SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                         245

(e)  The State Department shall also investigate, from time to
time, the whole system of public and private institutions, organiza-
tions and agencies of a charitable nature in this State, including those
which receive part of their income from this State, except those
placed by law under the supervision of another State agency.

(f)  Prior to the convening of each regular session of the General
Assembly, the State Department shall furnish to the Governor a
report of its activities and of the condition of all charitable insti-
tutions, organizations and agencies, excepting hospitals, receiving
financial aid from the State; and it shall make recommendations as
to appropriations for such institutions, giving its reasons therefor
as fully as may be practicable.

7.                                                                                                       

(a)   It shall be the duty of the attorney to [the County Com-
missioners of each of the several counties of the State, or an attor-
ney to be designated by the County Commissioners, to institute
and defend all civil cases in which any county welfare board is an
interested party. All such suits shall be instituted in the name
of the welfare board of such county.], or an attorney to be designated
by, the local governing authority in each county of the State and in
Baltimore City, as defined in Section 4 of this Article, to institute
and defend all civil cases in which its local welfare department is
an interested party. All such suits shall be instituted in the name
of the local welfare department.

(b)  Whenever such attorneys institute suit for the recovery, from
the estate of a recipient of any type of public assistance, of the
amount paid to such recipient during his life time, or whenever
such attorneys institute suit for the recovery, from a recipient of
any type of public assistance, of the amount paid to such recipient
prior to his coming into possession of any property or income in
excess of the amount stated in his application for assistance and in
excess of his need, such attorneys may be allowed such fees for their
services as may be fixed by the court, and the amount of such fees
allowed by the court shall be deducted from the gross amount of the
recovery in each case, and the net amount of the recovery turned
over to the [county welfare board to be divided between the State,
the county, and the Federal Government in proportion to the amount
paid by each respectively] local welfare department, to be divided
between the State, the county or Baltimore City as the case may be,
and the Federal Government in proportion to the amount paid by
each respectively.

(c)   For such other legal services as are required of such at-
torneys on behalf of [county welfare boards and not provided for
otherwise, they shall be paid such fees as may be established, from
time to time, by the State Department, the cost thereof to be borne
from regular administrative funds.] local welfare departments and
not provided for otherwise, they shall be paid such fees as may be
established, from time to time, by the State Department, the cost
thereof to be borne from regular administrative funds.

12A.

If any applicant or recipient is incompetent or unable to handle
the assistance granted him, and has no legal guardian, trustee or