HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                    2579

(ii) If the local educational agency declines
to contract, the Department [of Health and Mental Hygiene] may
operate an education program directly or contract with another
qualified provider.

(4)  Until a separate program is established for each
county, children from Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's counties
may be served by the Regional Institute in Prince George's
County.

(5)  The Department [of Health and Mental Hygiene]
shall establish guidelines in cooperation with the local board of
education for the operation of the Regional Institute for
Children and Adolescents in Prince George's County.

(6) (I) AN ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE SHALL DETERMINE

ADMISSION TO THE REGIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY UNDER THE STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION SET
BY THE DIRECTOR UNDER § 10-407 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(II) THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF
3 MEMBERS WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE DIRECTOR, INCLUDING:

1. 1 REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT;

2. 1 REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MEMBERSHIP
OF ONE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF CHARLES,
CALVERT, AND ST. MARY'S COUNTIES; AND

3. 1 REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PRINCE

GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

(III) THE DIRECTOR SHALL ADOPT RULES AND

REGULATIONS FOR THE APPOINTMENT, TERMS, AND DUTIES OF THE MEMBERS

OF THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE THAT THE DIRECTOR CONSIDERS

NECESSARY.

(6) (I) BY JANUARY 1, 1985, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO ALL REGIONAL
INSTITUTES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN COOPERATION WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF THE REGIONAL
INSTITUTES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, THE MENTAL HEALTH
ADVISORY COMMITTEES IN EACH REGION, THE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES,
AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND.

(II) IN DETERMINING THESE RULES AND
REGULATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE THAT NO BONA FIDE
CANDIDATE FOR ADMISSION MAY BE REJECTED SOLELY BECAUSE OF
RESIDENCE OUTSIDE THE REGULAR CATCHMENT AREA SERVED BY THE
INSTITUTION.

(III) IN DETERMINING THESE RULES AND
REGULATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE THAT CANDIDATES FOR
ADMISSION WHO RESIDE IN THE REGULAR CATCHMENT AREA SERVED BY THE
INSTITUTION SHALL BE GRANTED PRIORITY IN ADMISSIONS TO THE
INSTITUTION.