762                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 295

such times and in such installments and in such amount as the
said board of trustees of the Maryland State Firemen's Association
may decide, until they each attain the age seventeen (17) EIGHTEEN
(18) years.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1969.

Approved April 23, 1969.

CHAPTER 295
(House Bill 385)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 42 (a)
of Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1968 Supple-
ment) , title "Health," subtitle "Miscellaneous Provisions," author-
izing the State Board of Health and Mental Hygiene to contract
with certain groups and individuals to provide services for in-
digent people and providing for the duration and renewal of these
contracts AND PROVIDING FOR A CONTINGENCY.

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 (1968 Supplement), title "Health," subtitle "Miscellaneous Pro-
visions," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amend-
ments, to read as follows:

43.

(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 insurance com-
panies, NON-PROFIT HEALTH CARRIERS SERVICE PLANS,
or with individuals, associations, partnerships, incorporated or unin-
corporated groups of physicians, dentists, PODIATRISTS, optom-
etrists (as defined in Section 372 of this article), pharmacists,
hospitals, nursing homes, nurses, opticians; , and other health practi-
tioners duly licensed or certified in this State who perform services
upon the prescription or referral of a physician, for the treatment of
PROVISION OF CARE FOR eligible persons; contracts entered into
by the Board shall be for a one year period and may be renewed;
within the provisions of the budget the said Board is hereby
authorized to provide bedside nursing care for eligible persons.
(2) The Board of Health and Mental Hygiene shall conduct
and operate such hospitals as may be established by law and placed
under the jurisdiction of the said Board of Health and Mental Hy-
giene for the care of persons suffering from chronic diseases.

SEC. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, THAT IN THE
EVENT A NEW DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ADMINIS-
TERED BY A SECRETARY OF HEALTH IS CREDITED
CREATED BY SUBSEQUENT LAW, BOTH THAT DEPART-