2966

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 639

the Commission shall reduce the weekly rate of
compensation until the amount of the lump sum granted
would have been paid if that sum had been paid in weekly
payments], SUCH LUMP SUM PAYMENTS MAY ONLY BE MADE BY THE

COMMISSION FOR THE PURPOSES PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 57 OF
THIS ARTICLE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section
43 of Article 101 - Workmen's Compensation, of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume and
1974 Supplement) be and it is hereby repealed:

Article 101 — Workmen's Compensation

43.

[If a beneficiary shall reside or remove out of the
United States, and shall have been such nonresident for a
period of one year, the Commission may, in its
discretion, convert any payments thereafter to become due
to such beneficiary into a lump sum payment, not in any
case to exceed twenty—four hundred dollars, by paying a
sum equal to three—fourths of the then value of such
payments.]

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That new
Section 36 (11) be and it is hereby added to Article 101 -
Workmen's Compensation, of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1964 Replacement Volume and 1974 Supplement) to read as
follows;

36.

(11) A PROVISION IN THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE
CONSTRUED TO CHANGE THE LAW PERTAINING TO AN INJURY OR
DISEASE OCCURRING PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ANY
PROVISION IN THIS SECTION FOR WHICH A CLAIM UNDER THIS
ARTICLE IS MADE. A PROVISION IN THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE
CONSTRUED TO CHANGE THE PAYMENT BASIS IN EFFECT AT THE
TIME AN INJURY OR DISEASE OCCURS FOR WHICH A CLAIM IS
MADE UNDER THIS ARTICLE.

SECTION [[3]] 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That
this Act shall take effect July 1, 1975.

Approved May 15, 1975.

CHAPTER 640