J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                           651

ing and to prescribe civil penalties and the method of enforcement
in connection with violations, making such violations misde-
meanors and prescribing the criminal penalty therefor.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 9A be and it is hereby added to the code of Public
Local Laws of Howard County (1957 Edition, being Article 14 of
the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland), title "Howard County",
sub-title "Building Regulations", to follow immediately after Section
9 thereof, and to read as follows:

9A.

(a)   There is hereby created the office of Chief Plumbing In-
spector for Howard County which inspector shall be appointed by
the County Commissioners and shall be responsible to and hold office
at the pleasure of said Commissioners. It shall be the duty of said
Inspector to inspect or provide for the inspection of all plumbing
during the process of its installation in Howard County and to en-
force such rules and regulations with reference thereto as may be
adopted under and by virtue of the provisions hereof.

(b)  The County Commissioners of Howard County shall act as
the Howard County Plumbing Board and are hereby authorized and
empowered to draft, adopt and put into full force and effect com-
prehensive rules and regulations governing in every respect all types
of plumbing hereafter installed in Howard County which rules and
regulations, among other things, may include a schedule of fees
and charges for the issuance of permits thereunder and in their
discretion to incorporate the same into the Building Code of Howard
County by reference to published standard works or otherwise. In
connection with such rules and regulations the County Commis-
sioners are also hereby authorized and empowered to prescribe the
method and procedure for the enforcement of the same and to pre-
scribe civil penalties for violations thereof. Before adopting such
rules and regulations and before prescribing said civil penalties, the
County Commissioners shall hold a public hearing in connection
therewith and shall give notice of the day, time and place of said
hearing by publication in a newspaper published in Howard County
by one insertion at least ten (10) days prior to such hearing.

(c)  In addition to and not in substitution of any civil penalties
which may be prescribed by said rules and regulations, any violation
thereof shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a
fine not to exceed one hundred ($100) dollars or by imprisonment
not to exceed thirty (30) days, or both fine and imprisonment. Any
person who shall violate such rules and regulations shall be deemed
guilty of a separate offense for each day that such violation shall
continue.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1959.

Approved April 8, 1959.