reforms on liability insurance; and recent national
studies on the causes and extent of the liability in-
surance crisis.

The Committee submitted its report to the Gov-
ernor in December 1986.

JOINT EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE
TASK FORCE ON MEDICAL
MALPRACTICE INSURANCE

Chairperson: James MacGill
Vice-Chairperson: George W. Leibmann

Constance H. Baker; Walter M. Baker; Albert D.
Brault; Harold A. Cohen, Ph.D.; J. Joseph
Curran, Jr.; Donald L. DeVries, Jr.; James Paul
Durkan, M.D.; Nathaniel Exum; Leo A. Hughes;
Nathan C. Irby, Jr.; Edgar E. Isaacs; Virginia
Layfield; Kenneth H. Masters; Edward J. Muhl;
Thomas P. O'Reilly; Joseph E. Owens; Claudia
Reid; George W. Shadoan; J. John Spinella;
Walter Tabler; Casper R. Taylor, Jr.; Esther
Vines; Israel Howard Weiner, M.D.; Adele
Wilzack; Gerald W. Winegrad.

Staff contact: Bonnie A. Kirkland

c/o Dept. of Legislative Reference
90 State Circle
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 841-3870

In response to problems resulting from the
sharp increase in malpractice insurance costs, the
Governor created the Joint Executive/Legislative
Task Force on Medical Malpractice Insurance in
July 1985. The Task Force charge was to evaluate
the impact of higher professional liability insur-
ance on the continued availability and affordabili-
ty of medical services. The Task Force examined
the effects of an increasing number of claims and
awards on the practice of medicine and costs of
health care. In addition, the Task Force reviewed
the current health claims arbitration process.

Examining the causes of medical injuries and
the measures for reducing them, the Task Force
also was to consider strengthened health care pro-
vider licensure and discipline standards, peer re-
view, and hospital quality assurance mechanisms.

The Task Force reported its findings in Decem-
ber 1985.

MEDICAL TRANSPLANT STUDY
COMMISSION

Chairperson: Dr. Brian Biles

Frederick R. Bentley, M.D.; F. Vernon Boozer;
Pamela H. DeFelice; Arthur Dorman; Richard E.
Hegner; David M. Kappus; Julian L. Lapides;
Jeffrey L. Linebaugh; Mark Mitchell; M. Albert
Morningstar; Margaret H. Murphy; Ann Neale,
Ph.D.; Ameen I. Ramzy, M.D.; Earl Phillip
Steinberg, M.D.; Penny Thomas; Andrew B.
Wigglesworth; G. Melville Williams, M.D.

c/o Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene
201 W. Preston St.
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 225-6510

On October 31, 1985, the Commission submit-
ted its final report to the Governor and General
Assembly.

GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION TO
REVISE THE MENTAL
RETARDATION AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
LAWS

Chairperson: Ann R. Hull
Staff contact: Nan Ulle

661 Maid Marion Hill Rd.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 841-6716

The Commission reported to the Governor in
1985. Commission recommendations were incor-
porated into legislation proposed and enacted in
1986 (Chapters 636 and 637, Acts of 1986). This
legislation repealed the Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities Law and reenacted it
as the Develo.pmental Disabilities Law (Code
Health—General Article, Title 7).

TASK FORCE ON MENTALLY ILL
OFFENDERS

Chairperson: Alan M. Wilner, Associate Judge,
Court of Special Appeals

Ellen A. Callegary; Howard S. Chasanow; John
C. Coolahan; J. Joseph Curran, Jr.; Warren B.
Duckett, Jr.; Dr. Norma B. Gluckstem; Trevor R.
Hadley, Ph.D.; Martin G. Katzenstein; Thomas
F. Krajewski, M.D.; Calvin A. Lightfoot; George
M. Lipman; Jonas R. Rappeport, M.D.; Howard