2474

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 632

(1980 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 59A - Mental Retardation

Section 19(d) and (e)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1980 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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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

3.

(d) "Comprehensive evaluation" means a study including
a sequence of observations and examinations of an individual
leading to conclusions and recommendations formulated
jointly by a team of persons with special training and
experience in the diagnosis and management of the mentally
retarded. The team shall include not less than one member
professionally qualified in each of the fields of medicine,
psychology, and social work, and may utilize such other
specialists as the individual case may require. The team
shall take into consideration the needs of the mentally
retarded person, AND the family unit [and the resources of
the community] before [making recommendations] RECOMMENDING
APPROPRIATE SERVICES IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE SETTING.

10.

(a)  Any person over the age of 18, the guardian of any
person on behalf of that person, or anyone else having a
legitimate interest in the welfare of a person, may apply to
the Administration for admission of that person to [the] AN
appropriate [public] facility within the jurisdiction of the
Administration. The individual making the application must,
as a prerequisite to the admission, be able to understand
the nature of the request. The application shall be in
writing and shall be in such form as may be required by the
Administration.

(b)   [Upon] WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM receipt of the
application, the director or [his] THE DIRECTOR'S designee
shall [designate] OBTAIN OR PROVIDE a comprehensive
evaluation [center for the purpose of a comprehensive
evaluation]. The comprehensive evaluation shall determine:

(1)  If the person is mentally retarded; [and]

(2)  If the [condition is] NEEDS OF THE PERSON
ARE of such a nature that, for the PERSON'S protection or
adequate [care] REHABILITATION HABILITATION [of himself or