HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3801

WHEREAS, The General Assembly acknowledges the
existence of the Federal Aid to Families with Dependent
Children Program, but realizes that, because of changes
effected by the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981, this
program no longer provides adequate financial resources to
meet the special needs of the low-income pregnant woman
during her entire pregnancy; now; therefore,

WHEREAS, The General Assembly intends to assist needy
pregnant women in obtaining adequate nutritional and health
care between the second and sixth months of pregnancy when
they are not otherwise eligible for assistance pursuant to
the Federal Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program;
now, therefore,

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

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

65C.

(A)  (1) THE STATE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ESTABLISH AND
IMPLEMENT AND, AS NECESSARY, MODIFY A PROGRAM OF GENERAL
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY PREGNANT WOMEN WHO ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL CATEGORY OF DIRECT
CASH ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS.

(2)  THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE STATE AND LOCALLY
FUNDED ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS TO PREGNANT WOMEN RESIDENTS OF
THIS STATE WHO TEMPORARILY REQUIRE ASSISTANCE BETWEEN THE
SECOND AND SIXTH MONTH OF THE PREGNANCY.

(3)  THE PROGRAM SHALL BE KNOWN AS GENERAL PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

(B)  THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN PARAGRAPH (A) SHALL BE
IN EFFECT IN ALL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THIS STATE AND
SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE LOCAL UNITS IN CONFORMITY WITH
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS SUBTITLE
A WOMAN SHALL PROVIDE MEDICAL VERIFICATION OF PREGNANCY AND
VERIFICATION OF PARTICIPATION IN A PRENATAL CARE PROGRAM.

(C)  ELIGIBILITY AND ALL OTHER REQUIREMENTS, NOT SET
FORTH IN THIS SUBTITLE, SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY RULES AND

REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES STATE

ADMINISTRATION.

(D) SUPPORT FROM CHILDREN SHALL BE REGARDED AS A

POTENTIAL RESOURCE AND EVALUATION AS TO AMOUNT AND

AVAILABILITY, AS DETERMINED BY RULES AND REGULATION OF THE
STATE ADMINISTRATION.