Ch. 326

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(C) THE DEPARTMENT MAY COLLECT FEES FROM A CORE SERVICE AGENCY
FOR THE COST OF TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WHOM THE CORE SERVICE AGENCY
AUTHORIZES AS ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION INTO A STATE FACILITY AS DESCRIBED
IN TITLE 10, SUBTITLE 4 OF THIS ARTICLE ANY SUCH FEES COLLECTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT FOR THE ADMISSION AND TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS
AUTHORIZED BY THE CORE SERVICE AGENCY SHALL BE KEPT BY THE DEPARTMENT
TO BE USED TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THE RESPECTIVE STATE FACILITY.

[(c)] (D) (1) If a recipient of services dies, the Department may make a claim
against the estate of the recipient for any unpaid fees established for that recipient.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, a claim under
this subsection may not include any fee for services provided more than 3 years before the
recipient of services died.

(3) A claim made under this subsection is a preferred claim against the
estate of a deceased recipient of services. The claim may be waived by the Department if,
in its judgment, enforcement of the claim will cause substantial hardship to dependents of
the deceased.

(4) If a responsible relative who is liable for the cost of care of the recipient
of services has misrepresented assets or submitted fraudulent information and, by doing
so, has avoided any part of the claim for the cost of care, there is no limitation on the time
in which the claim may be brought against the estate.

[(d)] (E) (1) The Department may institute any proceedings that the
Department considers necessary to require collection of the established but uncollected
payments.

(2) The Central Collection Unit in the Department of Budget and
Management shall handle those delinquent accounts and debts that the Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene refers under § 3-202 of the State Finance and Procurement
Article.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1997.

Approved May 8, 1997.

CHAPTER 326
(Senate Bill 98)

AN ACT concerning

Property Tax - Agricultural Use Assessment

FOR the purpose of altering the basis for excluding land from receiving an agricultural
use assessment when the land has been zoned or rezoned under certain
circumstances; and providing for the application of this Act: and generally relating

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