care for certain disabled individuals.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

Section 128

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1985 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Caring for adults with chronic disability is
relentlessly demanding; and

WHEREAS, Many families hold as a cherished value the ability
to have their loved one at home as long as possible; and

WHEREAS, Many families face the decision to place their
loved one in a nursing home with deep regret; and

WHEREAS, Strengthening the ability for families to continue
care at home as long as possible delays institutionalization and
brings economic savings of Maryland taxes that would otherwise be
spent for more intensive care; now, therefore,

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

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

128.

(a) "Respite care" means short-term care of an individual
with a developmental OR FUNCTIONAL disability tor an individual
with a head injury who, notwithstanding age, meets the definition
of developmentally disabled ], which is provided either within or
outside the individual's home for the purpose of giving temporary
relief to the individual or to the family.

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