26 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 1

ceeding. In the event of an employer's adjudication in bank-
ruptcy, judicially confirmed extension proposal, or composi-
tion, under the Federal Bankruptcy Act of 1898, as
amended, contributions then or thereafter due shall be en-
titled to such priority as is provided in section 64 (b) of
that Act (U. S, C. A., title 11, sec. 104 (b)), as amended.

(d) REFUNDS.

If not later than one year after the date on which any
contributions or interest thereon became due, an employer
who has paid such contributions or interest thereon shall
make application for an adjustment thereof in connection
with subsequent contribution payments, or for a refund
thereof because such adjustment cannot be made, and the
Board shall determine that such contributions or interest
or any portion hereof was erroneously collected, the Board
shall allow such employer to make an adjustment thereof,
without interest, in connection with subsequent contribu-
tion payments by him, or if such adjustment cannot be
made the Board shall refund said amount, without interest,
from the fund. For like cause and within the same period,
adjustment or refund may be so made on the Board's own
initiative.

PROTECTION OF RIGHTS AND BENEFITS.
15 (a) WAIVER OF RIGHTS VOID.

No agreement by an individual to waive, release, or
commute his rights to benefits or any other rights under
this Act shall be valid. No agreement by any individual
in the employ of any person or concern to pay all or any
portion of an employer's contributions, required under
this Act from such employer, shall be valid. No employer
shall directly or indirectly make or require or accept any
deduction from wages to finance the employer's contri-
butions required from him, or require or accept any waiver
of any right hereunder by any individual in his employ.
Any employer or officer or agent of an employer who vio-
lates any provision of this subsection shall, for each
offense, be fined not more than $1,000 or be imprisoned
for not more than one year, or both.

(b) LIMITATION OF FEES.

No individual claiming benefits shall be charged fees
of any kind in any proceeding under this Act by the Board
or its representatives or by any Court or by any officer