SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                      1579

OWN PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS, YET ARE NOT
SERIOUSLY ENOUGH DERANGED TO BE COMMITTED; AND

Whereas, Maryland and other states have moved increasingly in
the direction of community, rather than institutional, services for
those handicapped AND SENILE ELDERLY able to benefit from
such and to the development of each individual—no matter how
handicapped OR SENILE—to the limits of his capabilities; and

Whereas, If the handicapped AND SENILE ELDERLY are to
reside in the community, functioning to the extent they can as self-
reliant citizens, they must all the more have the protection and
supervision they need in those areas of living where they cannot
care for themselves; and

Whereas, There must be a resource to take up where the parents
OR NEXT OF KIN can no longer continue; and

Whereas, Numerous state and national study groups, including the
President's Panel on Mental Retardation, have all urged the indivi-
dual states to consider their role in the resolution of this dilemma; and

Whereas, Maryland's own resources are at present limited in
coping with this most pressing concern; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Governor
of Maryland be requested to appoint a Commission to study the
guardianship problems posed by the mentally retarded and other
seriously handicapped persons AND THOSE ELDERLY PERSONS
NOT SUFFICIENTLY ALERT TO HANDLE THEIR OWN PER-
SONAL AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS YET NOT SERIOUSLY
ENOUGH DERANGED TO BE COMMITTED, and the State's role
therein; said Commission to consist of not more than fifteen mem-
bers, including representatives of the legal profession, the clergy,
the Maryland Association for Retarded Children and other parent
inspired voluntary groups concerned with the handicapped, the
Maryland Retardate Trust, the State Welfare Department, the State
Department of Mental Hygiene, the State Health Department, the
State Law Department, local welfare departments and agencies, THE
STATE OF MARYLAND COMMISSION ON THE AGING, and
the General Assembly of Maryland; and be it further

Resolved, That the findings and recommendations of the study be
submitted to the Chairman of the Legislative Council and to the
Governor on or before November 1, 1968.

Approved April 10, 1968.

No. 8
(Senate Joint Resolution 6)

Senate Joint Resolution congratulating the Board of Natural
Resources on its authorship of A Report on the Problems of