284                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                       CH. 233]

propriated to the Carroll County Association of Retarded Children,
Inc., to be used for construction purposes.

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

Approved April 10, 1968.

CHAPTER 233
(House Bill 390)

AN ACT to add new Section 623A to Article 27 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1967 Replacement Volume), title "Crimes and
Punishments," subtitle "Places of Reformation and Punishment,"
to follow immediately after Section 623 thereof and to be under
the new subheading "Handicapped Defendants," to provide for
interpreters for certain handicapped defendants in criminal cases
and parties to mental health commitment proceedings.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 623A be and it is hereby added to Article 27 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1967 Replacement Volume), title
"Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "Places of Reformation and
Punishment," to follow immediately after Section 623 thereof and
to read as follows:

623A.

(a)    In any criminal proceeding in any Court in this State when
the defendant is deaf or a deaf-mute, or because of hearing, speaking,
or other impairment, cannot readily understand or communicate the
English Language, and, is incapable of understanding any charge
made against him or the proceedings, or is incapable of presenting
or assisting the presentation of his defense, there shall be appointed
a qualified interpreter to assist the defendant throughout the pro-
ceedings. This appointment shall also be made for parties subject
to possible commitment in insanity or mental health commitment
proceedings.

(b)    Any interpreter appointed pursuant to this section shall
receive from the court compensation for his services in an amount
equal to that provided for interpreters of languages other than
English and reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses in-
curred in the performance of his services.

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

Approved April 10, 1968.