MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

2247

care, it is the intent of this subtitle that the cost of
mental health services be financed in the manner provided
by the legislature.

(B) THE SETTING OF CHARGES FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES RENDERED IN OUTPATIENT, INPATIENT AND OTHER
FACILITIES, THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO
PAY OF PATIENTS, RESPONSIBLE RELATIVES, AND OTHER PERSONS
LEGALLY CHARGEABLE FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF THE PATIENT, THE
DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNTS OF PAYMENTS, THE LIABILITY
OF PATIENTS AND OTHER LEGALLY CHARGEABLE PERSONS, AND THE
RECEIPT, DEPOSIT AND ENFORCEMENT OF PAYMENTS SHALL BE THE
SAME AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 601 OF ARTICLE 43 OF THE
CODE.

SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section
24 of Article 59A — Mental Retardation, of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1972 Replacement Volume and 1974
Supplement) be and it is hereby repealed and re—enacted,
with amendments, to read as follows:

Article 59A — Mental Retardation

24.

(A)    It is the intent of this subtitle to require
all mentally retarded persons financially able to do so
to pay for services received by then. Such obligations
extend to not only the mentally retarded persons, but
also to those legally responsible for them. Where such
mentally retarded persons or their responsible relatives
or guardians are unable to pay for their care, it is the
intent of this subtitle that the cost of services for the
mentally retarded be financed in the manner provided by
the legislature.

(B)    THE SETTING OF CHARGES FOR SERVICES RENDERED
TO MENTALLY RETARDED PERSONS, THE INVESTIGATION OF THE
FINANCIAL ABILITY TO PAY OF THESE PERSONS, RESPONSIBLE
RELATIVES, AND OTHER PERSONS LEGALLY CHARGEABLE FOR ANY
OBLIGATION OF THE PATIENT, THE DETERMINATION OF THE
AMOUNTS OF PAYMENTS AND THE RECEIPT, DEPOSIT AND
ENFORCEMENT OF PAYMENTS SHALL BE THE SAME AS SET FORTH IN
SECTION 601 OF ARTICLE 43 OF THE CODE. THE LIABILITY OF
PERSONS LEGALLY CHARGEABLE FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF THE
PATIENT SHALL BE AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 25A OF THIS
ARTICLE.

SECTION 7. AND BE IT     FURTHER ENACTED, That new

Section 601 be and it is hereby   added to Article 43 -

Health, of the Annotated     Code of Maryland (1971

Replacement Volume and 1974      Supplement) to read as