PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 556

enjoyment of the public facilities enumerated in this section, or otherwise interferes with
the rights of a blind or visually handicapped person or a deaf or hearing impaired person
under this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject upon conviction to a fine not
exceeding $500 for each offense.

(2) In addition to any other remedy provided under this Code for a violation
of this article, any individual, firm, or corporation, or the agent of any individual, firm, or
corporation, who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public
facilities enumerated in this section, or otherwise interferes with the rights of a blind or
visually handicapped person or a deaf or hearing impaired person under this section, may
be subject to a civil action for injunctive relief.

(i) (1) Blind or visually handicapped persons shall be entitled to full and equal
access, as other members of the general public, to all housing accommodations offered for
rent, lease, or compensation in the State of Maryland, subject to the conditions and
limitations established by law, or State or federal regulations, and applicable to all
persons alike.

(2) "Housing accommodations" means any real property, or portion thereof,
which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied, as
the home, residence, or sleeping place of one or more human beings, but does not include
any accommodations, included within paragraph (1) of this subsection, or any single
family residence, the occupants of which rent, lease, or furnish for compensation not
more than one room therein.

(3) Nothing in this section requires any person renting or leasing housing
accommodations to modify his property in any way or provide a higher degree of care for
a blind person or visually handicapped person, than for a person who is not blind or
visually handicapped.

(4) Every blind or visually handicapped person or deaf or hearing impaired
person who has a [guide] SERVICE dog, or who obtains a [guide] SERVICE dog, or who
may wish to obtain a [guide] SERVICE dog, is entitled to full and equal access to all
housing accommodations provided for in this section. Blind or visually handicapped
persons or deaf or hearing impaired persons shall not be required to pay extra
compensation for [guide] SERVICE dogs, [provided he] HOWEVER THE PERSON may
be liable for any damages done to the premises or facilities by [his] THE SERVICE dog.

(j) (1) In this section, "mobility impaired person" means a person who is unable
to carry objects or to move or travel about without the use of an assistive device or
[guide] SERVICE dog.

(2) (i) A mobility impaired person may be accompanied by a [guide]
SERVICE dog especially trained for the purpose in any place where a blind or visually
handicapped or deaf or hearing impaired person has the right to be accompanied by a
[guide] SERVICE dog.

(ii) A mobility impaired person accompanied by a [guide] SERVICE
dog as described under this subsection may not be required to pay extra compensation for
the [guide] SERVICE dog, [provided] HOWEVER the mobility impaired person may be
liable for any damages to the premises or facilities caused by the [guide] SERVICE dog.

- 3043 -