BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                        3267

WHEREAS, Public Law 94-103 requires the Governor to
designate the agency responsible for the implementation
of the State system; and

WHEREAS, Governor Marvin Mandel directed the Maryland
State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities,
with the assistance of a special task force, to develop
a State plan for the creation of the State protection
and advocacy system, including the recommendation of an
agency responsible for the implementation of the
system; and

WHEREAS, The Planning Council has submitted to me a State
plan for the creation of the State system which
includes a recommendation that the Governor designate a
private, non-profit corporation as the official agency
responsible for the implementation of the State system;
and

WHEREAS, The Maryland Advocacy Unit for the

Developmentally Disabled is a private, non-profit

corporation which is incorporated     under Maryland law
for the purpose of the protection and advocacy of the

rights of developmentally disabled   persons in Maryland

and which meets the requirements   of Public Law 94—103
for an implementing agency;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BLAIR LEE III, ACTING GOVERNOR OF
MARYLAND, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY
ARTICLE II, SECTIONS 6(B) AND 24 OF THE MARYLAND
CONSTITUTION, BY ARTICLE 41, SECTION 15C, AND BY PUBLIC
LAW 94-103, HEREBY ISSUE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE ORDER,
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1977:

1. (a) The Maryland Advocacy Unit for
the Developmentally Disabled, a private,
non-profit corporation incorporated under
Maryland law, is designated as the official
agency, for purposes of Public Law 94—103,
responsible for the implementation of the State
system for the protection and advocacy of the
rights of the developmentally disabled.

(b) The Maryland Advocacy Unit for
the Developmentally Disabled shall perform the
functions, duties, and responsibilities
authorized to be performed or specifically
delegated to it by the "State of Maryland Plan
for a System to Protect the Individual Rights of
and to Advocate for Persons with Developmental
Disabilities under Public Law 94-103."

2. The designation of the Maryland
Advocacy Unit for the Developmentally Disabled as