322                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 228

as contained in the 1939 Code, which two sections still are to remain
effective in these six counties; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable further to set up the adoption laws in
such form as to make reasonably certain that in the future no further
inadvertent repeals will be made; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 94A of Article 16 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1954 Supplement), title "Chancery", sub-title "Adoption", as said
section was enacted by Chapter 225 of the Acts of 1953, be and it is
hereby repealed and that two new sections be and they are hereby
enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as Sections 94A and 94B and to
follow immediately after Section 94 of said Article and sub-title, and
to read as follows:

94A. (Alternate Procedures in Certain Counties.) (a) The several
equity courts of this State in those counties in which this section
is effective, upon the application of any person residing in a county
where such application is made, or the equity court in the county
where the person to be adopted resides, shall have potver to pass
a decree declaring any person the adopted child of the petitioner,
upon such reasonable notice to the parent or parents, guardian or
guardians, of such child, if any there be, where a child is to be
adopted, or to the next of kin of the petitioner where an adult is to
be adopted, by summons, order of publication or otherwise, as the
court may order to be given, provided that the court passing the
decree shall become satisfied, upon careful investigation, in the case
of a child, that the best interests and welfare of the child will be
thereby promoted, and provided further, that the child, if of suffi-
cient intelligence and capacity to give an understanding assent, or
such adult, shall so desire.

(b)  Except as otherwise provided herein, the adoption of an adult
shall be governed by the laws applicable to adoption of a child, and
an adopted adult shall have the same rights as if adopted during
minority.

(c)  If the petition contains a prayer to that effect, the court may
also decree that the name of the child be changed.

94B. (Applicability.) Sections 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 87, 91 and 94
of this Article shall not apply in Allegany, Calvert, Charles, Garrett,
St. Mary's and Washington Counties. Section 94A of this Article
shall apply in Allegany, Calvert, Charles, Garrett, St. Mary's and
Washington Counties, but not in any other county of the State or in
Baltimore City. Sections 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 86, 88, 89, 90, 92 and 93
of this Article shall apply throughout the entire State.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it is hereby declared to
have been the legislative intent in the enactment of Chapter 225 of
the Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland of 1953 solely to
include adoption proceedings in Prince George's County within the
provisions of Sections 76 to 94, inclusive, of Article 16 of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland (1951 Edition, as amended), and not in any
manner to affect adoption proceedings or the laws relating thereto in
Allegany, Calvert, Charles, Garrett, St. Mary's and Washington
Counties.