(a)      It is the policy of this State to encourage and enable the blind or the visually handicapped and the deaf or hearing impaired to participate fully in the social and economic life of the State and to engage in remunerative employment.

      (b)      It is the policy of this State that the blind or visually handicapped and the deaf or hearing impaired shall be employed in the State service, the service of the political subdivisions of the State, in the public schools, and in all other employment supported in whole or in part by public funds on the same terms and conditions as the persons not so handicapped, unless it is shown that the particular handicap prevents the performances of the work involved.

      (c)      The blind or the visually handicapped and the deaf or hearing impaired have the same right as the persons not so handicapped to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places.

      (d)      (1)      The blind or the visually handicapped and the deaf or hearing impaired are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, streetcars, boats or other public conveyances or modes of transportation, hotels, lodging places, places of public accommodations, amusement, or resort, or other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable to all persons.

            (2)      A blind or visually handicapped pedestrian using a service dog and not carrying a cane predominantly white or metallic in color (with or without a red tip); or a deaf or hearing impaired pedestrian using a service dog not wearing an orange license tag or orange collar and on a leash; or a blind or visually handicapped pedestrian or a deaf or hearing impaired pedestrian using a service dog in any of the places, accommodations or conveyances listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or a service dog trainer accompanied by a dog that is being trained as a service dog displaying the identification required by subsection (l) of this section, has all the rights and privileges conferred by law upon any other person.

            (3)      The failure of a blind or visually handicapped pedestrian to carry a cane predominantly white or metallic in color (with or without a red tip) or a deaf or hearing impaired pedestrian to use a service dog wearing an orange license tag, orange collar and on a leash, or to use a service dog in any of the places, accommodations, or conveyances listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not be held to constitute contributory negligence per se.

      (e)      Nothing in this section modifies or alters the provisions of § 21-511 of the Transportation Article as to the right-of-way of blind or deaf or hearing impaired pedestrians crossing highways.

      (f)      Every blind or visually handicapped person or deaf or hearing impaired person has the right to be accompanied by a service dog, especially trained for the purpose, in any of the places listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of this section, without being required to pay an extra charge for the service dog; however, the person is liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by the service dog.

      (g)      (1)      Any person or persons, firm, or corporation, or the agent of any person or persons, firm, or corporation, who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities enumerated in this section, or otherwise interferes with the rights of a blind or visually handicapped person or a deaf or hearing impaired person under this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $500 for each offense.

            (2)      In addition to any other remedy provided under this Code for a violation of this article, any individual, firm, or corporation, or the agent of any individual, firm, or corporation, who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities enumerated in this section, or otherwise interferes with the rights of a blind or visually handicapped person or a deaf or hearing impaired person under this section, may be subject to a civil action for injunctive relief.

      (h)      Each year the Governor shall take suitable public notice of October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. He shall issue a proclamation in which he comments upon the significance of the white cane; calls upon the citizens of the State to observe the provisions of the White Cane Law and to take precautions necessary to the safety of the visually handicapped; reminds citizens of the State of the policies with respect to the blind and urges the citizens to cooperate in giving effect to them; emphasizes the need of the citizens to be aware of the presence of visually handicapped persons in the community and to keep safe and functional for the blind or visually handicapped the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public accommodations, public buildings, public facilities, other public places, amusement and resort, and other places to which the public is invited; and offers assistance to the blind or visually handicapped person upon appropriate occasions.

      (i)      (1)      Blind or visually handicapped persons shall be entitled to full and equal access, as other members of the general public, to all housing accommodations offered for rent, lease, or compensation in the State of Maryland, subject to the conditions and limitations established by law, or State or federal regulations, and applicable to all persons alike.

            (2)      "Housing accommodations" means any real property, or portion thereof, which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied, as the home, residence, or sleeping place of one or more human beings, but does not include any accommodations, included within paragraph (1) of this subsection, or any single family residence, the occupants of which rent, lease, or furnish for compensation not more than one room therein.

            (3)      Nothing in this section requires any person renting or leasing housing accommodations to modify his property in any way or provide a higher degree of care for a blind person or visually handicapped person, than for a person who is not blind or visually handicapped.

            (4)      Every blind or visually handicapped person or deaf or hearing impaired person who has a service dog, or who obtains a service dog, or who may wish to obtain a service dog, is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section. Blind or visually handicapped persons or deaf or hearing impaired persons shall not be required to pay extra compensation for service dogs, however the person may be liable for any damages done to the premises or facilities by the service dog.

      (j)      (1)      In this section, "mobility impaired person" means a person who is unable to carry objects or to move or travel about without the use of an assistive device or service dog.

            (2)      (i)      A mobility impaired person may be accompanied by a service dog especially trained for the purpose in any place where a blind or visually handicapped or deaf or hearing impaired person has the right to be accompanied by a service dog.

                  (ii)      A mobility impaired person accompanied by a service dog as described under this subsection may not be required to pay extra compensation for the service dog, however the mobility impaired person may be liable for any damages to the premises or facilities caused by the service dog.

            (3)      This section does not require any physical modification of any place or vehicle in order to admit a mobility impaired person accompanied by a service dog.

            (4)      Any person who denies or interferes with the admittance of a service dog accompanying a mobility impaired person is subject to the same penalties as provided in subsection (g) of this section for the denial or interference with the admittance of a service dog accompanying a blind or visually handicapped or deaf or hearing impaired person.

      (k)      (1)      In this subsection, "service dog trainer" means a person who trains service dogs for blind or visually handicapped persons, deaf or hearing impaired persons, or mobility impaired persons.

            (2)      (i)      Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, a service dog trainer may be accompanied by a dog that is being trained as a service dog in any place where a blind or visually handicapped, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person has the right to be accompanied by a service dog.

                  (ii)      A service dog trainer accompanied by a dog that is being trained as a service dog may not be required to pay extra compensation for the service dog; however, the service dog trainer organization that certifies the service dog may be liable for any personal injuries or damages to the premises or facilities caused by the service dog.

            (3)      A dog being trained as a service dog accompanied by a service dog trainer may be excluded from any of the places described in this section if the admission of the dog would create a clear danger of a disturbance or physical harm to a person in the establishment.

            (4)      Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, any person who denies or interferes with the admittance of a dog being trained as a service dog accompanied by a service dog trainer is subject to a fine not to exceed $25 for each offense.

      (l)      A blind or visually handicapped or deaf or hearing impaired or mobility impaired person accompanied by a service dog or service dog trainer accompanied by a dog that is being trained as a service dog shall display identification issued by a service dog trainer organization which trains and certifies service dogs for the disabled.