1456                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 695

(b)   In a manner prescribed by the Secretary each applicant for a marriage
license in this State shall be informed at the time of the application of the
existence of the disease known as sickle cell anemia. This information shall include
but not be limited to the following:

(1)  That there exists a simple and inexpensive test to identify those persons who
have the disease and those persons who carry the sickle cell trait;

(2)  That the occurrence of the sickle cell trait in both parties to a marriage
leads to a high probability of the occurrence of sickle cell anemia in children born
of that marriage.

(c)   Each applicant shall be informed of the nearest available facility where
persons may be tested for sickle cell anemia and the sickle cell trait, and also be
informed of the fee charged by the facility for the testing.

(d)    Each applicant shall be informed of the local, State and national
organizations which are approved by the Secretary and which can provide further
information and personal counseling concerning sickle cell anemia and the sickle
cell trait.

(e)  To protect public health and safety the Secretary shall compile a list of all
local, State and national sickle cell anemia organizations, and shall approve only
those organizations which can provide a high quality of services to the citizens of
this State.

(f)  The Secretary shall establish in each health district of the State facilities for
the testing of sickle cell anemia and the sickle cell trait, and shall maintain at each
health district information concerning sickle cell anemia and the sickle cell trait
which shall be available to the public at no cost.

(g)  Facilities for this testing and providing of information may be established on
a contractual basis by the Secretary with another organization or community
agency located within the health district, and laboratory services located either
within or beyond the boundaries of the health district may be utilized.

(h) If a blood test is administered to a pregnant female upon entering a hospital
for delivery, the blood test shall include a test for sickle cell anemia.

(i) The Secretary shall formulate a statewide plan for education concerning the
detection and treatment of sickle cell anemia and the sickle cell trait. This plan
shall reflect a fair and equitable allocation of funds that the State may appropriate
from year to year for sickle cell anemia and the sickle cell trait programs.

(j) The Secretary's plan shall include but not be restricted to the following:

(1)  Testing and counseling of individuals on a voluntary basis for sickle cell
anemia and the sickle cell trait;

(2)   Compiling and evaluating available data to the end of gaining a better
understanding of the nature of the disease;

(k) An advisory committee of eleven members, to be appointed by the
Governor, shall be established to advise the Secretary as to the formulation of the
statewide plan.

(1) Members of the advisory committee shall serve without pay, and the
majority of the members shall be representative of consumers of health services.