J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                       665

Supplement), title "Insurance," subtitle "3. Insurers; Authorization
and General Requirements," to follow immediately after Section 55
thereof, and to read as follows:

55A.

In lieu of revocation or suspension of an insurer's certificate of
authority the Commissioner may accept a fine of not less than $1,000
nor more than $25,000 from the IMPOSE A PENALTY OF NOT
LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000) OR MORE
THAN TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) ON
ANY insurer whose certificate of authority is subject to revocation or
suspension under the provisions of this article.

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

Approved April 29, 1966.

CHAPTER 376
(House Bill 327)

AN ACT to add new Section 306B to Article 27 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1965 Supplement), title "Crimes and Punish-
ments," subtitle "Crimes and Punishments," subheading "Health-
Narcotic Drugs," to follow immediately after Section 306A thereof,
to provide for a method of sentencing of drug addicts and generally
dealing with the laws as they apply to drug addicts.

Whereas, Drug addiction has become an increasingly serious
problem in this country, as shown by a report of the Committee of
the Judiciary of the United States Senate which stated—"Drug addic-
tion is more prevalent in this country than in any other nation of
the western world. There are more addicts in this country than in
all the countries of Europe combined."; and

Whereas, In the landmark case of Robinson v. California, Chief
Justice Warren expressed in a concurring opinion—"But I do not see
how under our system being an addict can be punished as a crime.
If addicts can be punished for their addiction, then the insane can
also be punished for their insanity. Each has a disease and each
must be treated as a sick person."; and

Whereas, The Council on Mental Health reports that criminal
sentences for addicts interferes with the possible treatment and
rehabilitation of addicts and therefore should be abolished; and

Whereas, The National Council on Crime and Delinquency's
Advisory Council of Judges stated—"The Narcotic drug addict is a
sick person, physically and psychologically, and as such is entitled
to qualified medical attention just as are other sick persons."; and

Whereas, In view of the above opinions and facts, legislation should
be passed providing a better means of dealing with this problem;
now, therefore,