J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                      483

certain new categories of persons having a serious disability, and
relating generally to the Workmen's Compensation benefits of, and
the conditions under which payable to, persons having a "serious
disability" under the workmen's compensation laws.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Sections 36(3a) and 36(4a) to Article 101 of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume), title "Work-
men's Compensation," subtitle "Claims and Compensation; Benefits,"
to follow immediately after Sections 36(3) and 36(4) thereof, re-
spectively, and to read as follows:

36.

(3a) A person who receives under Subsection (3) of this section
an award for a period of one hundred and seventy-five weeks or
more is thereby considered to have a serious disability. He auto-
matically shall be entitled to (in addition to the award under Sub-
section (3)) an extra award of a number of weeks equal to one-
third (computed to the nearest whole number) of the number of
weeks awarded under Subsection (3); and the award of compensa-
tion to him in no case shall exceed forty dollars per week; and as
to him the maximum limitation of $12,500 shall not apply. This
subsection, to the extent of any inconsistency, prevails over Sub-
section (3); but otherwise Subsection (3) applies to persons covered
by this subsection. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY ADDI-
TIONAL COMPENSATION FOR PERMANENT PARTIAL DIS-
ABILITY ON A PETITION TO REOPEN SHALL NOT INCREASE
THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION PREVIOUSLY AWARDED
AND PAID.

(4a) A person who receives under Subsection (4) of this section
an award equal in total to forty per centum or more of $12,500 is
thereby considered to have a serious disability. He automatically
shall be entitled to (in addition to the award under Subsection (4))
an extra award of a number of weeks equal to one-third (computed
to the nearest whole number) of the number of weeks awarded
under Subsection (4); and the award of compensation to him in no
case shall exceed forty dollars per week; and as to him the maximum
limitation of $12,500 shall not apply. This subsection, to the extent
of any inconsistency, prevails over Subsection (4)', but otherwise
Subsection (4) applies to persons covered by this subsection. PRO-
VIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY ADDITIONAL COMPENSA-
TION FOR PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY ON A
PETITION TO REOPEN SHALL NOT INCREASE THE AMOUNT
OF COMPENSATION PREVIOUSLY AWARDED AND PAID.

SEC. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, THAT THE PRO-
VISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL BE APPLICABLE ONLY TO
SUCH INJURIES. AS OCCUR AND SUCH ACTIONS AS ARE
INITIATED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF.

Sec. 2 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1965.

Approved April 8, 1965.