1816                               Laws of Maryland                         Ch. 648

3.

(a) The county commissioners of each county in this State, ex-
cept Worcester, (except as provided in subsection (1) hereof), Prince
George's, Washington (except as hereinbelow provided), Somerset,
Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Cecil, Howard and Queen Anne's (except
as specifically provided in subsection (f) counties, in addition to,
but not in substitution of, the powers which have been or may here-
after be granted them, shall have the following express powers:

(1) To provide for competitive bidding for any county work and
the making and awarding of contracts for the purchase of materials
and supplies in excess of $1,000 in Harford County and, IN EXCESS
OF $2,500 IN Worcester County, in excess of $1,500 in Allegany
County, and in all other counties $500 and to require bonds in con-
nection with said work or contracts, whenever deemed proper; and
if no bids are submitted in response to any calls therefore, to place
the order as in their discretion they deem best. The provisions of
this subsection will not be applicable in Kent County.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1970.

Approved May 5, 1970

CHAPTER 648
(House Bill 1446)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 83 of
Article 16 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement
Volume), title "Chancery," subtitle "Adoption," to make it possible
for certain agencies or institutions to receive and accept reason-
able reimbursement for the costs of adoptive services in order to
permit necessary expansion of such services, empowering and
directing the State Department of Social Services to set standards
for such reimbursement.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 83 of Article 16 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1966 Replacement Volume), title "Chancery," subtitle "Adoption,"
be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments and
to read as follows:

83.

It shall be unlawful for any agency, institution, or individual
rendering any service in connection with the placement of a child for
adoption to charge or receive from or on behalf of either the natural
parent or parents of the person to be adopted, or from or on behalf
of the person or persons legally adopting such person, any compen-
sation whatsoever for [the] adoptive placement [service], but this
shall not be construed to prohibit the payment by any interested
persons of reasonable and customary charges or fees for hospital or
medical or legal services.