<section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="5-101" title_number="5" title_name="Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Director” means the Director of the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Office” means the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>“Tenant” means a residential tenant.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Tenant” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a subtenant;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a lessee;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a sublessee; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>any other individual, other than an owner, who is entitled to the possession or occupancy, or the benefits of possession or occupancy, of any residential rental unit in the State.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="5-102" title_number="5" title_name="Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>There is an Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs in the Department.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The purpose of the Office is to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>ensure that tenants have access to educational resources to aid in understanding and exercising the tenants’ rights under State law;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>provide tenants with information on how to report a violation of their legal rights as tenants and facilitate referrals of reported violations to appropriate enforcement agencies;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>provide tenants with information on how to obtain financial counseling; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>notify appropriate authorities regarding housing discrimination and other unfair or illegal housing practices.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="5-103" title_number="5" title_name="Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The Secretary shall appoint the Director of the Office.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Director:</text> <level label="1"> <text>serves at the pleasure of the Secretary; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>reports to the Secretary.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="5-104" title_number="5" title_name="Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The Office shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>develop resources to aid tenants in understanding and exercising the legal rights of tenants, including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights, summarizing the existing rights and remedies available to residential tenants under State and federal law; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a publicly accessible website to provide access to the Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights and other relevant informational resources;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>establish points of contact within the Office by which a tenant may report a violation by a landlord or a person acting on behalf of a landlord for referral to appropriate enforcement agencies;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>provide resources to facilitate access by tenants to credit counseling;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>refer covered individuals, as defined in § 8–901 of the Real Property Article, to the Access to Counsel in Evictions Program that is administered by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>collaborate with county and local governments that provide tenant advocacy and assistance;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>receive notices and other documents related to a tenant’s exclusive negotiation period and right of first refusal under § 8–119 of the Real Property Article; and</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>adopt regulations governing the content and delivery of notices for a tenant’s exclusive negotiation period and right of first refusal under § 8–119 of the Real Property Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Office may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>implement fair housing testing to ensure compliance by landlords with fair housing laws; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>identify landlords that are out of compliance with federal, State, or local law and facilitate referrals of cases to an appropriate law enforcement agency or another appropriate agency.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>On or before June 1 each year, the Office shall publish the Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights on its website.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights shall include contact information for the Office.</text> </level> </level> </section>