Marvin Mandel, Governor                       1301

the regions of the State with the regional State psychiatric hospitals
and represent the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene in carrying out
his responsibilities concerning the mental health services and facili-
ties of the region.

(i) The health officer for each county and for Baltimore City
shall be responsible for the local mental health services program and
shall:

(1)   Consult with the local regional mental health director [re-
gional representative of the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene] in
planning for various program components;

(2)  Prepare an annual plan and budget for provision of services,
establishment of facilities, contracting for services or facilities and
other matters necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of
the act;

(3)  Assure that the qualifications of personnel and the quality of
professional services rendered meet the standards prescribed by the
Commissioner of Mental Hygiene with the approval of the State
Board of Health and Mental Hygiene;

(4)  Exercise general supervision over mental health services and
facilities furnished, operated, or supported by his department;

(5)  Submit an annual report to the advisory committee and the
governing body on all activities of the program including a financial
accounting of expenditures and a forecast of anticipated needs for
the ensuing year;

(6)   Carry on such other duties as may be necessary to accom-
plish the purposes of the subtitle.

(1) In addition to other duties and powers given to him under
this subtitle and other provisions of law, the Commissioner of Mental
Hygiene with the approval of the Board of Health and Mental Hy-
giene shall:

(1)  Promulgate rules and regulations governing the eligibility
of local mental health programs to receive State grants under this
subtitle;

(2)  Promulgate rules and regulations prescribing standards for
qualifications of personnel and quality of professional services ren-
dered in local mental health programs supported under this subtitle
provided that all full or part-time employees or consultants sup-
ported with funds under this subtitle shall be recruited, appointed,
promoted, and retained without reference to race, creed or color,
and this shall apply to services contracted for by local programs;

(3)  Promulgate rules and regulations governing eligibility for
service provided that no person shall be denied service on the basis
of race, creed, color, or the inability to pay for services;

(4)  Review and evaluate local programs and personnel practices
and make recommendations thereon to the local governing body and
the local health officer;

(5)  Provide consultative staff service through his regional mental
health directors to subdivisions to assist in ascertaining local needs
and in planning and establishing local mental health programs;