HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 679

and granting such benefits payable to such persons and bene-
ficiaries within the above restrictions under such conditions
as its constitution and laws may provide. Within the above
restrictions, each member shall have the right to designate
his beneficiary, and, from time to time, have the same changed
in accordance with the laws, rules or regulations of the asso-
ciation, and no beneficiary shall have or obtain any vested
interest in the said benefit until the same has become due and
payable upon the death of the said member; provided, that any
association may, by its laws limit the scope of beneficiaries
within the above classes.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1943.

Approved May 4, 1943.

CHAPTER 548.
(House Bill 536)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section
217 of Article 48A of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1939 Edition), title "Insurance", sub-title "Fraternal Bene-
ficiary Associations77, providing for protection of children
or dependents and prescribing the Standard of Solvency.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 217 of Article 48A of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1939 Edition), title "Insurance77, sub-title "Fra-
ternal Beneficiary Associations77, be and the same is hereby
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

SEC. 217. PROTECTION TO CHILDREN OR DEPENDENTS; STAND-
ARD OF SOLVENCY. Any fraternal benefit society authorized to
do business in this State that is one hundred per cent (100%)
solvent and has been doing business in Maryland for six or
more years and has been one hundred per cent (100%) solvent
for the entire period, and operating on the lodge plan, may
provide in its constitution and by-laws, in addition to other
benefits provided therein, for the payment of death or annuity
benefits upon the lives of children upon the application of some
adult person upon whom such child is dependent for support
and maintenance. Any such society may, at its option, organ-
ize and operate branches for such children, and membership
in local lodges and initiation therein shall not be required of
such children, nor shall they have any voice in the management