WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                       H.B. 351

a protective order; repealing provisions for petitions for modification of protective
orders; continuing the effect of, and providing for the modification and enforcement
of a District Court order after filing of an appeal to a circuit court under certain
circumstances; repealing a prohibition on a certain filing fee; making stylistic
changes; and generally relating to protection against domestic violence.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Family Law
Section 4-501(b), (c), (h)(3), (4), and (5), and (i)(2)(ii)3, 4-504(d)(1) 4-504(d),

4-505(a)(2)(iv) and (vi) and (c)(2), 4-506(b)(2), (d)(4) and (8), and (f),

4-507(b), and 4-508
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1991 Replacement Volume and 1993 Supplement)

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

Article - Family Law

4-501.

(b) (1) "Abuse" means any of the following acts:

(i) an act that causes serious bodily harm;

(ii) an act that places a person eligible for relief in fear of imminent
serious bodily harm;

(iii) battery or assault [and battery];

(iv) rape or sexual offense as defined by Article 27, §§ 462 through
464C or attempted rape or sexual offense; OR

(v) false imprisonment [;].

[(vi)] (2) IF THE PERSON FOR WHOM RELIEF IS SOUGHT IS A CHILD,
"ABUSE" MAY ALSO INCLUDE abuse of a child, as defined in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of this
article. [; or

(vii) abuse of a vulnerable adult.

(2)] Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to prohibit reasonable
punishment, including reasonable corporal punishment, in light of the age and condition
of the child, from being performed by a parent or stepparent of the child.

(3) IF THE PERSON FOR WHOM RELIEF IS SOUGHT IS A VULNERABLE
ADULT, "ABUSE" MAY ALSO INCLUDE ABUSE OF A VULNERABLE ADULT, AS
DEFINED IN TITLE 14, SUBTITLE 1 OF THIS ARTICLE.

(c) "Cohabitant" moans a person who has had a sexual relationship with the
respondent and resided with the respondent [in the home] for a period of at least 90
days within 1 year before the filing of the petition.

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