reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-703 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 7 - Discrimination in Housing|Section 20-703 - Construction of Subtitle

    This subtitle does not:        (1)    invalidate or limit any local law that requires dwellings to be designed and constructed in a manner that affords an individual with a disability greater access than is required by § 20–706(b) of this subtitle;        (2)    limit the applicability of any reasonable local, State, or federal restrictions regarding the maximum number of occupants allowed to occupy a dwelling;        (3)    prohibit the State or a local government from enacting standards that govern the location of group homes, as defined in § 4–601 of the Housing and Community Development Article;        (4)    affect the powers of any local government to enact an ordinance on any subject covered by this subtitle, provided that the ordinance does not authorize any act that would be a discriminatory housing practice under this subtitle;        (5)    require that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would:            (i)    constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals; or            (ii)    result in substantial physical damage to the property of others;        (6)    prohibit conduct against a person because the person has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of the illegal manufacture or distribution of:            (i)    a controlled dangerous substance, as defined in § 5–101 of the Criminal Law Article; or            (ii)    a controlled substance, as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 802;        (7)    unless membership in the religion is restricted on the basis of race, color, or national origin, prohibit a religious organization, association, or society or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association, or society from giving preference or limiting the sale, rental, or occupancy of dwellings that it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion; or        (8)    prohibit a private club that is not open to the public and that, as an incident to its primary purpose or purposes, provides lodgings that it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose, from limiting the rental or occupancy of the dwellings to its members or from giving preference to its members.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-705 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 7 - Discrimination in Housing|Section 20-705 - Discriminatory Housing Practices -- Sale or Rental of Dwelling

    Except as provided in §§ 20–703 and 20–704 of this subtitle, a person may not:        (1)    refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income;        (2)    discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection with the sale or rental of a dwelling, because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income;        (3)    make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published, any notice, statement, or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income, or an intention to make any preference, limitation, or discrimination;        (4)    represent to any person, because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income, that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when the dwelling is available; or        (5)    for profit, induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person of a particular race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-707 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 7 - Discrimination in Housing|Section 20-707 - Discrimination in Residential Real Estate-Related Transactions; Discrimination in Professional Services or Organizations

    (a)    In this section, “residential real estate–related transaction” means:        (1)    the making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:            (i)    for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling; or            (ii)    secured by residential real estate; or        (2)    the selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property.    (b)    (1)    A person whose business includes engaging in residential real estate–related transactions may not discriminate against any person in making available a transaction, or in the terms or conditions of a transaction, because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income.        (2)    Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not prohibit a person engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property from taking into consideration factors other than race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income.    (c)    A person may not, because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income:        (1)    deny a person access to, or membership or participation in, a multiple–listing service, real estate brokers’ organization, or other service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; or        (2)    discriminate against a person in the terms or conditions of membership or participation.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-708 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 7 - Discrimination in Housing|Section 20-708 - Interference With Exercise of Rights

    A person may not coerce, intimidate, threaten, interfere with, or retaliate against any person:         (1)    in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected by this subtitle;        (2)    because a person has exercised or enjoyed any right granted or protected by this subtitle; or        (3)    because a person has aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected by this subtitle.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-709 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 7 - Discrimination in Housing|Section 20-709 - Duties of Executive Units

    Each executive unit, including units with regulatory or supervisory authority over financial institutions, shall:        (1)    administer its programs and activities in a manner that furthers the purposes of this subtitle; and        (2)    cooperate with the Commission to further the purposes of this subtitle.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-710 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 7 - Discrimination in Housing|Section 20-710 - Powers and Duties of Commission

