Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1941

pulsory payment of property damage claims arising from motor
vehicle accidents when there is no dispute as to the liability there-
for or amount thereof regardless of whether an injury claim or
suit is pending.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 384B be and it is hereby added to Article 48A
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1968 Replacement Volume),
title, "Insurance Code" subtitle "The Insurance Contract; General"
to follow immediately after Section 384A thereof and to read as fol-
lows:

384B. Mandatory Settlement of Property Damage Claims.

No claim for damage to property resulting from a motor vehicle
accident shall be denied or payment therefor delayed because the
person who is entitled to payment or any other person has a claim
pending for bodily injury which may have arisen from the same
or any other accident. Whenever an insurer has the appropriate
motor vehicle coverage for the party liable and there is no significant
dispute as to either the liability for the payment of the full property
damages or the amount of the monetary equivalent of these dam-
ages, then the amount payable shall immediately be due and owing
and shall promptly be paid by the insurer.

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

Approved May 21, 1970.

CHAPTER 683
(Senate Bill 744)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 11 of
Article 57 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1968 Replacement
Volume), title "Limitations of Actions," to increase the time for
prosecution of certain misdemeanors.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 11 of Article 57 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1968 Replacement Volume), title "Limitations of Actions," be and
it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

11.

No prosecution or suit shall be commenced for any fine, penalty
or forfeiture, or any misdemeanor, except those punished by con-
finement in the penitentiary, unless within one year from the time
of the offense committed; except that prosecutions for violations of
Sections 110 and 111 of Article 66½ of the Code, as amended from
time to time, may be brought within two years from the time the
offense is committed.

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

Approved May 21, 1970.