164 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 99

hereby authorized to establish. The provisions of this section
shall not apply to persons caring for relatives.

Any person or persons and any officer or representative of
an institution, agency or society which assumes or exercises
the care, custody or control of minor children or the aged in
violation of this Section shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine not to
exceed f 100 or imprisonment not to exceed three months.

8C. The State Department may, with the approval of the
Board, designate existing agencies or organizations within
the State as its agents as may in its discretion be desirable or
necessary for the purpose of this Article. In the selection of
agencies or organizations for the care of children, the State
Department shall use only such as shall comply with proper
standards for the physical, educational and moral life of the
child. Children shall be placed in institutions or homes of the
same religious faith as that of the child if there be such in-
stitution or home with proper standards.

8D. The State Department of Public Welfare shall be em-
powered to create or continue in each county a County Welfare
Board to be known as such with the name of the county pre-
fixed thereto, which Board shall be an administrative depart-
ment of the local government. Such Boards shall have author-
ity to administer Aid to Dependent Children, Old Age Assist-
ance, Public Assistance to the Needy Blind and General Pub-
lic Assistance, Child Welfare Services under Section 521 (a)
of the Social Security Act, the investigation and certification
of persons eligible for employment on projects of the Works
Progress Administration, Public Works Administration and
Civilian Conservation Corps, and such Boards shall have
authority to administer, handle and distribute Federal surplus
commodities in accordance with the rules of the State Depart-
ment of Public Welfare, as well as work relief and services to
families and individuals in need, and the care of neglected, de-
pendent and delinquent children, which care shall include the
rendering of probation service to juvenile courts or other
courts having jurisdiction over minors.

Administrative costs of the County Welfare Boards for the
purpose of this Section shall be paid out of funds derived
from local sources or out of allotments from State funds, or
both, as the State Department of Public Welfare may pre-
scribe. The County Commissioners and the Mayor and City
Council of Baltimore are hereby empowered and directed to
levy for or appropriate such funds, from time to time, as may
be necessary for this purpose.