2406                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 820

program shall be used for recreation and open space purposes
by the department, [and] the St. Mary's City Commission,
AND THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION FUND. Except as

provided in subsection (c)(1), any funds the General

Assembly appropriates to the state under the program shall
be used only for land acquisition projects. A portion of
the state's share of funds available under this program
shall be utilized to make grants to THE MARYLAND
AGRICULTURAL FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURAL EASEMENTS AND
Baltimore City for projects which meet park purposes. The
grants shall be in addition to any funds Baltimore City is
eligible to receive under subsection (b), and may be used
for acquisition or development. In order for Baltimore City
to be eligible for a state grant, the department shall
review projects or land to be acquired within Baltimore
City, and upon the department's recommendation, the Board of
Public Works may approve projects and land including the
cost. Title to the land shall be in the name of the Mayor
and City Council of Baltimore City. The state is not
responsible for costs involved in the development or
maintenance of the land.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1978.

Approved May 29, 1978.

CHAPTER 821

(Senate Bill 708)

AN ACT concerning

Mental Health - Geriatric Evaluation Unit

FOR the purpose of defining a geriatric evaluation unit;
granting certain authority to the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Administration;
requiring that certain findings be made before persons
of a certain age can be involuntarily voluntarily
admitted to a Veterans' Administration public hospital
or facility for the treatment of a mental disorder;
exempting certain persons from review by a geriatric
evaluation unit; requiring an evaluation of all persons
of a certain age seeking involuntary admission to a
Veterans' Administration public hospital or facility
for the treatment of a mental disorder; and providing
certain circumstances upon which these persons can be
denied voluntary admission to a public facility;
requiring that certain findings be made prior to tho
release of persons of a certain age from certain
facilities; and generally relating to the review of the
admission and release of aged persons from institutions
for the treatment of mental disorders by a geriatric