J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                     1391

mining whether such stable moral environment exists, the court shall
consider, among other things, whether the parent, guardian, or person
with whom the child lives

(i) Is unable to provide such environment by reasons of imma-
turity, or emotional, mental or physical disability;

(ii) Is engaging in promiscuous conduct inside or outside the
home;

(iii) Is cohabiting with a person to whom he or she is not married;
(iv) Is pregnant with an illegitimate child; or

(v) Has, within a period of twelve months preceding the filing
of the petition alleging the child to be neglected, either has been
pregnant with or given birth to another child to whose putative
father she was not legally married at the time of conception, or has
not thereafter married."                                                               :

It is certainly the intent of the General Assembly in providing
funds for the welfare program, "Aid to Dependent Children," that
these funds do not go to a parent who is engaged in promiscuous
conduct inside or outside the home, or to a parent who is cohabiting
with a person to whom he or she is not married, or to a mother who
is pregnant with an illegitimate child, or to any parent or home which
is not providing a stable and healthy moral environment.

If such conditions exist in a home, the expenditure of additional
welfare funds without removing the child from the home is the height
of folly.

In such a home and with such parents, the children are taught
the ways and paths of vice, crime and corruption. They are encour-
aged, by the example of their parents, to grow into and pursue
anti-social patterns of behavior. The probability is greatly increased
that they will grow into non-productive and non-social citizens,
continuing the vicious circle of immorality and complete irrespon-
sibility.

If such parents and conditions exist in a home which is receiving
welfare payments under the program for "Aid to Dependent Chil-
dren," it is the considered judgment of the members of the General
Assembly that the child or children involved ought to be removed
from the home so that society may at least have a fighting chance
to reclaim the child from the examples of iniquity and of irrespon-
sibility; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That this body
strenuously urges upon the Department of Public Welfare throughout
the State of Maryland that payments not be made to parents or in a
home where these conditions of immorality exist, under the program
of "Aid to Dependent Children," unless the child or children for
whom the aid is intended are removed from the home and provided
with a stable, wholesome, and responsible environment; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State is directed to send copies
of this Resolution to the State Board of Public Welfare, the Welfare
Board in each of the several political subdivisions, the Governor of