    (a)    The Commission shall:        (1)    cooperate with and provide technical assistance to federal, State, local, and other governmental units or private agencies, organizations, and institutions that are formulating or carrying on programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices;        (2)    conduct studies concerning the nature and extent of discriminatory housing practices in representative urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the State; and        (3)    publish and disseminate reports, recommendations, and information derived from studies conducted under item (2) of this subsection.    (b)    The Commission may:        (1)    cooperate with local units charged with the administration of local fair housing laws;        (2)    with the consent of the local units, utilize the services and employees of the local units;        (3)    enter into written agreements with local units to further cooperative efforts to carry out the purposes of this subtitle; and        (4)    notwithstanding any other law, reimburse local units and their employees for services provided to assist in carrying out this subtitle.    (c)    To further the purposes of this subtitle, the Commission may conduct educational and conciliatory activities, including:        (1)    conferences to acquaint interested persons with the provisions of this subtitle and the plans for implementation of this subtitle;        (2)    in consultation with interested persons, programs of voluntary compliance and of enforcement; and        (3)    consultations with interested persons and State and local officials to learn:            (i)    the extent, if any, to which housing discrimination exists in the State or local political subdivisions; and            (ii)    how State or local enforcement programs may be used to combat housing discrimination in connection with, or instead of, the Commission’s enforcement of this subtitle.    (d)    (1)    In accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article, the Commission may adopt regulations to implement this subtitle and Subtitle 10, Part II of this title.        (2)    The Commission shall adopt regulations requiring local units that are certified as substantially equivalent by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under 42 U.S.C. § 3610 to file annual reports with the Commission containing the information specified by the Commission.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-801 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 8 - Aiding, Abetting, or Attempting Discriminatory Act; Obstructing Compliance|Section 20-801 - Prohibited Acts

    A person may not:        (1)    aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce any person to commit a discriminatory act;        (2)    attempt, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others, to commit a discriminatory act; or        (3)    obstruct or prevent any person from complying with this title or any order issued under this title.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-901 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 9 - Discrimination by Governmental Units, Officers, and Employees|Section 20-901 - In General

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a unit, officer, or employee of the State, a county, or a municipal corporation may not engage in a discriminatory act prohibited by § 20–304, § 20–606, § 20–705, § 20–706, § 20–707, or § 20–708 of this title.    (b)    Sections 20–304, 20–705, and 20–706 of this title do not prohibit the State, a county, or a municipality from:        (1)    providing separate facilities for males and females in government–owned or government–operated public institutions; or        (2)    operating or funding special or separate programs and facilities for children, seniors, or other special populations.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-902 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 9 - Discrimination by Governmental Units, Officers, and Employees|Section 20-902 - Cases Against Governmental Respondents

    (a)    In an employment discrimination case in which a unit, officer, or employee of the State, a county, or a municipality is a respondent, the rules, procedures, powers, rights, and remedies that apply are the same as those that apply in a discrimination case in which a private person is the respondent.    (b)    In a discrimination case in which a unit, officer, or employee of the State, a county, or a municipality is a respondent, the Commission may seek injunctive relief or judicial enforcement of its orders against the respondent.    (c)    In a discrimination case in which the Commission, or a member, officer, or employee of the Commission, is a respondent, the Governor shall specially designate a person to perform the functions usually performed by the Commission.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-903 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 9 - Discrimination by Governmental Units, Officers, and Employees|Section 20-903 - Waiver of State's Sovereign Immunity in Employment Discrimination Cases

    The State, its officers, and its units may not raise sovereign immunity as a defense against an award in an employment discrimination case under this title.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-904 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 9 - Discrimination by Governmental Units, Officers, and Employees|Section 20-904 - Payment of Awards Against State

    (a)    If the State has sufficient money available at the time an award is made against the State under this title, the State shall pay the award as soon as practicable within 20 days after the award is final.    (b)    (1)    If sufficient money is not available at the time an award is made against the State under this title, the affected State unit or officer shall report the outstanding award to the State Comptroller.        (2)    The Comptroller shall:            (i)    keep an accounting of all outstanding awards; and            (ii)    report the accounting annually to the Governor.    (c)    (1)    The Governor shall include in the State budget sufficient money to pay all awards made against the State under this title.        (2)    On appropriation of money by the General Assembly, the Comptroller shall authorize payment of all outstanding awards under this title in the order of the date on which each award was made.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 11 - Prohibited Acts; Criminal Penalties|Section 20-1101 - Disclosure of Confidential Information

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, during an investigation of a complaint alleging a discriminatory act, and until the matter reaches the stage of public hearings:            (i)    the activities of all members and employees of the Commission in connection with the investigation shall be conducted in confidence and without publicity; and            (ii)    the members and employees of the Commission may not disclose any information relating to the investigation, including the identity of the complainant and the respondent.        (2)    (i)    Information may be disclosed at any time if both the complainant and respondent agree to the disclosure in writing.            (ii)    The identity of the complainant may be disclosed to the respondent at any time.    (b)    A member or employee of the Commission who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 11 - Prohibited Acts; Criminal Penalties|Section 20-1102 - Disobeying Subpoena or Discovery Order in Housing Discrimination Case; Falsifying Documentary Evidence

