MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                        1433

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 149A (b) of Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Mary-
land (1965 Replacement Volume and 1968 Supplement), title
"Health," subtitle "Practitioners of Medicine," be and it is hereby-
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

149A.

(b) The members or employees of [volunteer] fire departments or
ambulance and rescue squads shall not be liable for damages as pro-
vided in subsection (a) except for gross negligence, and shall have
the defense provided therein, except for gross negligence. In order
to be eligible for the exemption from liability provided in this section,
a person must have completed a basic and an advanced Red Cross
or equivalent course of instruction in first aid, and must be on active
duty as a member of [a volunteer] an ambulance and rescue squad
OR FIRE DEPARTMENT which (1) is a bona fide and permanent
organization, and (2) is organized and operated as a nonprofit group.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1969.

Approved May 14, 1969.

CHAPTER 617
(Senate Bill 687)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 255 of
Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1968 Supplement),
title "Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "Gaming," amending the
law concerning the conduct of certain carnivals, bazaars or raffles
conducted by certain nonprofit or charitable organizations or cor-
porations in order to add certain counties to the provisions thereof.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 255 of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1968 Supplement), title "Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "Gam-
ing," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments,
to read as follows:

255.

Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to make it unlawful for
any volunteer fire company or bona fide fraternal, civic, war veterans',
religious or charitable organization or corporation in Anne Arundel,
Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's and Talbot
counties to conduct or hold a carnival, bazaar, or raffle for the ex-
clusive benefit of any such volunteer fire company or fraternal, civic,
war veterans', religious or charitable organization or corporation,
provided that no individual or group of individuals shall benefit
financially from the holding of any such bazaar, carnival, or raffle
or shall receive or be paid any of the proceeds from any such carnival,
bazaar, or raffle, for personal use or benefit. It shall be lawful for
such organization or corporation to award prizes in cash or in mer-