690V Maryland Manual

representatives of all agencies, and for all institutions applying for
State moneys. After such public hearings he may, in his
discretion, revise all estimates except those for the legislative and
judiciary departments, and for the public schools, as provided by
law, and except that he may not reduce an estimate for a program
below a level of funding prescribed by a law which will be in effect
during the fiscal year covered by the Budget, and which was
enacted before July 1 of the fiscal year prior thereto.

(13) The General Assembly may, horn time to time, enact such
laws not inconsistent with this section, as may be necessary and
proper to carry out its provisions.

(14) In the event of any inconsistency between any of the
provisions of this Section and any of the other provisions of the
Constitution, the provisions of this Section shall prevail. But
nothing herein shall in any manner affect the provisions of
Section 34 of Article 3 of the Constitution or of any laws
heretofore or hereafter passed in pursuance thereof, or be
construed as preventing the Governor from calling extraordinary
sessions of the General Assembly, as provided by Section 16 of
Article 2, or as preventing the General Assembly at such
extraordinary sessions from considering any emergency appropri-
ation or appropriations.

(15) If any item of any appropriation bill passed under the
provisions of this Section shall be held invalid upon any ground,
such invalidity shall not affect the legality of the bill or of any
other item of such bill or bills.

SEC. 53."- Vacant.

SEC. 54." No County of this State shall contract any debt, or
obligation, in the construction of any Railroad, Canal, or other
Work of Internal Improvement, nor give, or loan its credit to, or
in aid of any association, or corporation, unless authorized by an
Act of the General Assembly.

SEC. 55. The General Assembly shall pass no Law suspending
the privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus.

SEC. 56. The General Assembly shall have power to pass all
such Laws as may be necessary and proper for carrying into
execution the powers vested, by this Constitution, in any
Department, or office of the Government, and the duties imposed
upon them thereby.

SEC. 57. The Legal Rate of Interest shall be Six per cent per
annum, unless otherwise provided by the General Assembly.

SEC. 58." The Legislature shall provide by Law for State and
municipal taxation upon the revenues accruing from business
done in the State by all foreign corporations.

SEC. 59." The Legislature shall pass no law creating the office
of "State Pension Commissioner", or establishing any general
pension system within this State.

SEC. (O." The General Assembly of Maryland shall have the
power to provide by suitable general enactment (a) for the
suspension of sentence by the Court in criminal cases; (b) for any
form of the indeterminate sentence in criminal cases, and (c) for
the release upon parole in whatever manner the General Assem-
bly may prescribe, of convicts imprisoned under sentence for
crimes.

SEC. 61.'" (a) The General Assembly may authorize and

"Repealed by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
"Amended by Chapter 71, Acts of 1960, ratified Nov. 8, 1960.
"Amended by Chapter 99, Acts of 1956, ratified Nov. 6, 1956.
^w Amended by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978.
"Added by Chapter 453, Acts of 1914, ratified Nov. 2, 1915.
"Added by Chapter 444, Acts of 1959, ratified Nov. !!, 1960.

Article III

empower any county or any municipal corporation, by public
local law:

(1) To carry out urban renewal projects which shall be limited
to slum clearance in slum or blighted areas and redevelopment or
the rehabilitation of slum or blighted areas, and to include the
acquisition, within the boundary lines of such county or munici-
pal corporation, of land and property of every kind and any right,
interest, franchise, easement or privilege therein, by purchase,
lease, gift, condemnation or any other legal means. The term
"slum area" shall mean any area where dwellings predominate
which, by reason of depreciation, overcrowding, faulty arrange-
ment or design, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or
any combination of these factors, are detrimental to the public
safety, health or morals. The term "blighted area" shall mean an
area in which a majority of buildings have declined in productivi-
ty by reason of obsolescence, depreciation or other causes to an
extent they no longer justify fundamental repairs and adequate
maintenance.

(2) To sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of
said land or property, regardless of whether or not it has been
developed, redeveloped, altered or improved and irrespective of
the manner or means in or by which it may have been acquired, to
any private, public or quasi public corporation, partnership,
association, person or other legal entity.

No land or property taken by any county or any municipal
corporation for any of the aforementioned purposes or in
connection with the exercise of any of the powers which may be
granted to such county or municipal corporation pursuant to this
section by exercising the power of eminent domain shall be taken
without just compensation, as agreed upon between the parties,
or awarded by a jury, being first paid or tendered to the party
entitled to such compensation.

All land or property needed, or taken by the exercise of the
power of eminent domain, by any county or any municipal
corporation for any of the aforementioned purposes or in
connection with the exercise of any of the powers which may be
granted pursuant to this Section is hereby declared to be needed
or taken for public uses and purposes. Any or all of the activities
authorized pursuant to this section shall constitute governmental
functions undertaken for public uses and purposes and the power
of taxation may be exercised, public funds expended and public
credit extended in furtherance thereof.

(b) The General Assembly may grant to any county or any
municipal corporation, by public local law, any and all additional
power and authority necessary or proper to carry into full force
and effect any and all of the specific powers authorized by this
section and to fully accomplish any and all of the purposes and
objects contemplated by the provisions of this section, provided
such additional power or authority is not inconsistent with the
terms and provisions of (his section or with any other provision or
provisions of the Constitution of Maryland.

(c) The General Assembly of Maryland, by public local law,
may establish or authorize the establishment of a public body or
agency to undertake in a county or municipal corporation (other
than Baltimore City) the activities authorized by this section, and
may provide that any or all of the powers, except the power of
taxation, herein authorized to be granted to such county or
municipal corporation shall be vested in such public body or
agency or in any existing public body or agency.

(d) The General Assembly may place such other and further
restrictions or limitations on the exercise of any of the powers
provided for in this section, as it may deem proper and expedient.

(e) The provisions of this section are independent of, and shall
in no way affect, the powers granted under Article XIB of the
Constitution of Maryland, title "City of Baltimore—Land Devel-
opment and Redevelopment." Also, the power provided in this
section for the General Assembly to enact public local laws