1538

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 530

Article 59A — Mental Retardation

Section 19(c)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 59A - Mental Retardation

19.

(c) At least 2 percent, but not to exceed 4 percent

of the total beds in each public facility [all] EACH

STATE-OWNED public [facilities] FACILITY, except public
group homes, under the jurisdiction of the Administration
shall be reserved, in accordance with rules and regulations
promulgated by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,
for respite care. However, a person who is a resident of a
facility on July 1, 1977 may not be displaced in order to
implement this subsection, but instead, this subsection
shall be implemented through attrition as vacancies arise in
existing beds. For purposes of this subsection, respite
care, means care for [a period up to 28 consecutive days]
ONE PLACEMENT PERIOD UP TO 28 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OR SEVERAL
SHORTER PLACEMENT PERIODS OR BOTH AS DETERMINED FOR EACH
SITUATION within any 12-month period, BUT SOT TO EXCEED A
TOTAL OF 45 DAYS WITHIN A 12-MONTH PERIOD, made available
for a mentally retarded person in a public facility
maintained by the Administration, in order to provide relief
for parents or guardians with whom the retarded person
ordinarily lives.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.

Approved May 29, 1979.

CHAPTER 531

(House Bill 283)

AN ACT concerning

Foreign Corporation — Registration

FOR the purpose of requiring certain foreign corporations
that own income—producing property in this State to
register to do interstate business; and excluding
certain property.