1452                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                       CH. 710

rules and regulations for licensing and must give assurances [to
the Commission] of its ability to provide general hospital services.

568D.

Procedural details in studying adequacy of hospital facilities.—

In studying and considering the adequacy of hospital facilities
for the State of Maryland and for particular areas herein, these
procedural details shall be followed:

Each hospital which applies for a loan under the provisions of this
subheading shall submit complete data describing the facilities for
which application is made, the need for these facilities, and the
potential area to be served by them. Such information then shall be
considered by the [Commission] Department in relation to the rel-
evant facilities and plans of other hospitals in the State and in that
particular area.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
on July 1,1968.

Approved May 7, 1968.

CHAPTER 710
(House Bill 705)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 42(a)
of Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965 Replace-
ment Volume and 1967 Supplement), title "Health," subtitle
"Miscellaneous Provisions," to correct an error in the name of
the State Board of Health and Mental Hygiene appearing in this
section, to authorize the Board to contract with opticians and
others for certain services, and relating generally to the adminis-
tration of the State program of comprehensive medical and other
care for indigent and medically indigent persons.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 42(a) of Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Mary-
land (1965 Replacement Volume and 1967 Supplement), title
"Health" subtitle "Miscellaneous Provisions," be and it is hereby
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

42.

(a) The State Board of Health and Mental Hygiene shall (1)
administer a program of comprehensive medical and other care in
the State of Maryland for indigent and medically indigent persons,
or either of such classes; for this purpose the Board of Health and
Mental Hygiene is hereby authorized to contract with physicians,
dentists, optometrists (as defined in Section 372 of this article),
pharmacists, hospitals, nursing homes, nurses, opticians; and other
persons APPROVED BY THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH AND
MENTAL HYGIENE [health practitioners duly licenced or certified