Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                     315

the Middle Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact in
cooperation with the appropriate agencies in each state, and the
United States Forest Service may accept the initial responsibility
in preparing and presenting to the compact administrators its recom-
mendations with respect to the regional fire plan. Representatives
of the United States Forest Service may attend meetings of the com-
pact administrators.

Article VIII

The provisions of Articles IV and V 0/ this compact which re-
late to mutual aid in combating, controlling or preventing forest
fires shall be operative as between any state party to this compact
and any other state which is party to a regional forest fire protection
compact in another region; provided, that the legislature of such
other state shall have given its assent to such mutual aid provisions
of this compact.

Article IX

This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on each
state ratifying it until the legislature or the governor of such state
takes action to withdraw therefrom. Such action shall not be effec-
tive until six months after notice thereof has been sent by the chief
executive of the state desiring to withdraw to the chief executives
of all states then parties to the compact.

(b)  When the Governor shall have executed said compact on be-
half of this State and shall have caused a verified copy thereof to
be filed with the state secretary, and when said compact shall have
been ratified by one or more of the states named in sub-section (a)
of this Act, then said compact shall become operative and effective
as between this State and such other state or states. The Governor
is hereby authorized and directed to take such action as may be neces-
sary to complete the exchange of official documents as between this
State and any other state ratifying said compact.

(c)  The State Forester DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
FORESTS AND PARKS, OR SOMEONE DESIGNATED BY HIM,
shall act as compact administrator for the State of Maryland, and
shall perform such functions as are required under Sub-section (a)
of this section.

(d)  The Department of Forests and Parks shall take such measures
as may be necessary to integrate the state forest fire plan with the
regional forest fire plan formulated by the compact administrators,
and shall adjust and expand such plan as is necessary to comply with
subsection (a) of this section.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1956.

Approved April 4, 1956.

CHAPTER 127
(House Bill 118)

AN ACT to add Section 274A to Article 77 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1951 Edition), title "Public Education," said new sec-

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.