166 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 76

service of the United States Government when such certificate
is to be used in connection with any claim such person may
have against said Government; nor shall charge be made for
a certificate requested by any agency of the State of Mary-
land or any of its political subdivisions, provided that the
State Board of Health shall be authorized to waive all or part
of said fees when collectible from agencies of the United
States Government.

27. (Certificates as Evidence. ) Certificates of birth, death
and stillbirth filed within six months after the event, and
certified copies of such certificates, shall be prima facie evi-
dence of the facts therein stated. Data therein pertaining to
the father of a child are prima facie evidence only if the
alleged father is the husband of the mother; if not, the data
pertaining to the father of a child are not evidence in any
proceeding adverse to the interests of the alleged father, or
of his heirs, next of kin, devisees, legatees or other successors
in interest, if the paternity is controverted.

28. (Penalties. )

(a) Any person who fails or refuses to execute and deliver
a certificate of birth, death or stillbirth, as provided in Sec-
tions 17, 18, 20 and 21 of this sub-title and any person who
wilfully furnishes false information for entry on a certificate
of birth, death or stillbirth, or who wilfully enters false infor-
mation on such certificate, upon conviction, shall be fined not
less than $10 nor more than $100 for each offense.

(b) Any person who wilfully makes or alters any certificate
or certified copy thereof provided for under this sub-title
except in accordance with the provisions of this sub-title,
upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $500 or be im-
prisoned not exceeding six (6) months, or shall be both -fined
and imprisoned.

(c) Any employee or appointee of the State Board of Health
or other person having access to the birth, death, and stillbirth
certificates, who wilfully shall communicate to any person not
authorised to receive the same, any of the facts recorded on
any birth, death or stillbirth certificate, upon conviction, shall
be fined not less than $50 nor more than $200.

(d) Any person who wilfully transports or accepts for trans-
portation, interment, dissection or other disposition of a dead
body without an accompanying permit issued in accordance
with the provisions of this sub-title, upon conviction, shall be
fined not less than $50 nor more than $200.

(e) Except where a different penalty is provided in this
section, any person who wilfully violates any of the provisions