466                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 221

subtitle "Oysters and Clams", to follow immediately after Section
708 (aa) thereof, providing that if the Department of Chesapeake
Bay Affairs ascertains that an area leased for the cultivation of
oysters is affected by certain environmental factors which destroy
or seriously impede the culture and growth of oysters and threaten
the potential of the area or the continued production of oysters, the
Department may reduce or abate the annual rent therefor.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That a new Section 708 (bb) be and it is hereby added to Article 66C
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title "Natural
Resources", subtitle "Oysters and Clams", to follow immediately after
Section 708 (aa) thereof, and to read as follows:

708.

(bb) If the Department ascertains that any leased area is affected
by environmental factors which destroy or seriously impede the cul-
ture and growth of oysters and threaten the potential of the area for
the continued production of oysters, it may reduce or abate the annual
rent therefor in such amount and for such period as to the Depart-
ment seems equitable and reasonable in view of the degree of damage.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1966.

Approved April 29, 1966.

CHAPTER 221
(Senate Bill 150)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 11A of
Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965 Supplement),
title "Crimes and Punishments", subtitle "I. Crimes and Punish-
ments", subheading "Assault on Child", to increase the age of
children the malicious mistreating of whom becomes a felony, pro-
viding more comprehensive requirements for reporting said mali-
cious conduct to law enforcement officers, defining terms, requiring
reports, investigations and making other general provisions to
facilitate compliance with and enforcement of this law regarding
the assaulting of children within the State.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 11A of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1965 Supplement), title "Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "I.
Crimes and Punishments", subheading "Assault on Child", be and it
is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

11A.

(a) Any parent, adoptive parent or other person who has the
permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for the
supervision of a minor child under the age of [fourteen] sixteen
years who maliciously beats, strikes or otherwise mistreats such