548                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 330

it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

1.

(15) "Average final compensation" shall mean the average annual
earnable compensation of an employee for the five consecutive years
of service as an employee during which his earnable compensation
was highest, or if he had less than five years of service, then his
average earnable compensation for his total service.

Beginning July 1, 1963, the provisions of this sub-section shall
apply to 'members who retired prior to July 1, 1955 as well as to
those who retired on or after that date.

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

Approved April 17, 1963.

CHAPTER 330
(Senate Bill 494)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 12 and
Section 31 of Article 56 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957
Edition), title "Licenses", sub-titles "Mode of Issuing—General
Provisions" and "Hawkers and Peddlers", exempting Baltimore
City from the provisions of said sections SECTION which relate
to the securing of permits or licenses to transact any business or
occupation or to sell at retail certain fruits and produce and the
payment of a tax or fee in connection therewith.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 12 and Section 31 of Article 56 of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1957 Edition), title "Licenses", sub-titles "Mode of
Issuing—General Provisions" and "Hawkers and Peddlers", be and
they are IT IS hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to
read as follows:

12.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this article, no county,
city or other political subdivision of this State shall require any per-
son, firm or corporation to obtain a permit or license to transact in
such county, city or other political subdivision, any business or oc-
cupation for which it or he is required to obtain a State license under
the provisions of this article, nor shall any county, city or other
political subdivision of this State levy any occupational tax or fee
upon such person, firm or corporation for transacting any such busi-
ness or engaging in any such occupation for which such State license
is required. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any coun-
ty, city or other political subdivision of this State may require permits
or licenses to be obtained where necessary for regulatory purposes in
the interest of the public health, safety or morals. The provisions of
this section shall not be deemed to be repealed by any local act here-