1918                             Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 673

CHAPTER 673

(Senate Bill 365)

AN ACT to add new Section 18-27 to the Code of Public Local Laws
of Prince George's County (1963 Edition and 1967 Supplement,
being Article 17 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland),
title "Prince George's County," subtitle "County Commissioners,"
to follow immediately after Section 18-26 thereof, as last enacted
by Chapter 42 of the Acts of 1968, to provide for the authority to
establish, maintain, operate, appropriate and expend, a fund OR
PROCURE AN APPROPRIATE INSURANCE POLICY to pro-
vide for certain legal fees and expenses of police officers or police
employees of the Police Department COUNTY EMPLOYEES of
Prince George's County.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 18-27 be and it is hereby added to the Code of Public
Local Laws of Prince George's County (1963 Edition and 1967
Supplement, being Article 17 of the Code of Public Local Laws of
Maryland), title "Prince George's County," subtitle "County Com-
missioners," to follow immediately after Section 18-26 thereof, as
last enacted by Chapter 42 of the Acts of 1968, and to read as
follows:

Prince George's County Police Department
18-27. Legal fees and expenses.

(a) Authorized. The County Commissioners for Prince George's
County are hereby authorized and empowered to establish, maintain,
and operate a fund OR PROCURE AN APPROPRIATE INSUR-
ANCE POLICY which may be appropriated and levied for in the
annual budget of said County or from any other general or con-
tingency funds available for appropriation by the said Board' of
County Commissioners to provide for legal fees and expenses of
police officers or police employees ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES
who, in a civil or criminal case, other than a disciplinary proceed-
ing or an appeal therefrom, are wrongfully charged with the com-
mission of any wrong or crime as a result of any act done in the
normal and natural course of his official duties. AND WITHIN THE
SCOPE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT. Such fund may be expended upon
order of the Board of County Commissioners to pay that portion
ALL OR PART of the legal expenses of such police officer or police
employee COUNTY EMPLOYEE upon a determination that such
expenditure is in the best interests of the Police Department, the
public, and the police officer or police employee who has been accused.
THE COUNTY, THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNTY EMPLOYEE
CHARGED.

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

Approved May 21, 1970.