1662                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 756

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the salary provisions of
this Act shall not be construed to extend to or apply to the County
Commissioners in office on the effective date of this Act, but these
provisions shall take effect with the next term of office.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1967.

Approved May 4, 1967.

CHAPTER 756
(House Bill 1075)

AN ACT to add new Section 465-A to Article 27 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title "Crimes and Punishments,"
subtitle "Real Estate Settlements," to follow immediately after
Section 465 thereof, prohibiting the payment by any person, firm,
or corporation to any other person, firm, or corporation connected
with the settlement of a real estate transaction affecting land
situated and lying in this State, of any fee or other consideration
to obtain any real estate settlement or real estate settlement busi-
ness prohibiting the receipt of any such fee or thing of value for
such purpose; CREATING CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS FROM
THIS ACT and providing penalties for violation of such provisions.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 465-A be, and it is hereby, added to Article 27
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title "Crimes
and Punishments," subtitle "Real Estate Settlements," to follow im-
mediately after Section 465 thereof, and to read as follows:

465-A.

No person, firm, or corporation having any connection whatso-
ever with the settlement of real estate transactions involving land
situated and lying in this State shall, for the purpose of soliciting,
obtaining, retaining, or arranging any real estate settlement or real
estate settlement business, pay to or receive from, any other person,
firm, or corporation any fee, compensation, gift (EXCEPT PRO-
MOTIONAL OR ADVERTISING MATERIALS FOR GENERAL
DISTRIBUTION), thing of value, rebate, or other consideration,
including loans and advancements of commissions or deposit monies.
Any person, firm, or corporation violating the terms of this section,
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sub-
ject to a fine of NOT TO EXCEED One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00)
or to imprisonment for NOT MORE THAN six (6) months or both.
Every violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense
and shall be punishable as such. NOTHING HEREIN CONTAINED
SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS PREVENTING THE PAYMENT
OF COMMISSIONS TO AGENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DULY LI-
CENSED AS SUCH BY THE STATE INSURANCE DEPART-
MENT. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL PROHIBIT THE REFERRAL
OF ANY SUCH BUSINESS FROM ONE ATTORNEY TO AN-