404                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 228

ing the laws of this State with respect to possible discrimination
in certain circumstances; MAKING IT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO MAKE A CLAIM
UNDER THIS ACT WHICH. IS UNFOUNDED OR DISMISSED,
AND STATING THE FURTHER EFFECT OF THIS CRIMINAL
PROCEEDING UPON A POSSIBLE CIVIL ACTION BROUGHT
AGAINST SUCH A PERSON; AND PROVIDING THAT
NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL APPLY TO OR WITHIN THE
LIMITS OF CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THIS
STATE; AND PROVIDED THAT THE APPLICATION OF
THIS ACT TO OR WITHIN CARROLL COUNTY IS SUBJECT
TO A REFERENDUM OF THE VOTERS THEREIN; AND
PROVIDING THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL
BE SEVERABLE.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Sections 11, 12, 13 and 14 , 14 AND 15 be and they are
hereby added to Article 49B of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1957 Edition), title "Interracial Commission," subtitle "Commis-
sion on Interracial Problems and Relations," to follow immediately
after Section 10 thereof, to be under the new subtitle "Enforcement
Powers of Commission," and to read as follows:

11. Enforcement Powers of Commission

Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged discrimination
as to any of the subtitles of this Article, on the basis of race, creed,
color or national origin, and within the provisions of any of these
subtitles, by himself or his attorney, may make, sign and file with
the Commission on Interracial Problems (hereinafter referred to as
the "Commission") a complaint in writing under oath. The com-
plaint shall state the name and address of the person, firm, associa-
tion, partnership or corporation alleged to have committed the act
of discrimination together with the particulars thereof; and the com-
plaint also shall contain such other information as may be required
from time to time by the Commission.

12.

(a)   After the filing of any complaint, the Commission shall con-
sider the complaint and by a majority vote may refer it to the Com-
mission's staff for prompt investigation and ascertainment of the
facts. The results of the investigation shall be made as written find-
ings. A copy of the findings shall be furnished to the complainant
and to the person, firm, association, partnership or corporation (here-
inafter referred to as the "respondent"), against whom or which the
complaint is made.

(b)   If the finding is that there is probable cause for believing a
discriminatory act has been or is being committed within the scope
of any of these subtitles, the Commission's staff immediately shall
endeavor to eliminate the discrimination by conference, conciliation
and persuasion.

(c)   If an agreement is reached for the elimination of the dis-
crimination as a result of the conference, conciliation and persuasion
the agreement shall be reduced to writing and signed by the respond-
ent, and an order shall be entered by the Commission setting forth