HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 325
CHAPTER 238.

(House Bill 1)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 3,
8, 10, 12, 13, and 15 of Article 88A of the Annotated Code of
"Maryland (1939 Edition), title 'State Department of Pub-
lic Welfare', and to add two new sections to said Article,
said new sections to be known as Sections 3A and 3B and
to follow immediately after Section 3 of said Article, pre-
scribing penalties for misuse of public assistance lists and
records and relating to attorneys who represent the Welfare
Boards in civil cases in which they are interested parties. "

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Sections 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 15 of Article 88A of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edition), title "State
Department of Public Welfare", be and the same are hereby
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, and that two new
sections, to be known as Sections 3A and 3B, to follow im-
mediately after Section 3 of said Article, be and they are here-
by added to said Article 88A, to read as follows:

3. The State Department of Public Welfare shall be the
central, co-ordinating, and directing agency of the welfare
activities included within this Article, and any supplements
and amendments thereto, and also of welfare activities in the
fields of Aid to Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance,
Public Assistance to the Needy Blind, and General Public
Assistance. All of the activities of the County Boards, here-
inafter provided for, and of the Department of Public Welfare
of Baltimore City, which the State finances, in whole or in
part, shall be subject to the supervision, direction and control
of the State Department of Public Welfare. Said State De-
partment shall also investigate, study and consider the whole
system of public and private institutions, organizations and
agencies of a charitable nature in the State, including those
which receive part of their income from the State. Said State
Department shall establish and enforce reasonable rules and
regulations covering the custody, use and preservation of the
records, papers, files, and communications of the State and
local departments concerning applicants and recipients. The
use of such records, papers, files and communications by any
other agency or department of government to which they may
be furnished shall be limited to the purposes for which they
are furnished.

3A. Misuse of Public Assistance Lists and Records.
(1) Except in accordance with proper judicial or legislative
order and except to an officer of the State, or the United States,