§ 1-101. Definitions


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  •    (a) In general. -- In this article the following words have the meanings indicated.

    ** REVISOR'S NOTE
     
       This subsection is new language added as the standard introductory language to a definition section.

    (b) County. -- "County" means a county of the State or Baltimore City.

    ** REVISOR'S NOTE
     
       This subsection is new language added to indicate that a reference in this article to a "county" includes Baltimore City unless the reference specifically provides otherwise.

    ** REVISOR'S NOTE
     
       Article 1, § 14(a) provides that "county" includes Baltimore City "unless such construction would be unreasonable". Because the word "unreasonable" in that section has been interpreted in various ways, the Human Services Article Review Committee decided that an explicit definition of "county" should be included in this article.

    (c) Person. -- "Person" means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity.

    ** REVISOR'S NOTE
     
       This subsection is new language added to provide an express definition of the term "person".

    ** REVISOR'S NOTE
     
       The definition of "person" in this subsection does not include a governmental entity or unit. The Court of Appeals of Maryland has held consistently that the word "person" in a statute does not include the State, its agencies, or subdivisions unless an intention to include these entities is made manifest by the legislature. See, e.g., Unnamed Physician v. Commission on Medical Discipline, 285 Md. 1, 12-14 (1979).

    ** REVISOR'S NOTE
     
       As to the term "personal representative", see Art. 1, § 5.

    (d) State. -- "State" means:

       (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

       (2) the District of Columbia.

    ** REVISOR'S NOTE
     
       This subsection is new language added to provide an express definition of the term "state". This definition conforms to the definition of "state" in other revised articles of the Code. See, e.g., IN § 1-101(kk), PUC § 1-101(dd), SP § 1-101(o), CS § 1-101(n), and CR § 1-101(i).


HISTORY: 2007, ch. 3, § 2.