934                                 Laws of Maryland                         Ch. 407

changed as the Commissioner, in his discretion, deems necessary, and
he shall thereafter notify the governing bodies of the subdivisions
affected. The creation and alteration of such districts shall be subject
to the approval of the Secretary.

(f)  He shall appoint such clerical, technical, administrative and
professional assistants for the department as may be provided in the
budget and approved by the Secretary.

(g)  He shall have the power to order the release of any person
he finds being held by the Department or any public facility con-
trary to law. If he finds any person being held by a private facility
in a manner contrary to law, he shall institute proceedings to obtain
the release of that person.

(h) He shall have the power to assign such functions as are by
law imposed on him to such subordinate organizations and indi-
viduals that he deems appropriate except for those functions not
delegable by law.

(i) He shall administer all grants, gifts, trusts or similar funds
made available for departmental use.

(j) He shall establish programs for research and development of
care for the mentally disordered which may encompass all phases of
departmental jurisdictions.

9.    Open.

10.    Open.

Subtitle: Admissions, Release and Transfer

11.    Voluntary Admission.

(a)  Any facility licensed by or under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment may admit for purposes of care or treatment, or both,
any person over the age of 18 years who has any mental disorder
which is susceptible of care or treatment and who requests admis-
sion to such facility. Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United
States may be admitted to a Veterans' Administration Hospital with-
out regard to the provisions of this Section.

(b)  No person shall be admitted under the provisions of this
section unless his condition is such that he is able to understand
the nature of his request for admission, is able to request his re-
lease, and is capable of giving continuous assent to his retention by
the facility.

(c)  Admission to a facility under the provisions of this section
may be obtained by an informal or a formal application. Informal
voluntary admission may be accomplished by a simple request for
admission. A person admitted informally may leave the facility at
any time between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. and may not be detained

against his will by the facility unless, after initial admission, his

admission status has been changed in accordance with this subtitle.

(d)   Voluntary admission may also be accomplished on the basis
of a formal application. Such application shall be in writing, shall
contain such personal data and be in such form as the Department
may require. No person admitted to a facility on the basis of his
formal request for admission may be detained for more than three
days, except as provided in subsection (e) below, after having given