total disability payments from $28.00 to $82.00 a week; the increase
of permanent total disability awards from $32.00 weekly payments
to $36.00, and the total amount from $10,000 to $12,500, the increase
of total benefits to dependents from $7,500 to $10,000; the broadening
of the law in hernia cases, the establishment of a Second Injury
Fund, and removal of the limitations as to the payment of medical
expenses. In 1961 the Act included many additional employments;
also, for the first time, Maryland came to be what is known as a
non-scheduled State for Occupational Diseases.

Medical Board for Occupational Diseases

The Medical Board for Occupational Diseases was established in
1939. The members of the Board are appointed by the Governor, with
the approval of the Senate, from a list of nominees submitted by the
Deans of the schools of medicine of the University of Maryland and
the Johns Hopkins University and by the Council of the Medical
and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland. Each agency submits a list
of three persons, two of whom are experienced in occupational
diseases, and one of whom is an experienced roentgenologist. Each
appointee to the Board must be a licensed physician in good profes-
sional standing, two of whom shall have had at least five years
practice in the treating, diagnosis, and care of industrial diseases,
the third member having been trained in roentgenology and having
had five years practice and experience. The term of each member is
six years. The Chairman of the Board is designated by the Governor.
The Board hears and adjudicates all claims for compensation for
disability caused by an occupational disease. The decisions of the
Board are subject to review by the Industrial Accident Commission.
(Code 1961, Art. 101, secs. 26-28).

Appropriations 1955 1956
General Fund ............................ $271,250 $292,993
Staff: 69.

COMMISSIONERS OF THE STATE ACCIDENT FUND

Chairman: Thomas W. Offutt, 1958

Joseph D. Weiner, Vice Chairman, 1956; William A. Sullivan, Secre-
tary, 1955; Abraham Watner, 1957; C. Rutledge Turner, 1959.

Richard K. Coggins, Superintendent
M. Katherine Sahm, Administrative Assistant
Philip T. McCusker, Attorney to the Board
U. Theodore Hayes, Attorney to the Board

31 Light Street, Baltimore 2 Telephone: Plaza 2-4876

The State Accident Fund, originally a part of the State Industrial
Accident Commission, was established as a separate agency in 1941.
The State Accident Fund is under the direction of a board of five
members appointed by the Governor for a term of five years, the term
of one member expiring each year (Code 1951, Art. 101, secs. 69, 70).
The Board annually elects its officers. The Board is empowered to
make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to administer
the Accident Fund. The State Accident Fund is the State's Work-
men's Compensation Insurance Carrier. Through the fund employers
may carry insurance for the payment of claims which may arise
from accidents and injuries to the employees as allowed under the
Workmen's Compensation Law. All expenses of the agency are paid