468                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 270

(1) The tax shall be imposed at the rate of .5% or less of the
purchase price of any and all interests in real property purchased
in the County after the effective date of the tax.

(2) Where no purchase and sale is conducted but an interest in
real property is transferred then the tax shall be imposed at the rate

of 1% or less of the market value of the property interest trans-

ferred after the effective date of the tax.

(3) (2) The tax shall be collected by the Clerk of the Circuit Court
of the County prior to his acceptance for recording of any instru-
ment which transfers any interest in real property.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby de-
clared to be an emergency law and necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public health and safety, and being passed by a
yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members elected
to each of the two houses of the General Assembly, the same shall
take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 17, 1963.

CHAPTER 270
(Senate Bill 538)

AN ACT to add a new subsection (c) to Section 85A of 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 "County Treasurer", as such section was enacted
by Chapter 840 of the Acts of 1961, relating to partial exemption
from county taxes in Howard County for persons over 65 years
of age, and altering the method for qualifying for the exemption
for those who have previously qualified.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new subsection (c) be and it is hereby added to Section 85A of
the Code of Public Local Laws of Howard County (1957 Edition, be-
ing Article 14 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland), title
"Howard County", sub-title "County Treasurer", as such section was
enacted by Chapter 840 of the Acts of 1961, to read as follows:

85A.

(c) The County Commissioners, or their designated agent, shall,
no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of finality for
assessment of real property mail to each person who has previously
qualified for the exemption provided in this section an application for
exemption. If such person completed the form in accordance with
subsection (b) hereof and returns it to the Commission or their des-
ignated agent prior to twenty-one (21) days before the date of final-
ity for assessment of real property, then such person shall be entitled
to the exemption provided by this section, subject, however to all
other conditions and limitations of this section.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1963.

Approved April 17, 1963.