reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-613 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 6 - Assistive Technology Loan Program|Section 7-613 - Assistive Technology Loan Fund

    (a)    There is an Assistive Technology Loan Fund in the Department.    (b)    The purpose of the Fund is to provide guarantees of loans and subsidies of loan interest for the purchase of assistive technology.    (c)    (1)    The Board shall administer the Fund.        (2)    The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.    (d)    The Fund is a continuing, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.    (e)    Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be paid into the Fund.    (f)    If, at any time, the balance of the Fund exceeds the amount that the Board considers necessary to meet its obligations, on resolution of the Board, the excess shall revert to the General Fund.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-614 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 6 - Assistive Technology Loan Program|Section 7-614 - Assistive Technology Loan Fund -- Composition; Use of Fund

    (a)    The Fund consists of:        (1)    premiums and fees charged for the guarantees of loans or the subsidies of loan interest;        (2)    income from investment earnings;        (3)    proceeds from the sale, disposition, lease, or rental of collateral relating to the guarantees of loans or subsidies of loan interest;        (4)    money appropriated by the State to the Fund; and        (5)    any other money made available to the Fund.    (b)    The Fund shall be used to pay:        (1)    guaranty payments required by loan defaults;        (2)    subsidies of loan interest;        (3)    expenses for administrative, legal, actuarial, technical assistance, and other services; and        (4)    any other expenses and disbursements that the Board authorizes for administering the Fund and financing the guarantees of loans and the subsidies of loan interest for the purchase of assistive technology.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-615 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 6 - Assistive Technology Loan Program|Section 7-615 - Assistive Technology Loan Fund -- Annual Report by Treasurer

    Each year, the Treasurer shall report to the Board and the Secretary on:         (1)    the status of the money invested under this subtitle;        (2)    the market value of the assets in the Fund as of the date of the report; and        (3)    the interest received from investments during the period that the report covers.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-616 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 6 - Assistive Technology Loan Program|Section 7-616 - Annual Report by Board

    On or before January 1 of each year, the Board, through the Secretary, shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly, on the number, amount, and use of loans and subsidies for which the Program has provided guarantees of loans and subsidies of loan interest under this subtitle.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-701 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 7 - Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Mobility Impaired Individuals|Section 7-701 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Blind” means:        (1)    a visual acuity not exceeding 20/200 in the better eye with corrective lenses; or        (2)    a visual field of which the widest diameter subtends an angle of not more than 20 degrees.    (c)    “Deaf” means a permanent hearing loss:        (1)    that necessitates the use of amplification devices to hear oral communication; or        (2)    for which amplification devices are ineffective.    (d)    “Disability” has the meaning stated in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12102.    (e)    “Housing accommodations” means real property, or a portion of real property, that is:        (1)    offered for compensation; and        (2)    used or occupied, or intended to be used or occupied, as the residence or lodging of at least one individual.    (f)    “Mobility impaired” means an inability to carry objects or to move or travel without the use of an assistive device or service animal.    (g)    “Service animal” means a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including:        (1)    guiding individuals with impaired vision;        (2)    alerting individuals with impaired hearing to an intruder or sounds;        (3)    providing minimal protection or rescue work;        (4)    pulling a wheelchair;        (5)    fetching dropped items; or        (6)    detecting the onset of a seizure.    (h)    “Service animal trainer” means a person who trains or raises service animals for individuals with disabilities, whether the person is a professional or volunteer.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-702 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 7 - Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Mobility Impaired Individuals|Section 7-702 - State Policy

    (a)    It is the policy of the State to encourage and enable blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard of hearing individuals to participate fully in the social and economic life of the State and to be employed.    (b)    It is the policy of the State that blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard of hearing individuals shall be employed by the State, political subdivisions of the State, public schools, and other employers supported wholly or partly by public funds on the same terms and conditions as individuals without those disabilities, unless an individual’s disability prevents doing the work required.    (c)    Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the State are recognized as a cultural minority with specialized communication needs.    (d)    (1)    In this subsection, “American Sign Language” means a visual-spatial method of communication that is a distinct language involving the hands, arms, facial markers, and body movements to communicate with others, including the conveyance of thoughts, words, emotions, and grammatical information.        (2)    American Sign Language is recognized as a language system designed to meet the specialized communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-704 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 7 - Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Mobility Impaired Individuals|Section 7-704 - Rights of Individuals With Disabilities

