J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                           13

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 98 of Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1957 Edition), title "Health," subtitle "Tuberculosis," be and it is
hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

98.

Whenever a licensed practitioner of medicine shall report, in
writing, to the deputy State health officer or the Commissioner of
Health of Baltimore City that a person having, or suspected of having
tuberculosis in a communicable stage is so conducting himself or
herself in public places, streets, shops, inns, taverns or public con-
veyances, that others are exposed to infection, or the deputy State
health officer or the Commissioner of Health of Baltimore City has
knowledge that such is the case, said deputy State health officer
or the Commissioner of Health of Baltimore City may make or cause
to be made such examination as he deems necessary of the person
about which complaint is made, to ascertain if such person actually
has tuberculosis in a communicable stage. If such findings are posi-
tive, the deputy State health officer or the Commissioner of Health of
Baltimore City may order such person removed to a tuberculosis
hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis and such person shall re-
main in such institution until declared in such condition that his
or her discharge from such hospital will not be dangerous to the
community in which he or she may live. If any person ordered
removed to any tuberculosis hospital shall refuse to comply, or
having been admitted shall conduct himself or herself in a dis-
orderly manner or leave such institution before being properly dis-
charged, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon convic-
tion thereof before a circuit court, shall be committed to a penal
institution having facilities for the treatment of tuberculosis until
considered by the State Department of Health or the Health Depart-
ment of Baltimore City in such a condition that such person is no
longer dangerous to the health of the community. Nothing in this
Section shall be construed or operate to empower or authorize the
deputy State health officer, or the Commissioner of Health of Balti-
more City, or any health officer, or their representatives, to restrict
in any manner a person's right to select the mode of treatment of
his choice nor to require other than X-ray of the chest, any physical
examination or medical treatment of a patient who in good faith
relies upon spiritual means or prayer for healing, nor shall such
reliance or treatment be considered a danger or menace to others
under any provision of this section, provided that the sanitary and
quarantine laws, rules and regulations relating to infectious, con-
tagious and communicable diseases are complied with.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect:
June 1, 1964.

Approved April 7, 1964.