SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                       257

ORDER TO OBTAIN SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY
BE REQUIRED BY THE RULES OF THE STATE DEPART-
MENT.

71.

UPON THE COMPLETION OF SUCH INVESTIGATION THE
LOCAL UNIT SHALL DECIDE WHETHER THE APPLICANT
IS ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS ARTICLE, AND DETERMINE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE DE-
PARTMENT THE AMOUNT OF SUCH ASSISTANCE AND THE
DATE ON WHICH SUCH ASSISTANCE SHALL BEGIN. THE
LOCAL UNIT SHALL NOTIFY THE APPLICANT OF ITS DE-
CISION. SUCH ASSISTANCE SHALL BE PAID MONTHLY TO
THE APPLICANT UPON ORDER OF THE LOCAL UNIT FROM
FUNDS ALLOCATED TO IT FOR THIS PURPOSE. SHOULD
THE FUND OR FUNDS AVAILABLE BE INSUFFICIENT TO
MAKE PAYMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMOUNT
OF ASSISTANCE ESTABLISHED TO BE NEEDED, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SHALL, BY RULE AND REGULATION, PRO-
VIDE FOR A UNIFORM METHOD OF ADJUSTING INDI-
VIDUAL PAYMENTS.

72.

[10.] On the death of the recipient reasonable funeral expenses,
not exceeding Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) may be paid by the
[county department] local unit if the estate of the deceased is
insufficient to pay the same and the persons legally responsible for
the support of the deceased are unable to pay the same. The cost of
any such payments shall be charged two thirds to State funds and
one third to local funds. The provisions of this section are subject
to the requirements of Section 18A of this Article [88A of this
Code.]

[12.] If an application is not acted upon by the [county depart-
ment] local unit within a reasonable time after the filing of the
application, or is denied in whole or in part, or if any award of
assistance is modified or cancelled under any provision of this
[article,] subtitle, the applicant or recipient may appeal to the State
Department in the manner and form prescribed by the State Depart-
ment. The State Department shall, upon receipt of such an appeal,
give the applicant or recipient reasonable notice and opportunity for
a fair hearing.

The State Department may also, upon its own motion, review any
decision of a [county department] local unit, and may consider any
application upon which a decision has not been made by the [county
department] local unit within a reasonable time. The State Depart-
ment may make such additional investigation as it may deem neces-
sary, and shall make such decision as to the granting of assistance
and the amount of assistance to be granted the applicant as in
its opinion is justified and in conformity with the provisions of this
subtitle, [article.] Applicants or recipients affected by such decisions
of the State Department shall, upon request, be given reasonable
notice and opportunity for a fair hearing by the State Department.

74.