WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 721
CHAPTER 291
(Senate Bill 460)

AN ACT to add a new Section to Article 44 of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland (1947 Supplement), title "Hos-
pitals—Maryland", to be under a new sub-title "Patients'
Unclaimed Funds", said new Section to be known as
Section 14 to follow immediately after Section 13 of said
Article relating to the disposition of unclaimed funds of
deceased or escaped patients or inmates of State hos-
pitals or training schools.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That a new Section be and it is hereby added to Article
44 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1947 Supplement),
title "Hospitals—Maryland", to be under a new sub-title
"Patients' Unclaimed Funds", said new Section to be
known as Section 14 to follow immediately after Section
13 of said Article and to read as follows:

PATIENTS' UNCLAIMED FUNDS

14. (a) Any funds belonging to any deceased or ^es-
caped patient or inmate of any State hospital or training
school remaining in the possession of the governing au-
thorities of such hospital or training school 'unclaimed by
the person or persons having legal claim thereto for three
years after the death or escape of such patient or inmate
shall escheat to the State. The governing authorities of any
State hospital or training school having such funds in their
possession for at least three years after the death or escape
of the patient or inmate to which they belonged shall make a
diligent and reasonable effort to locate and pay such funds
to the person or persons having legal claim thereto; and if a
diligent and reasonable effort to locate and pay such funds
to the person or persons having legal claim thereto does not
disclose any such claimants, the governing authorities of
the State hospital or training school shall pay such funds
to the State Treasurer for the general use of the State
after deducting the amount owed, if any, by or for such
patient or inmate to such State hospital or training school.

(b) No action at law or in equity shall be maintained
against the governing authorities of any State hospital or
training school for or on account of any funds belonging
to any deceased or escaped patient or inmate of such hos-
pital or training school after the expiration of three years
after the death or escape of such patient or inmate; pro-