HARRY W. NICE, GOVERNOR. 63

proceeds thereof, after deducting therefrom any funeral ex-
penses incurred under the provisions of this Article, and the
sums paid as assistance, shall be paid to the recipient's estate.

11. PAYMENTS TO INCOMPETENTS. If any applicant or re-
cipient is incompetent or unable to handle the assistance
granted him, and has no legal guardian or committee, the
Circuit Courts of the counties, or the Equity Courts of Balti-
more City, upon petition of any County Department, and with
the consent of the next of kin, next friend, natural guardian
or custodian of the applicant or recipient, shall have the power
after notice and hearing to appoint a competent person as his
guardian for old age assistance, without bond, whose duty it
shall be without compensation to receive and disburse the
recipient's assistance on his behalf and to make true and
accurate account thereof as often as required. Funds in the
hands of any such guardian for old age assistance shall be
expended only for the purposes contemplated by this Article,
or as directed in the grant of assistance.

12. FUNERAL EXPENSES. On the death of the recipient rea-
sonable funeral expenses, not exceeding one hundred twenty-
five dollars ($125. 00) may, subject to the rules and regulations
of the State Department, be paid by the County Department if
the estate of the deceased is insufficient to pay the same and the
persons legally responsible for the support of the deceased are
unable to pay the same.

13. ASSISTANCE NOT ASSIGNABLE. Assistance granted under
this Article shall not be transferable or assignable, at law or
in equity, and none of the money paid or payable under this
Article shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnish-
ment or other legal process, or to the operation of any bank-
ruptcy or insolvency law.

14. APPEAL TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT. If an application is
not acted upon by the County Department within a reasonable
time after the filing of the application, or is denied in whole
or in part, or if any award of assistance is modified or can-
celled under any provision of this Article, the applicant or
recipient may appeal to the State Department in the manner
and form prescribed by the State Department. The State De-
partment shall, upon receipt of such an appeal, give the appli-
cant or recipient reasonable notice and opportunity for a fail-
hearing.

The State Department may also, upon its own motion, re-
view any decision of a County Department, and may consider
any application upon which a decision has not been made by
the County Department within a reasonable time. The State