600 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 556

incorporated or organized, and approved by the proper official
thereof and having authority therefor, in an, amount not less
than that required of companies doing the same class or classes
of business by the laws of this State to be deposited with the
Treasurer of this State, and furnish this Department with a
certificate to this effect, and such certificate shall be renewed
annually.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1945.

Approved April 5, 1945.

CHAPTER 556.
(House Bill 130)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 89
and 95 of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1943 Supplement), title "Crimes and Punishments", sub-
title "Desertion of Wife or Child'', providing that in
Frederick, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Cecil, Harford and Mont-
gomery Counties the Trial Magistrates shall have concurrent
jurisdiction with the Circuit Court to try persons violating
the provisions of said sub-title.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land,, That Sections 89 and 95 of Article 27 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1943 Supplement), title "Crimes and
Punishments", sub-title "Desertion of Wife or Child", be and
they are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to
read as follows:

89. Any person who shall without just cause desert or
willfully neglect to provide for the support and maintenance
of his wife or minor child shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and upon conviction in any court of the State having
criminal jurisdiction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding
one hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the Maryland House
of Correction, or in Jail, for not more than three years, or
both, in the discretion of the Court. The fine may be directed
by the Court to be paid in whole or in part to the wife;
provided, that before the trial with the consent of the defend-
ant, or after conviction, instead of imposing the punishment
hereinbefore provided, or in addition thereto, the Court inits
discretion, having regard to the circumstances and financial
ability of the defendant, shall have the power to pass an order