By law effective February 1, 1958, the State Industrial Accident
Commission, created in 1914, became the Workmen's Compensation
Commission. The Commission is composed of five members appointed
by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Initial
appointments date from February 1, 1958, and are for periods of eight,
nine, ten, eleven, and twelve years respectively. Thereafter all terms
are to be for twelve years. Like its predecessor, the Commission admin-
isters the Workmen's Compensation Law. It hears contested cases and
holds hearings throughout the State; it receives reports of accidents
and adjudicates claims for compensation arising under the law; and it
investigates companies and firms which fail to carry insurance under
the terms of the Act. The Chairman sits on the trial of cases when
his administrative and executive functions permit (Code 1967, Art. 101,
sees. 1, 2, 5, 16, 38-40).

In. recent years the General Assembly has made many important
changes in the Workmen's Compensation Act. Among the most im-
portant have been acts increasing maximum temporary total disability
payments to $40.00 weekly; increasing maximum permanent total dis-
ability payments to $40.00 weekly; and increasing the maximum total
payable for total disability to $20,000.00. Other Taws have broadened
the law in hernia cases; established a Second Injury Fund; and re-
moved limitations on payments of medical expenses. In 1961, the Act
included many additional employments; also, for the first time, Mary-
land came to be what is known as a nonscheduled State for Occupa-
tional Diseases (Code 1957, Art. 101, sees. 20-36, 66).

Medical Board for Occupational Diseases

The Medical Board for Occupational Diseases was established in
1939. The Governor appoints the members of the Board for six-year
terms with the approval of the Senate, from lists of nominees sub-
mitted by the Deans of the schools of medicine of the University of
Maryland and the Johns Hopkins University and by the Council of
the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland. Each of these agen-
cies submits a list of three persons, two of whom are experienced in
occupational diseases, and one of whom is an experienced roentgenologist.
Each appointee to the Board must be a licensed physician in good
professional standing. Two must have had at least five years practice
in the treating, diagnosis, and care of industrial diseases, and the
third must have been trained in roentgenology and must have had five
years practice and experience. The Governor designates the Chairman
of the Board. The Board hears and adjudicates all claims for compen-
sation for disability caused by an occupational disease. The decisions
of the Board are subject to review by the Workmen's Compensation
Commission (Code 1967, Art 101, sees. 26-29).

Appropriations 1959 1960

General Funds .................................... $364,807 $429,243
Staff: 63.

COMMISSIONERS OF THE STATE ACCIDENT FUND

Chairman: Albert W. Quinn, 1963
Vice-Chairman: Joseph D. Weiner, 1961
Secretary: Edward F. O'Malley, 1964

Abraham Watner, 1960; Thomas J. Hatem, 1962

Richard K. Coggins, Superintendent
M. Katherine Sahm, Assistant Superintendent
U. Theodore Hayes, Attorney to the Board