Ch. 35

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

"Casualty insurance" § 1-101
"Commissioner" § 1-101
"Health insurance" § 1-101
"Insurance" § 1-101
"Insurance business" § 1-101
"Insurer" § 1-101
"Life insurance" § 1-101
"Policy" § 1-101
"Property insurance" § 1-101
"Surety insurance" § 1-101
"Title insurance" § 1-101

"Wet marine and transportation insurance" § 1-101
27-504. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

(A) DEFINITIONS.

(1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(2) "ABUSE" HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 4-501 OF THE FAMILY LAW

ARTICLE.

(3) "COHABITANT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS HAD A SEXUAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WITH WHOM THE INDIVIDUAL HAS
RESIDED FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 90 DAYS.

(4) "VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO:

(I) HAS RECEIVED DELIBERATE, SEVERE, AND DEMONSTRABLE
PHYSICAL INJURY FROM A CURRENT OR FORMER SPOUSE OR CURRENT OR FORMER
COHABITANT; OR

(II) IS IN FEAR OF IMMINENT DELIBERATE, SEVERE, AND
DEMONSTRABLE PHYSICAL INJURY FROM A CURRENT OR FORMER SPOUSE OR
CURRENT OR FORMER COHABITANT.

(B) PROHIBITED.

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE, IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS A
VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SUBJECT TO ABUSE, AN INSURER, NONPROFIT
HEALTH SERVICE PLAN, OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION MAY NOT USE
INFORMATION ABOUT ABUSE OR THE INDIVIDUAL'S STATUS AS A VICTIM OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO:

(1) CANCEL, REFUSE TO UNDERWRITE OR RENEW, OR REFUSE TO ISSUE
A POLICY OF LIFE INSURANCE OR HEALTH INSURANCE OR A HEALTH BENEFITS

PLAN;

(2) REFUSE TO PAY A CLAIM, CANCEL, OR OTHERWISE TERMINATE A
POLICY OF LIFE INSURANCE OR HEALTH INSURANCE OR A HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN;

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