    (a)    If it is in the person’s power to comply, a person may not willfully fail or neglect to attend and testify, answer any lawful inquiry, or produce records, documents, or other evidence, in compliance with a subpoena or other lawful order issued under § 20–1023(a) of this title.    (b)    A person may not, with intent to mislead another person in any proceeding under Subtitle 10, Part II of this title:        (1)    make or cause to be made any false entry or statement of fact in any report, account, record, or other document produced in compliance with a subpoena or other lawful order issued under § 20–1023(a) of this title;        (2)    willfully neglect or fail to make or cause to be made full, true, and correct entries in any report, account, record, or other document produced in compliance with a subpoena or other lawful order issued under § 20–1023(a) of this title; or        (3)    willfully mutilate, alter, or by any other means falsify any documentary evidence.    (c)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $100,000 or both.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1103 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 11 - Prohibited Acts; Criminal Penalties|Section 20-1103 - Injury, Intimidation, or Interference With Protected Housing Activities

    (a)    In this section, “disability”, “dwelling”, “familial status”, “marital status”, “rent”, and “source of income” have the meanings stated in § 20–701 of this title.    (b)    Whether or not acting under color of law, a person may not, by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with:        (1)    any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income and because the person is or has been:            (i)    selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing, or occupation of any dwelling; or            (ii)    applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings;        (2)    any person because the person is or has been, or in order to intimidate the person or any other person or any class of persons from:            (i)    participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income, in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in item (1) of this subsection; or            (ii)    affording another person or class of persons the opportunity or protection to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in item (1) of this subsection; or        (3)    any person because the person is or has been, or in order to discourage the person or any other person from:            (i)    lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or source of income, in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in item (1) of this subsection; or            (ii)    participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in item (1) of this subsection.    (c)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:        (1)    imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both;        (2)    if the violation results in bodily injury, imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both; or        (3)    if the violation results in death, imprisonment not exceeding life.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1104 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 11 - Prohibited Acts; Criminal Penalties|Section 20-1104 - Making Complaint Maliciously

    (a)    This section does not affect the right of a respondent to bring a civil action against a person that has filed a complaint under Subtitle 10, Part I of this title.    (b)    A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if:        (1)    the person has claimed to be aggrieved under Subtitle 10, Part I of this title;        (2)    the person has pursued the complaint under §§ 20–1006 and 20–1008 through 20–1011 of this title;        (3)    the Commission has:            (i)    found the complaint to be unfounded; or            (ii)    dismissed the complaint without further action against the respondent; and        (4)    the court has found the complaint to have been made maliciously.    (c)    A person convicted under this section is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 12 - Civil Actions -- Violations of County Discrimination Laws|Section 20-1201 - "Prevailing Party" Defined

    In this subtitle, “prevailing party” has the meaning as judicially determined under 42 U.S.C. § 1988.
MD. State Government Code Ann. §  20-1202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|State Government|Title 20 - Human Relations|Subtitle 12 - Civil Actions -- Violations of County Discrimination Laws|Section 20-1202 - Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties

    (a)    This section applies only in Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County.    (b)    In accordance with this section, a person that is subjected to a discriminatory act prohibited by the county code may bring and maintain a civil action against the person that committed the alleged discriminatory act for damages, injunctive relief, or other civil relief.    (c)    (1)    An action under subsection (b) of this section shall be commenced in the circuit court for the county in which the alleged discriminatory act occurred within 2 years after the occurrence of the alleged discriminatory act.        (2)    (i)    Subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection, an action under subsection (b) of this section alleging discrimination in employment or public accommodations may not be commenced sooner than 45 days after the aggrieved person files a complaint with the county unit responsible for handling violations of the county discrimination laws.            (ii)    Subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection, an action under subsection (b) of this section alleging discrimination in real estate may be commenced at any time.    (d)    In a civil action under this section, the court may award the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees, expert witness fees, and costs.