858                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 406

may determine. [[However, as to a defendant suffering from acute or chronic
alcoholism, the]] THE commitment shall be for not less than 96 hours or for
more than six weeks. The superintendent of the hospital or other facility may
terminate the commitment at any time after 96 hours upon his determination that
further continued commitment will not be in the best interests of the alcoholic or
serve any useful purpose. IN THE CASE OF A USER OF NARCOTIC
DRUGS, THE COMMITMENT SHALL BE MADE BY THE JUDGE ONLY
AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
MENTAL HOSPITAL TO WHICH THE COMMITMENT IS TO BE MADE.
Every District Court shall be held to be included within the term "court" as used
in Article 59, subtitle "Insanity as a Defense in Criminal Cases" of the Annotated
Code of Maryland, 1957 Edition, as amended; and each judge of the District Court
shall have the same power and authority exercised by any judge of the circuit court
for the purposes set forth in those sections, including the determination of
competency to stand trial of any person charged with the commission of any crime
within the jurisdiction of the court.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1973.

Approved May 21, 1973.

CHAPTER 407
(Senate Bill 511)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, subsection (c) of Section 1J of
Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume and
1972 Supplement), title "Health," subtitle "Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene," adding a representative from the local council on alcoholism, where
one exists, to the membership of the mental health advisory committee of each
county and Baltimore City.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That subsection (c) of Section 1J of Article 43 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume and 1972 Supplement), title
"Health," subtitle "Department of Health and Mental Hygiene," be and the same
is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

1J.

(c) The governing body of each county and of Baltimore City shall establish a
mental health advisory committee and appoint the members thereto. Membership
shall consist of one representative each from the local governing body, the school
board, the welfare board, the practicing physicians, the clergy, [and] the legal
profession, the mental health association, where one exists, THE LOCAL
COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM, WHERE ONE EXISTS, and at least three
additional members representing the community as a whole. The term of office of
each member shall be for three years commencing from the first day of July of the
year of appointment except that of the members first appointed one-third shall be
appointed for a term of two years and one-third for a term of one year. Members
who have served two consecutive full terms shall not be eligible for reappointment
for a period of three years following completion of such terms. The officers of the
committee shall be elected annually by the membership and the chairmanship shall
not be held by the same person for more than two consecutive years. The