HARRY HUGHES, Governor                               2093

CHAPTER 734

(House Bill 1426)

AN ACT concerning

Administrative Release of Mental Patients

FOR the purpose of allowing certain officials of the Mental
Hygiene Administration to release certain patients from
mental health facilities in certain circumstances;
requiring certain officials to comply with certain
requirements in making these releases; and relating
generally to the administrative release of patients
from facilities of the Mental Hygiene Administration.

BY renumbering

Article 59 — Mental Hygiene

Section 18(c) through (e), respectively

to be Section 18(d) through (f), respectively

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 59 — Mental Hygiene

Section 18(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) 18(c) through (e), respectively,
of Article 59 — Mental Hygiene, of the Annotated Code of
Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 18(d) through (f),
respectively.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That section(s)
of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed, amended, or
enacted to read as follows:

Article 59 - Mental Hygiene

18.

(C) AT THE DIRECTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE MENTAL
HYGIENE ADMINISTRATION, HIS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, OR

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ANY FACILITY, OR IN THE CASE OF A

PATIENT IN A VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL STATE MENTAL
HOSPITAL, AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CHIEF OFFICER OF THAT
HOSPITAL, ANY PATIENT NOT DETAINED PURSUANT TO THE