2110                             Joint Resolutions

before September 1, 1971, and shall submit its report to the General
Assembly at the next following session of the General Assembly;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Attorney General of Maryland shall be the
legal adviser to said Commission; and be it further

Resolved, That the Governor make available to said Commission
such funds as may be deemed necessary to pay the cost and expenses
of making said investigation, study and report; and be it further

Resolved, That the several departments, boards and commissions
of the State shall give such information and assistance as are re-
quired by the Commission in making its study and investigation;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Commission be known as the Maryland Com-
mission for the Study of the Child Labor Laws; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor.
Approved April 22, 1970.

No. 48
(House Joint Resolution 78)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Governor LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL to appoint a nine member legislative committee to study
the operations of the Department of Social Services.

Whereas, The budget of the Department of Social Services was
$132,512,024 for the 1970 fiscal year; and

Whereas, The budget allowance for the Department of Social
Services in the gubernatorial budget this year reflects an increase
of $13.9 million, plus a transfer of $5.8 million from the Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene for intermediate care; making a total
increase of 14.9% above the 1969-70 budget; and

Whereas, This represents 10% of the total State budget of $1.5
billion for the 1971 fiscal year; and

Whereas, There was a $16.4 million increase in available resources
for this department between fiscal year 1969 and 1970; and

Whereas, At least 450 cases of fraud have been brought to Crim-
inal Court in welfare cases in recent years in Baltimore City alone;
and

Whereas, Many taxpayers feel that this expenditure is inequitable
and unjust; and

Whereas, Even welfare clients believe the system is perpetuating
poverty instead of erasing it; and

Whereas, This Department's budget has doubled in the five years
since 1966; and

Whereas, Hearings of cases should be expedited in our courts by
using court rooms and judges in nearby counties; now, therefore,
be it