    (a)    Individuals with disabilities, the parents of a minor child with a disability, and service animal trainers who are accompanied by an animal being trained or raised as a service animal have the same right as individuals without disabilities to the full and free use of the roads, sidewalks, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places.    (b)    (1)    Individuals with disabilities, the parents of a minor child with a disability, and service animal trainers who are accompanied by an animal being trained or raised as a service animal are entitled to full and equal rights and privileges with respect to common carriers and other public conveyances or modes of transportation, places of public accommodations, and other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to any conditions and limitations of general application established by law.        (2)    The failure of a blind or visually impaired pedestrian to carry a cane predominantly white or metallic in color, with or without a red tip, or an individual with a disability or a parent of a minor child with a disability to use a service animal wearing an orange license tag or orange collar and on a leash, or to use a service animal in a place, accommodation, or conveyance listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection does not constitute contributory negligence per se.    (c)    (1)    This subsection does not apply to any accommodations or single family residence in which the occupants offer for compensation not more than one room.        (2)    An individual with a disability, a parent of a minor child with a disability, or a service animal trainer who is accompanied by an animal being trained or raised as a service animal is entitled to the same access as other members of the general public to housing accommodations in the State, subject to any conditions and limitations of general application established by law.        (3)    An individual with a disability, a parent of a minor child with a disability, or a service animal trainer who has, obtains, or may wish to obtain a service animal or an animal to be trained or raised as a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to housing accommodations.        (4)    An individual with a disability, a parent of a minor child with a disability, or a service animal trainer who is accompanied by a service animal or an animal being trained or raised as a service animal may not be required to pay extra compensation for the service animal, but the individual may be liable for damages to the premises or facilities that the service animal causes.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-706 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 7 - Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Mobility Impaired Individuals|Section 7-706 - Construction

    (a)    This subtitle does not affect § 21-511 of the Transportation Article as to the right-of-way of a blind, deaf, or hard of hearing pedestrian crossing a highway.    (b)    This subtitle does not require a person who rents or leases housing accommodations to modify the person’s property or provide a higher degree of care for a blind or visually impaired individual than for an individual without those disabilities.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-707 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 7 - Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Mobility Impaired Individuals|Section 7-707 - Violations; Injunction

    (a)    (1)    A person may not deny or interfere with admittance to or enjoyment of a public place, accommodation, or conveyance described in § 7–704 of this subtitle or otherwise interfere with the rights of a blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing individual under this subtitle.        (2)    A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500 for each offense.    (b)    In addition to any other remedy provided under the Code for a violation of this subtitle, a person may maintain a civil action for injunctive relief against another person who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of a public place, accommodation, or conveyance described in § 7–704 of this subtitle or otherwise  interferes with the rights of a blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing individual under this subtitle.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-708 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 7 - Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Mobility Impaired Individuals|Section 7-708 - Training Requirements

    Any organization or agency that requires a professional training program for the following individuals shall include a segment concerning the rights of individuals with disabilities who are accompanied by service animals:        (1)    first responders;        (2)    emergency shelter operators; and        (3)    9–1–1 operators.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-709 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 7 - Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Mobility Impaired Individuals|Section 7-709 - White Cane Safety Day

    The Governor shall take suitable public notice of each October 15 as White Cane Safety Day by issuing a proclamation that:        (1)    comments on the significance of the white cane;        (2)    calls on the public to observe the White Cane Law under §§ 7–704 through 7–707 of this subtitle and to take precautions necessary for the safety of blind and visually impaired individuals;        (3)    reminds the public of the policies with respect to blind and visually impaired individuals and urges cooperation with the policies;        (4)    emphasizes the need for awareness of the presence of blind and visually impaired individuals in the community and the need to keep roads, sidewalks, public accommodations, public buildings, public facilities, other public places, and other places to which the public is invited safe and functional for those individuals; and        (5)    offers assistance to blind and visually impaired individuals on appropriate occasions.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-801 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 8 - Telecommunications Access of Maryland|Section 7-801 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Board” means the Governor’s Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay.    (c)    “Communications company” means a public service company, as defined in § 1–101 of the Public Utilities Article, or any other company, that provides a communications service.    (d)    “Communications service” means:        (1)    landline telephone service;        (2)    wireless or cellular telephone service; or        (3)    Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, as defined in § 8–601 of the Public Utilities Article.    (e)    “Department” means the Department of Disabilities.    (f)    “Dual party telephone relay program” means a service that provides full and simultaneous communication between a person or persons with a disability that prevents them from using a standard telephone and a person or persons without that disability using conventional telephone equipment or other technology or equipment, whereby the disabled person or persons have their message relayed through an intermediary party using specialized telecommunications equipment.    (g)    “Program” means the dual party telephone relay program.    (h)    “Program participant” means a resident of the State who uses the dual party telephone relay program.    (i)    (1)    “Specialized customer telephone equipment” means any communications device that enables or assists a person with a disability to communicate with others by means of the public switched telephone network or Internet protocol–enabled voice communications service.        (2)    “Specialized customer telephone equipment” includes:            (i)    TDD/TT/TTY;            (ii)    amplifiers;            (iii)    captioned telephones;            (iv)    VRS equipment;            (v)    cell phones;            (vi)    pagers;            (vii)    puff blow devices;            (viii)    Braille–TTY devices; and            (ix)    equipment for the mobility disabled.    (j)    “Telecommunications device for the deaf” or “TDD/TT/TTY” means all types of mechanical devices that enable disabled individuals to communicate through messages sent and received through a telephone or wireless network.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-802 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 8 - Telecommunications Access of Maryland|Section 7-802 - Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay Established

