110

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 17

apply the same to the use of the several beneficiaries
thereof according to their respective claims upon the
decedent for support, in compliance with the findings and
direction of the Commission.

(9) (a) When as the result of an injury, an employee
is disabled from performing work for which he was previously
qualified, he shall be entitled to vocational rehabilitation
as reasonably necessary to restore him to suitable
employment. The employer and insurer shall pay the expenses
of the vocational rehabilitation. The Commission shall
refer the employee to an appropriate rehabilitation
evaluation agency for evaluation of the practicability of,
need for, and type of training necessary and appropriate to
render the employee fit for a remunerative occupation.
Vocational rehabilitation training shall not extend for a
period of more than twenty-four (24) months.

(b)  The Commission, upon receiving a report from
the rehabilitation evaluation agency, shall promptly notify
all parties of the contents of the report. Any party in
interest may within ten (10) days from the date of issuance
of the report, request a hearing to controvert the report.
At the hearing, the parties may present additional evidence
as necessary. Following the hearing, the Commission shall
make a decision accepting or rejecting in whole or in part
the vocational rehabilitation agency report and issue an
appropriate order regarding vocational rehabilitation of the
employee.

(c)  During the period an employee is undergoing
vocational rehabilitation training, he shall be entitled to
compensation as if he were temporarily totally disabled.

(d)  Any employee undergoing vocational
rehabilitation training in the course of which he is
required to live at a location other than his home, shall
also be entitled to receive in addition to the temporary
total compensation provided for herein, sufficient funds to
adequately maintain himself during the period of vocational
rehabilitation training, but in no case to exceed forty
dollars per week. The maintenance so provided shall be at
the expense of the employer and insurer.

(e)  Transportation costs to and from the place
of training are not reimbursable to a claimant residing at
home during vocational rehabilitation training, except that
the Commission may allow reasonable transportation costs in
unusual cases.

(f)  If an employee refuses to accept vocational
rehabilitation training, pursuant to an order of the
Commission, and the Commission determines the refusal to be
unreasonable, all payments of compensation for temporary
total disability shall be forfeited during the period of
refusal.