46                                   Laws of Maryland                           Ch. 46

79.

It shall be unlawful for any adult willfully to contribute to, en-
courage, or tend to cause by any act or omission any condition which
would bring a child within the provisions of this subtitle. Any adult
over whom the judge may have jurisdiction under this subtitle for
any willful act, or omission contributing to, encouraging or tending
to cause any condition bringing a child within the jurisdiction of the
court, if found guilty of any act or omission as therein defined, shall
be punishable by a fine not exceeding $500.00, or imprisoned not
exceeding two years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Upon
any such conviction, the judge shall have power to impose sentence
as aforesaid, or may suspend sentence and place such adult on pro-
bation and by order impose upon such adult during such period of pro-
bation such duty as shall be deemed to be for the best interests of the
child or other persons concerned. The judge may, however, in his
discretion waive jurisdiction, and refer the case to the State's attor-
ney for appropriate action.

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

Approved April 1, 1970

CHAPTER 46
(House Bill 327)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments Section 23 of
Article 44A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965 Replace-
ment Volume), title "Housing Authorities," subtitle "In General"
to provide that in Montgomery County the county executive shall
appoint and remove commissioners of the Housing Authority with
the approval of the County Council.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 23 of Article 44A of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1965), title "Housing Authorities," subtitle "In General," be and
it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

23.

At least once a year, an authority shall file with the clerk a
report of its activities for the preceding year, and shall make recom-
mendations with reference to such additional legislation or other
action as it deems necessary in order to carry out the purpose of
this Article.

In each county of the State there is hereby created a public body
corporate and politic to be known as the housing authority of the
county; provided, however, that said housing authority shall not
transact or exercise its powers hereunder until or unless the Board
of County Commissioners shall declare at any time hereafter that
there is need for a housing authority to function in such county,