HARRY HUGHES, Governor

1563

(d) Commencement of an action to collect a
noncompliance penalty assessed under this section does not
prohibit commencement of a suit for injunctive relief, civil
penalty, or other relief under § 703 based on the underlying
violation of this subtitle that resulted in the assessment
of the noncompliance penalty.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.

Approved May 29, 1979.

CHAPTER 540

(House Bill 355)

AN ACT concerning

Abandoned Property - Patients' Property

FOR the purpose of extending the period for which a hospital
or related institution may hold property of patients no
longer residing at the facility; specifying that
certain provisions govern property of former patients
of nursing homes; and deleting certain provisions that
impose on the Comptroller certain duties with respect
to this property on its transfer to him as abandoned
property.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 43 - Health

Section 565E(1) and (m)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1971 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 43 - Health

565E.

(1) If a patient of a facility has not resided at the
facility for a period of [three months] 1 YEAR, the facility
may not continue to hold any money or other valuables
entrusted to it by that patient, unless the facility has
written notice from the patient or the attending physician
that the patient is expected to be readmitted and desires
that the facility continue to hold such money or valuables.
The facility shall make reasonable attempts to locate the
patient, personal representative, or heirs.