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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="18-19C-04" title_number="18" title_name="Student Financial Assistance" subtitle_number="19C" subtitle_name="Maryland Able Program">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An eligible individual may participate in and benefit from the Maryland ABLE Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An ABLE account may be established only for an eligible individual by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The eligible individual;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A person selected by the eligible individual; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection and except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, if an eligible individual, whether a minor or an adult, is unable to establish an ABLE account:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The eligible individual’s agent under a power of attorney; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>If the eligible individual does not have a power of attorney, in the following order, the eligible individual’s:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Conservator or legal guardian;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Spouse;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Parent;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>Sibling;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="E">
          <text>Grandparent; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="F">
          <text>Representative payee appointed for the eligible individual by the Social Security Administration.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Board may accept a certification made under the penalties of perjury from the person seeking to establish an ABLE account that indicates:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The basis of the person’s authority to establish the ABLE account; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>There is no other person with a higher priority to establish the ABLE account under paragraph (2)(iii) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The following individuals may not establish an ABLE account on behalf of an eligible individual:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A minor;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>An individual against whom the eligible individual has obtained a peace or protective order;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>An individual who has been held civilly or criminally liable for financial exploitation under Title 13, Subtitle 6 of the Estates and Trusts Article; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>An individual who is the subject of a civil or criminal order prohibiting contact with the eligible individual.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Subject to the provisions of § 529A of the Internal Revenue Code, distributions shall be requested by the designated beneficiary or the person authorized to establish the ABLE account under subsection (a) of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Board may adopt regulations to carry out this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
