1146                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 454

645.

(a)  Authority to Assign Prisoners to Farm Labor; Terms and
Conditions.—The [sheriffs of the respective counties] Superinten-
dents of the respective county detention centers shall have authority
to assign able-bodied male prisoners in the respective county jails
to perform farm labor, as hereinafter defined, upon the following
terms and conditions:

(1)   Such assignment may be made only after the written request
of some person or persons desiring to employ farm labor, which
request shall show to the satisfaction of the respective [sheriff]
Superintendent of the county detention center that such labor is not
otherwise obtainable.

(2)  All costs incident to such an assignment including the costs
of transportation of such prisoners to and from the respective jails,
a reasonable per diem wage for the prisoner or prisoners perform-
ing such farm labor and the cost of properly guarding said prisoner
while performing said labor shall be borne by the person or persons
making such request, and the respective [sheriffs] Superintendent of
the county detention center may require such proof of financial
responsibility, including a payment in advance as they may deem
advisable.

(3)  All and any liability for injuries to such prisoners while
being transported to or from such jails or while performing such
work shall be assumed by the person or persons making such request.

(4)   Such assignments shall be made on a daily basis only and such
prisoners so assigned shall be returned to the respective county jails
each night.

(5)   Such other terms and conditions as the respective [sheriff]
Superintendent of the detention center may deem advisable.

(b)  Reimbursement for expenses.—The respective county [com-
missioners] councils are hereby required to reimburse the [sheriff]
Superintendent of the detention center out of the county fund for
any expenses he may be put to in conveying the said prisoners to
and from such farm or other similar place, or in properly guarding
the said prisoners while performing such farm labor under such
regulations as the [sheriff] Superintendent of the detention center
or other officer may deem necessary for their health and safe custody.

(c)   "Farm labor" defined.—"Farm labor," as used in this section
shall mean the work of rendering any agricultural service, including
the threshing or harvesting of crops and the production of any agri-
cultural, horticultural, vegetable or fruit product of the soil, live-
stock, meats, marine food products, eggs, dairy products, wool, nuts,
honey, and every product of farm, forest, garden, orchard or water,
and any such services as are generally regarded as incidental to and
connected with farms, dairies and the seafood industry.

(d)  Escaping from "Farm Labor"—If any prisoner released from
actual confinement under a "farm labor" plan shall escape or other-
wise go at large he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon con-
viction, shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 139 of
Article 27.

[d] (e) Applicable only to Anne Arundel County—This section
shall only apply in Anne Arundel County.