1092                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 489

CHAPTER 488
(Senate Bill 378)

AN ACT to add new Section 5A to Article 16 of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume), title "Chancery," sub-
title "Alimony," to follow immediately after Section 5 thereof, to
provide that the court may award costs and counsel fees to either
party in cases relating to child support, custody or visitation or
in any form of proceeding for the enforcement of the terms set
forth in a decree with respect to custody, support or visitation of
children, such award to depend upon the financial status and needs
of the parties and other circumstances.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 5A be and it is hereby added to Article 16 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume), title
"Chancery," subtitle "Alimony," to follow immediately after Section
5 thereof, and to read as follows:

5A.

In all cases where a person makes an application for a decree or
modification of a decree with respect to the custody, the amount of
support or visitation rights concerning a child or children of the
parties, or files any form of proceeding to recover arrearages of child
support or otherwise to enforce such decree, the court, after con-
sidering the financial status of both parties, their respective needs
and whether there was substantial justification for instituting or
defending the proceeding, may make such award of costs and counsel
fees to either party as shall be just and proper under all the
circumstances.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1967.

Approved April 21, 1967.

CHAPTER 489

(Senate Bill 380)

AN ACT to repeal Section 2 of Article 89 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume), title "Department of Labor
and Industry," subtitle "In General," and to enact new Section 2
in lieu thereof, to stand in the place of the section so repealed,
to define the duties of the Commissioner of Labor and Industry,
and to create within the Department of Labor and Industry a
Division of Research and Information.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 2 of Article 89 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1964 Replacement Volume), title "Department of Labor and Indus-
try," subtitle "In General," be and it is hereby repealed, and that
new Section 2 be and it is hereby enacted in lieu thereof, to stand in
the place of the section so repealed, and to read as follows: