Ch. 507                             MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                1131

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 20 of Article 30 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1971 Replacement Volume), title "Deaf, Mute or Blind," subtitle "Public
Assistance to the Needy Blind," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

20.

On the death of the recipient, reasonable funeral expenses, not exceeding [two
hundred dollars ($200.00)] FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS ($400.00), may be
paid by the local unit, if [(other resources, including available death benefits, or]]
OTHER RESOURCES, INCLUDING AVAILABLE DEATH BENEFITS, OR
the estate of the deceased [is] ARE insufficient to pay the same and the persons
legally responsible for the support of the deceased are unable to pay the same. The
cost of any such payment shall be charged [[two-thirds]] TWO THIRDS to State
funds and [[one-third]] ONE THIRD to local funds. The provisions of this
section are subject to the requirements of Section 18A of Article 88A of this Code.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 72 of Article
88A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume), title
["Social Services Administration," subtitle "Old Age Assistance," be and it is
hereby repealed as follows:

172.

On the death of the recipient reasonable funeral expenses, not exceeding two
hundred dollars ($200.00), may be paid by the local unit if the estate of the
deceased is insufficient to pay the same and the persons legally responsible for the
support of the deceased are unable to pay the same. The cost of any such
payments shall be charged two-thirds to State funds and one-third to local funds.
The provisions of this section are subject to the requirements of Section 18A of
this article.]

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That a new Section 62A
be and it is hereby added to Article 88A of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1969 Replacement Volume and 1972 Supplement), title "Social Services
Administration," to follow immediately after Section 62 thereof, to be under the
new subtitle "Funeral Expenses," and to read as follows:

FUNERAL EXPENSES

62A.

THE LOCAL UNIT MAY PAY THE REASONABLE FUNERAL
EXPENSES, NOT TO EXCEED FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS ($400.00), OF
CHILDREN RECEIVING FOSTER CARE UNDER THE
ADMINISTRATION'S FOSTER CARE PROGRAM AND RECIPIENTS OF
AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN, AID TO THE
PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED, GENERAL PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE, AND OLD AGE ASSISTANCE, AND ON AND AFTER
JANUARY 1, 1974 ALL MARYLAND RECIPIENTS OF ASSISTANCE
PAYMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY
INCOME PROGRAM UNDER TITLE XVI OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ACT. PROVIDED THAT ANY PERSONS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE SUPPORT OF THE DECEDENT ARE UNABLE TO PAY THE
EXPENSES, AND THAT OTHER RESOURCES, INCLUDING AVAILABLE