1108                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                       CH. 582

State to provide the best agricultural program for the people of
this State in the most economical manner.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 251B be and it is hereby added to Article 77 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965 Replacement Volume), title
"Public Education," subtitle "Chapter 26. University of Maryland"
to follow immediately after Section 251A thereof, and to read as
follows:

251B.

The University of Maryland, subject to the approval of the
Board of Public Works, is authorized and empowered to sell or
exchange, in such manner as the Board of Regents shall determine,
all or any part of its agricultural properties known and designated
respectively as the "Otten Farm" comprising approximately 213 acres
in the First Election District of Howard County, and the "Hopkins
Farm" comprising approximately 333 acres in the Fifth Election Dis-
trict of Montgomery County, (the said Hopkins Farm being also
known as the "University of Maryland Plant Research Farm"); pro-
vided that any consideration received in cash for the sale of any such
properties shall be held for the account of the University of Maryland
to be utilized, subject to the approval of the Board of Public Works, for
the improvement of new agricultural properties and facilities, and
such consideration received shall not be applied to the State Annuity
Bond Fund Account. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT BEFORE
ALL OR ANY PART OF THE SAID HOPKINS FARM MAY BE
SOLD OR EXCHANGED, THE UNIVERSITY SHALL OFFER
150 ACRES OF SAID FARM FOR SALE TO THE MONTGOM-
ERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AT A PRICE TO BE
DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS: THE UNIVERSITY AND THE
SAID BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL OBTAIN THREE INDE-
PENDENT APPRAISALS OF SAID PROPERTY, ONE BY AN
APPRAISER RETAINED BY THE UNIVERSITY, ONE BY AN
APPRAISER RETAINED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
AND THE THIRD BY AN APPRAISER DESIGNATED BY THE
TWO SELECTED APPRAISERS; THE AVERAGE OF THE
THREE APPRAISALS SHALL BE DETERMINED AND THE
PROPERTY OFFERED FOR SALE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCA-
TION AT FIFTY PER CENTUM (50%) OF SUCH AVERAGE.
SAID APPRAISALS SHALL BE BASED UPON THE ASSUMP-
TION OF ZONING PERMITTING THE HIGHEST AND BEST
USE OF THE PROPERTY.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1968.

Approved May 7, 1968.

CHAPTER 582
(Senate Bill 475)

AN ACT to add new Section 9 (64) to Article 81 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1965 Replacement Volume and 1967 Cumula-
tive Supplement), title "Revenue and Taxes," subtitle "What Shall