1. (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Commissioner” means a District Court commissioner appointed in accordance with Article IV, § 41G of the Maryland Constitution.
3. (c) “Court” means the District Court of Maryland.

4. (d) “Employee” means:

   1. (1) An individual who is employed by an employer; or
   2. (2) A volunteer or an independent contractor who performs services for an employer at the employer's workplace.

5. (e)

   1. (1) “Employer” means a person engaged in a business, an industry, a profession, a trade, or any other enterprise in the State.
   2. (2) “Employer” includes a person that acts directly or indirectly in the interest of another employer with an employee.
6. (f) “Final peace order” means a peace order issued by a judge under § 3-1505 of this subtitle.
7. (g) “Interim peace order” means an order that a commissioner issues under this subtitle pending a hearing by a judge on a petition.

8. (h) “Military protection order” means a protection order issued in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 1567 by a commanding officer against a person under the officer's command in:

   1. (1) Any branch of the uniformed services of the United States;
   2. (2) The Maryland National Guard; or
   3. (3) The national guard of any other state.
9. (i) “Petitioner” means an individual who files a petition under § 3-1503 of this subtitle.
10. (j) “Residence” includes the yard, grounds, outbuildings, and common areas surrounding the residence.
11. (k) “Respondent” means an individual alleged in a petition to have committed an act specified in § 3-1503(a) of this subtitle against a petitioner or a petitioner's employee.
12. (l) “Temporary peace order” means a peace order issued by a judge under § 3-1504 of this subtitle.

Added by Acts 1999, c. 404, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 235, §§ 1, 3, eff. Dec. 18, 2002; Acts 2021, c. 341, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2021; Acts 2025, c. 530, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 531, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 574, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 575, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.