1232 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 510

under against the relatives and other persons legally charge-
able with the maintenance and support of such person, shall
also constitute preferred claims. All such claims may be
waived, however, by the County Welfare Boards or Depart-
ment of Welfare of Baltimore City, as the case may be, in
their discretion, if in their judgment the enforcement of
same will result in hardship to others, dependent upon those
against whom such claims exist. All payments received as a
result of the enforcement of such claims shall be accounted
for and paid as hereinbefore provided.

SEC. 2. And be It further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1949.

Approved April 29, 1949.

CHAPTER 510
(House Bill 57)

AN ACT to repeal Section 99A of Article 48A of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland (1947 Supplement), title "Insur-
ance", sub-title "Fire Insurance", and to enact in lieu
thereof a new section, to be known as Section 99A and to
follow immediately after Section 99 of said Article, relating
to the making, filing and approval of rates for fire, inland
marine and allied lines of insurance, and to rating organ-
izations.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 99A of Article 48A of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1947 Supplement), title "Insurance", sub-title
"Fire Insurance", be and the same is hereby repealed, and
that a new section be and it is hereby enacted, to be known
as Section 99A, to follow immediately after Section 99 and
to read as follows:

99A. Fire and Allied Insurance Eating.
1. PURPOSE OF ACT.

The purpose of this Act is to promote the public welfare by
regulating insurance rates to the end that they shall not be
excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory, and to auth-
orize and regulate cooperative action among insurers in rate
making and in other matters within the scope of this Act.
Nothing in this Act is intended (1) to prohibit or discourage