J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                     2023

CHAPTER 878
(Senate Bill 547)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 645 of
Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title
"Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "Venue, Procedure and
Sentence", sub-heading "Sentence and Punishment", relating to
prison labor on farms in Anne Arundel County, allowing such at
discretion of Sheriff of Anne Arundel County, and changing au-
thority to permit such labor from County Commissioners to Sheriff.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 645 of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1957 Edition), title "Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "Venue,
Procedure and Sentence", sub-heading "Sentence and Punishment",
be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to
read as follows:

645.

(a)  The [county commissioners] sheriffs of the respective coun-
ties shall have authority to assign able-bodied male prisoners in the
respective county jails to perform farm labor, as hereinafter denned,
upon the following terms and conditions:

(1)   Such assignment may be made only after the written request
of some person or persons desiring to employ farm labor, which
request shall show to the satisfaction of the respective [county
commissioners] sheriffs that such labor is not otherwise obtainable.

(2)  All costs incident to such an assignment including the cost of
transportation of such prisoners to and from the respective jails, a
reasonable per diem wage for the prisoner or prisoners performing
such farm labor and the cost of properly guarding said prisoners
while performing said labor shall be borne by the person or persons
making such request, and the respective [county commissioners]
sheriffs may require such proof of financial responsibility, including
a payment in advance, as they may deem advisable.

(3)  All and any liability for injuries to such prisoners while being
transported to or from such jails or while performing such work shall
be assumed by the person or persons making such request.

(4)  Such assignments shall be made on a daily basis only and such
prisoners so assigned shall be returned to the respective county jails
each night.

(5)   Such other terms and conditions as the respective [county
commissioners] sheriffs may deem advisable.

(b)   [On the order in writing of the board of county commissioners
of any county it shall be the duty of the sheriff or other officer
having charge of such prisoners of that county to send, under a
competent guard, such number of able-bodied male prisoners in the
county jail undergoing punishment under sentence of a court or
justice of the peace, as the county commissioners may require, to
work on such farm or other similar place as they may designate;]
[the] The [said] respective county commissioners are hereby re-
quired to reimburse the sheriff [or other officer] out of the county