962                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 345

and review, to be represented by legal counsel, and to seek inde-
pendent medical opinion;

(c)    In any case before a court or review board to assemble and
provide the court or board with all the relevant information as to the
patient's case, his hospitalization and his right to discharge;

(d)    Perform services for voluntary patients and informal pa-
tients who are admitted pursuant to Article 59 of this Code similar
to those required pursuant to [subdivisions] subsections (a) and
(b) of this section, as may be requested by the patient or anyone on
his behalf; and

(e)    Provide services and assistance to patients and their families
and to the courts or the review board having duties to perform relat-
ing to the mentally disordered or the allegedly mentally disordered
who are admitted pursuant to Article 59 of this Code, as may be re-
quired by a judge, justice, or chairman thereof and pursuant to the
said rules and regulations.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That new Article 59A be and
it is hereby added to the Annotated Code of Maryland (1968 Replace-
ment Volume and 1971 Supplement), to be under the new title
"Mental Retardation," to follow immediately after Article 59 thereof,
and to read as follows:

ARTICLE 59A
Short Title, Statement of Policy and Definitions

1.    Short Title

This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Mental Re-
tardation Law."

2.    Statement of Policy

It is the policy of the State of Maryland, in order to advance the
public interest, to promote, protect and preserve the human dignity,
constitutional rights and liberties, social well being and general wel-
fare of mentally retarded persons in the State, to encourage the
development of the ability and potential of each mentally retarded
person in the State to the fullest possible extent, no matter how se-
vere his degree of disability; to promote the economic security,
standard of living, and meaningful employment of the mentally re-
tarded; to maximize the integration of mentally retarded persons
into the ordinary life of the communities in which they live; to
recognize the right of mentally retarded persons, where care in a resi-
dential facility is necessary, to live in surroundings and circum-
stances as close to normal as possible and to provide adequate facilities
therefor; to provide appropriate social and protective services for
those mentally retarded persons who are unable to manage them-
selves and their affairs with ordinary prudence; to protect parental
rights and to assist parents and guardians in the planning for and
management of the mentally retarded; to promote and provide for
the development, maintenance, and coordination of all programs for
the mentally retarded; to advance research and professional training