Sec. 01.04.01.02. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Abuse" means:

(a) An act that causes serious bodily harm;

(b) An act that places an individual in fear of imminent serious bodily harm;

(c) Battery or assault and battery;

(d) Rape or sexual offense as defined by Criminal Law Article, §§3-303-3-306, Annotated Code of Maryland, or attempted rape or sexual offense; or

(e) False imprisonment.

(2) "Batterer" means an individual who has abused a current or former spouse, or current or former cohabitant.

(3) "Nonshelter services" means those services provided to the victim of domestic violence and any immediate family while not residing at the safe accommodation.

(4) “Office” means the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.

(5) "Program" means a local domestic violence service program, in a specific area of the State, designed to meet the needs of a victim of domestic violence and the family.

(6) "Safe accommodation" means that location where the victim of domestic violence and children may take refuge from the batterer.

(7) "Shelter" means a specific facility operated by a domestic violence program designed to be a safe accommodation.

(8) "Shelter services" means those services provided to the victim of domestic violence and any children while they reside at the safe accommodation.

(9) "Victim of domestic violence" means an individual who has received deliberate, severe, and demonstrable physical injury or is in fear of imminent deliberate, severe, and demonstrable physical injury from a current or former spouse, or a current or former cohabitant, as defined in Family Law Article, §4-501, Annotated Code of Maryland.