MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                2897

minimum difference between their natural children, if
any, and foster children in their care; now, therefore.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 60B be and it is hereby added
to Article 88A — Social Services Administration, of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume and
1973 Supplement) to read as follows:

Article 88A — Social Services Administration
60B.

(A)    THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL
SERVICES SHALL ESTABLISH BY REGULATION ELIGIBILITY
GUIDELINES FOR PAYMENT FOR ONE OR MORE CLASSIFICATIONS OF
CHILDREN RECEIVING BOARDING CARE (FOSTER CARE) WHO ARE IN
NEED OF SPECIAL CARE.

(B)    BASED UPON THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO (A) AND AFTER JULY 1, 1975, THE
MONTHLY RATE FOR BOARDING CARE OF CHILDREN PAID BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
IN NEED OF THE CARE DESCRIBED IN THE CLASSIFICATION WHICH
IS GIVEN THE MOST DEMANDING TYPE OF CARE PROVIDED IN
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE MONTHLY
RATE FOR CARE PURCHASED IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES. THIS RATE SHALL NOT BE
LOWER THAN THAT PAID IN FISCAL YEAR 1975.

(C)    THE REGULAR MONTHLY RATE FOR BOARDING CARE IN
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OF CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT IN NEED OF
SPECIAL CARE SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN 55% OF THE HIGHEST
SPECIAL CARE RATE PAID FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOME CARE BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES. THERE
SHALL BE FINANCIAL INCREMENTS BASED ON THE AGE OF THE
CHILDREN IN CARE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1974.

Approved May 31, 1974.

CHAPTER 868
(House Bill 424)
AN ACT concerning