WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 1245

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That if any sub-section,
subdivision, paragraph, sentence or clause of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the
remaining portions of this Act.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1949.

Approved April 29, 1949.

CHAPTER 511
(House Bill 58)

AN ACT to repeal Section 140A of Article 48A of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland (1947 Supplement), title "Insur-
ance", sub-title "Surety, Casualty, Liability and Compensa-
tion Insurance", and to enact in lieu thereof a new section
to be known as Section 140A, to follow immediately after
Section 140 of said Article, relating to the making, filing
and approval of rates for certain casualty insurance, in-
cluding fidelity, surety and guaranty bonds, and to rating
organizations.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 140A of Article 48A of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1947 Supplement), title "Insurance", sub-title
"Surety, Casualty, Liability and Compensation Insurance", be
and the same is hereby repealed, and in lieu thereof a new
section be and hereby is enacted to be known as Section 140A,
to follow immediately after Section 140 and to read as fol-
lows:

140A. Casualty and Surety 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 au-
thorize 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
reasonable competition, or (2) to prohibit, or encourage ex-
cept to the extent necessary to accomplish the aforementioned
purpose, uniformity in insurance rates, rating systems, rating
plans or practices. This Act shall be liberally interpreted to
carry into effect the provisions of this sub-section.