1156                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 641

CHAPTER 641
(House Bill 334)

AN ACT to add new Section 60A to Article 66C of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title "Natural Resources," sub-
title "Agriculture," subheading "In General," to follow immedi-
ately after Section 60 thereof, to prohibit purchasers of milk,
fruits, vegetables, sweet corn and other canning crops FIELD
AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS PRODUCED ON THE FARM
from coercing or discriminating against the producers of such
agricultural products in joining or refusing to join cooperative
agricultural marketing associations, to authorize the filing and dis-
position of complaints of coercion or discrimination, to specify the
rights of producers and purchasers of agricultural products, and to
provide penalties for violations.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 60A be and it is hereby added to Article 66C of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title "Natural Re-
sources," subtitle "Agriculture," subheading "In General," to follow
immediately after Section 60 thereof, and to read as follows:

60A.

(a) No processor BUYER, handler, distributor, dealer, or agent
thereof who purchases or contracts to purchase milk, fruits, vege-
tables, sweet corn, or other canning crops FIELD AND LIVESTOCK
PRODUCTS PRODUCED ON THE FARM from producers of such
raw agricultural products shall:

(1)     Use duress against, coerce, or boycott producers of raw
agricultural products in the exercise of their rights to join and be-
long to co-operative agricultural marketing associations;

(2)    Discriminate against producers of raw agricultural products

with respect to price, quantity, or quality, or other terms of pur-

chase of raw agricultural products, solely by reason of the pro-
ducer's membership in or marketing contract with co-operative agri-
cultural marketing associations.

(b) For the purpose of enforcing this section, the Attorney
General may SHALL receive sworn complaints from affected pro-
ducers of raw agricultural products or the co-operative agricultural
marketing association of which such producers are members, or with
whom they have a marketing contract, with respect to violations or
threatened violations of such section. The Attorney General may
SHALL IMMEDIATELY make all necessary investigations, examina-
tions, or inspections of any violation or threatened violation specified
in the sworn complaint filed with him under this division.

(c) The Attorney General may SHALL IMMEDIATELY, after
receiving a sworn complaint and the holding of an informal hearing
on the charges made in such complaint, bring an action to enjoin the
violation of any of the provisions of this section as set forth in such
complaint in the circuit court of the county in which such violation
occurred. A summons in such action against any defendant shall be
issued to the sheriff of any county within this state in which such