    There is a Governor’s Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay in the Department.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-803 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 8 - Telecommunications Access of Maryland|Section 7-803 - Composition of Board -- Terms -- Compensation -- Annual Report

    (a)    The Board shall be composed of 14 individuals appointed by the Governor, who shall designate the chair, including:        (1)    five representatives of the deaf or hard of hearing community;        (2)    one representative of the mobility–impaired community who requires the use of specialized customer telephone equipment;        (3)    one representative of the speech–impaired community who requires the use of specialized customer telephone equipment;        (4)    one representative of the senior citizen community who requires the use of specialized customer telephone equipment;        (5)    one representative of the deaf–blind community;        (6)    three representatives of government, one of whom is a representative of the Public Service Commission;        (7)    one representative from the Maryland Commission on Disabilities; and        (8)    one representative from the Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.    (b)    (1)    The term of a member is 3 years.        (2)    The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on June 30, 2008.        (3)    At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.        (4)    A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.        (5)    The Governor may remove a member for incompetence or misconduct.    (c)    The members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.    (d)    By January 1 of each year, the Board shall file an annual report on its activities to the General Assembly in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.    (e)    The Board shall advise the Department with regard to the program’s:        (1)    level of access to program participants; and        (2)    quality of service.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-804 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 8 - Telecommunications Access of Maryland|Section 7-804 - Department in Consultation With Board

    (a)    The Department in consultation with the Board shall:        (1)    establish and administer a program to provide cost–efficient, 24–hour, dual party relay service to program participants at a comparable level of access and quality that a standard telecommunication service provides to a person without a hearing or speech disability;        (2)    develop the program in collaboration with State programs currently serving disabled individuals and with community agencies or other organizations that have established relay programs; and        (3)    maintain an information and referral service to provide information about the availability of the relay service.    (b)    The Department in consultation with the Board shall:        (1)    contract with a private vendor or nonprofit organization to provide the information and referral service required under subsection (a)(3) of this section; and        (2)    provide appropriate staff assistance from the Department, including a director, to assist the Board in carrying out its duties under this subtitle.    (c)    The director provided under subsection (b)(2) of this section shall:        (1)    be an individual who is:            (i)    deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or speech disabled; and            (ii)    is a user of telecommunications relay services;        (2)    direct the implementation of services and programs established in accordance with this subtitle and Subtitle 9 of this title; and        (3)    advise the Department and the Secretary of Disabilities on regulatory policy and the administration of the Universal Service Trust Fund.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-805 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 8 - Telecommunications Access of Maryland|Section 7-805 - Regulations

    The Department in consultation with the Board shall adopt regulations to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.
MD. Human Services Code Ann. §  7-901 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Human Services|Title 7 - Individuals With Disabilities|Subtitle 9 - Telecommunications Devices and Distribution of Accessible Information for Disabled Individuals|Section 7-901 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Board” means the Governor’s Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay established in Subtitle 8 of this title.    (c)    “Department” means the Department of Disabilities.    (d)    “Program” means the program administered by the Department in consultation with the Board to provide financial assistance for the purchase of specialized customer telephone equipment by eligible program participants.    (e)    “Program participant” means a person who:        (1)    is a resident of the State;        (2)    is certified by a licensed professional as having a disability which seriously limits or prohibits the use of the telephone or wireless network without specialized customer telephone equipment;        (3)    is certified by a licensed professional as being able to use specialized customer telephone equipment for which application is made;        (4)    meets the financial eligibility requirements established by the Department as a recipient of:            (i)    Transitional Emergency Medical and Housing Assistance (TEMHA);            (ii)    Supplemental Security Income (SSI);            (iii)    Social Security Disability Income (SSDI); or            (iv)    Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); and        (5)    at the time of application is not receiving similar services which are available and can be provided in a timely manner through another program.    (f)    “Qualified entity” means a nonprofit organization that:        (1)    produces audio editions of daily newspapers, available for interstate distribution using high–speed computer and telecommunications technology; and        (2)    provides a means of program administration and reader registration on the Internet.    (g)    “Specialized customer telephone equipment” or “equipment” means any communications device designed to assist program participants in using a telephone or wireless service provider’s network.    (h)    “System” means the method which the Department shall use to provide equipment to eligible program participants.