J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                    2135

Whereas, Under laws of the State of Maryland and of many of her
sister States illegitimate children do not inherit from their natural
fathers; and

Whereas, by the provisions of the Social Security laws of the
United States as presently enacted, children of insured individuals
are entitled to insurance benefits only if they would share in the
distribution of such individuals' intestate personal property under
applicable State law; and

Whereas, by reason of this restriction in the Social Security laws
illegitimate children of fathers domiciled in the State of Maryland
and in other like States are deprived of federal insurance benefits to
which they would be entitled were it not for the unfortunate circum-
stances of their illegitimacy; and

Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of Maryland does not
deem it practicable or desirable to alter the inheritance laws of the
State in this respect, but, rather, considers that amendment of the
federal Social Security laws to provide that an illegitimate child may
receive benefits through the man who either has acknowledged the
child's paternity or has been declared the child's natural father by
court proceedings, would be an appropriate means to remedy this
inequity, if such change is found to be economically feasible and can
be made without prejudicing the benefits now allowed the man's
legitimate children; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Congress
of the United States be memorialized to study and consider, by
appropriate committees, the advisability of amending the federal
Social Security laws so as to provide that an illegitimate child may
receive benefits through the man acknowledged or decreed to be his
natural father; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be directed to send copies of
this Joint Resolution under the Great Seal of the State of Maryland,
to the Vice-President of the United States as President of the Senate
of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives
of the United States, and to each member of the Maryland Delegation
in the Congress of the United States.

Approved May 6, 1963.

No. 23
(House Joint Resolution 3)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Board of Public Welfare to
provide within the State Department of Public Welfare an inte-
grated statewide social work service to counsel and advise and be
available to all persons whose circumstances may affect the health
and welfare of women illegitimately pregnant or of illegitimate
children.