Ch. 130

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1) If the decedent's death was caused by the decedent's intentional
misconduct;

(2) If the decedent intended to bring about the decedent's death; or

(3) If the decedent's voluntary intoxication was the proximate cause of the
decedent's death.

(e) Upon a determination by the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety
and Correctional Services that the benefits provided for in this section are to be paid,
payment shall be made as follows:

(1) To the surviving spouse;

(2) If there is no surviving spouse, to the surviving child or children of the
decedent in equal shares; or

(3) If there is no surviving spouse, or children, to the surviving parent or
parents, if the parent was a dependent as defined in § 152 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(f) (1) Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary under this
section may apply for judicial review.

(2) The appeal shall be made as provided for review of final decisions in
Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article of the Code.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall apply to
funeral benefits for the Sheriff of Baltimore City or any deputy sheriff of Baltimore City
who is killed or dies in the line of duty on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and safety, has
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members elected to
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is
enacted.

Approved April 29, 1997.

CHAPTER 130
(Senate Bill 80)

AN ACT concerning

Residential Treatment Centers - Accreditation

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to use the
current standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care
Organizations when conducting inspections of certain residential treatment centers;
authorizing the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to license a residential
treatment center based on the residential treatment center's current applicable

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