J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                       1371

CHAPTER 866
(House Bill 20)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 556, 557,
558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 565A, 566(a), and 567 of
Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition and
1964 Supplement), title "Health," subtitle "Hospitals," to revise
various provisions of the laws relating to the powers of the State
Board of Health and Mental Hygiene over hospitals and related
institutions in the State, and relating also to the Advisory Board on
Hospital Licensing and the Advisory Board on Hospital Construc-
tion.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Sections 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 565A,
566(a), and 567 of Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1957 Edition and 1964 Supplement), title "Health," subtitle "Hos-
pitals," be and they are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

556.

[The following terms used in this subtitle are hereby defined as
follows:

"Hospital" as herein used means any institution which maintains
and operates facilities for the care and/or treatment of two (2) or
more nonrelated persons as patients suffering mental or physical
ailments, but shall not be construed to include any dispensary or first-
aid treatment facilities maintained by any commercial or industrial
plant, educational institution or convent; or any county home or alms-
house.

"Person" shall include any person, partnership, association or
corporation or any State, county or local governmental unit and any
division, board or agency thereof.]

(a)    The jurisdiction of this law includes all "Hospitals" and
"Related Institutions" to which are admitted or retained in residence
for overnight care two (2) or more nonrelated individuals needing
medical, nursing, personal, or domiciliary care as described and classi-
fied in this section except that in the case of homes offering domi-
ciliary care only, the jurisdiction begins with homes having four or
more nonrelated individuals but this law shall not be construed to in-
clude any dispensary or first-aid treatment facilities maintained solely
for and limited to services for employees or students of any commer-
cial or industrial plant, educational institution, or convent, county
home or almshouse, motels, hotels, apartments and facilities main-
taining services for persons capable of independent living.

(b)    "Hospital" as herein used is defined as any institution which
falls within the jurisdiction of this subtitle and maintains and oper-
ates facilities for the provision of diagnostic and treatment services
for two (2) or more nonrelated patients under the supervision of
physicians who are members of an organized medical staff of not less
than (5) legally, ethically and professionally qualified physicians.