Ch. 70                                      2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 70
(Senate Bill 171)

AN ACT concerning

Family Law - Marriage Ceremonies - Solicitation

FOR the purpose of repealing the prohibition against erecting or maintaining an
information booth or advertisement that is intended to help solicit the
performance of a marriage ceremony; repealing the penalties for a violation of
the prohibition; and generally relating to marriage ceremonies.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Family Law
Section 2-408

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1999 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

2-408.

(a)     [(1)] An authorized official may not give or offer to give any reward to any
person as an inducement to direct to the authorized official any individual who is
contemplating marriage.

[(2) A person may not erect or maintain any information booth or
advertisement that is intended to help solicit the performance of any marriage
ceremony]

(b)      [(1)]An authorized official who violates the provisions of subsection
[(a)(1)] (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a
fine not exceeding $50 for each offense.

[(2) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (a)(2) of this
section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject:

(i) for the first offense, to a fine not exceeding $100; and

(ii) for each subsequent offense, to a fine not exceeding $500 or
imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October 1, 2003.

Approved April 22, 2003.

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