1996

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 710

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

Approved May 29, 1979.

CHAPTER 711

(House Bill 278)

AN ACT concerning

District Court - Commitment of Alcoholics
and Drug Addicts

FOR the purpose of prescribing certain powers of District
Court judges to commit to State hospitals the

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene chronic

alcoholics or habitual drug addicts who are charged

with a criminal offense; and generally relating to the

commitment of alcoholics and drug addicts charged with

a crime.

BY adding to

Article — Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 4-305

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1974 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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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 — Courts and Judicial Proceedings

4-305.

(A)   IF ANY PERSON CHARGED WITH THE COMMISSION OF A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE IS SHOWN, TO THE SATISFACTION OF A DISTRICT
COURT JUDGE, TO BE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM, OR TO
BE HABITUALLY ADDICTED TO THE USE OF NARCOTIC DRUGS AS THAT
TERM IS DEFINED IN § 276 277(Q) OF ARTICLE 27 OF THIS CODE,

THE JUDGE MAY COMMIT HIM TO ONE OF THE STATE--HOSPITALS THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE FOR EVALUATION,

TREATMENT, AND OBSERVATION.

(B)   THE COMMITMENT SHALL BE UNDER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

DETERMINED BY THE JUDGE.

(C)   THE COMMITMENT SHALL BE FOR NOT LESS THAN 96 HOURS
OR FOR LESS THAN 96 HOURS OR FOR MORE THAN 6 WEEKS.