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<section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="10-1202" title_number="10" title_name="Department of Aging" subtitle_number="12" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Grant Programs">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Caregiver” means an individual who provides care or support to a qualified family member.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Licensed physician” has the meaning stated in § 14–101 of the Health Occupations Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Physician assistant” has the meaning stated in § 15–101 of the Health Occupations Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Program” means the Caregiver Expense Grant Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Qualified expenses” means expenses paid or incurred by a caregiver for goods or services that relate directly to the care or support of a qualified family member, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the improvement or alteration of the caregiver’s primary residence to enable or assist the qualified family member to be mobile, safe, or independent;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the purchase or lease of equipment to enable or assist the qualified family member to carry out one or more day–to–day activities;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>employing a home care aide or personal care attendant; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>the costs for:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>adult day care;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>specialized transportation;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>legal or financial services; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>assistive care technology.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Qualified expenses” does not include:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>unspecialized food, clothing, or transportation expenses;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>ordinary household maintenance or repair expenses that are not directly related to or necessary for the care of the qualified family member; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>any amount that is paid or reimbursed:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>under an insurance policy;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>by the federal government;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>by the State; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>by a political subdivision of the State.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>“Qualified family member” means an individual who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>requires assistance with one or more daily living activities, as certified by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse practitioner; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>is at least 60 years old and is cared for by an adult relative or informal caregiver who is at least 18 years old;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>has Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder and is cared for by an adult relative or informal caregiver who is at least 18 years old; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>is a child or an adult with developmental or functional disabilities and is cared for by a parent, grandparent, or other relative that is at least 55 years old.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>“Registered nurse practitioner” has the meaning stated in § 8–101 of the Health Occupations Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a Caregiver Expense Grant Program in the Department.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Subject to the limitations of this section, the Department may award a grant to a caregiver for qualified expenses paid or incurred by the caregiver if the caregiver’s federal adjusted gross income does not exceed:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>$75,000 if the caregiver is filing an individual tax return; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>$150,000 if the caregiver is filing a joint tax return.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A caregiver shall apply for a grant under the Program in the form and manner the Department requires.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the amount of the grant allowed under subsection (c) of this section is equal to 30% of the qualified expenses paid or incurred by the caregiver that exceed $2,000.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For any fiscal year, the amount of the grant may not exceed $2,500.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>For any fiscal year, the Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of up to $5,000,000 to the Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Department may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
