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At the request of the General Assembly, the
Governor appointed this Task Force in 1981 (Joint
Resolution no. 29, Acts of 1980). The Task Force
is to identify the health, social, educational, and
economic needs of the estimated fifteen percent of
the -State's citizens suffering from arthritis and
related diseases. It will assess the economic impact
resulting from arthritis in both the public and
private sectors and ascertain cost effective means
to meet existing needs. The Task Force is further
charged to determine how State government agen-
cies can work together with the private sector to
use present resources and capabilities to meet the
needs of Maryland's arthritic population.

ASBESTOS INSULATION PROBLEMS
TASK FORCE

Chairperson: Earl F. Seboda, Secretary of General
Services

Frederick L. Dewberry, Secretary of Licensing and
Regulation; David W. Hornbeck, State
Superintendent of Schools; Constance Lieder,
Secretary of State Planning; H. Louis Stettler
III, Secretary of Budget and Fiscal Planning;
John F. X. O'Brien, Secretary of Personnel: John
S. Toll, President, University of Maryland; Adele
Wilzack, Secretary of Health and Mental
Hygiene.

301 W. Preston St.
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-3960

The Governor appointed the Asbestos Insulation
Problems Task Force in 1981. The Task Force
examined potential health hazards and problems
posed by asbestos in State government buildings.
In its January 8, 1982, report to the Governor, it
recommended ways of protecting people in State
buildings from these hazards and problems.

The Governor accepted all of the Task Force's
recommendations and directed the Secretary of
Personnel to implement them. The Secretary of
Personnel formed an advisory committee to create
an implementation plan. The committee was com-
posed of persons who, incidental to their employ-
ment, work with asbestos; and representatives from
labor, operating departments, and staff agencies.
The Secretary of Personnel submitted the imple-
mentation plan to the Governor at the end of 1982.

One of the Task Force's recommendations was
that it be allowed to reconvene should the need
arise to further address one of its recommendations
concerning an employee's right to refuse to work in
areas where asbestos may prove to be a potential

health hazard. The Task Force reconvened to
resolve this issue in September 1984.

TASK FORCE ON CHILD ABUSE
AND NEGLECT

Chairperson: Charles I. Shubin, M.C.
Vice-Chairperson: Gerald W. Winegrad

John L. Bovaird; Eric M. Fine, M.D.; Linda
Heisner; Sheila Ellis Hixson; Susan C. Jablinske;
Peter J. Lally; Dianne Madoni; Sandra A.
O'Connor; Marian L. Patterson; Eileen J.
Schiller; Col. James P. Stromberg; Thomas M.
Yeager.

Staff: Carol J. Lawson; Frances F. May

Department of Legislative Reference
90 State Circle
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 841-3870

At the request of the General Assembly, the
Governor formed the Task Force on Child Abuse
and Neglect in 1983 (Joint Resolution no. 10, Acts
of 1983). The Task Force is to study the State's
current response to the problems of child abuse
and neglect. It will examine the availability of
models to prevent abuse and neglect and review
other states' successful programs which might be
used in Maryland. The Task Force will evaluate
the effectiveness of existing community resources
for the detection and treatment of child abuse and
sexual abuse of children, including reimbursement
for emergency medical treatment for suspected
victims and training programs for professionals
who work with children or families.

The Task Force will examine the State's ability
to respond to increasing demands for child welfare
and family services resulting from increased child
abuse and neglect. It will study the effectiveness of
judicial and legislative efforts to deal with abuse
and neglect, and consider the relationship between
agencies responsible for custody, placement, and
treatment. The adequacy of current staffing levels
in local child protective services and foster care
divisions, as well as the manner in which child
welfare policies affect children who are at risk of
abuse or neglect, will also be examined. In addi-
tion, the Task Force is to study existing barriers
that may inhibit the reporting of incidents of abuse
and neglect and develop recommendations to real-
istically encourage reporting.

The Task Force reported to the Governor in
December, 1983, and will submit a final report by
July 1985.