1126                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 503

CHAPTER 503
(House Bill 117)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 128 of
Article 77 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement
Volume), title "Public Education," subtitle "Chapter 9. Finance
and Reports," to change the definition of "pupils enrolled" under
this section relating to kindergarten pupils under certain circum-
stances and revising the form and arrangement of the several por-
tions of this section.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 128 of Article 77 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1969 Replacement Volume), title "Public Education," subtitle
"Chapter 9. Finance and Reports," be and it is hereby repealed and
re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

128.

(a) There is hereby established a State foundation program of
public education which shall receive financial support from the State
and each county and Baltimore City in accordance with the provi-
sions of this section.

[(a)]     (b) (1) "Professional staff members" includes all persons
employed by the various counties who are certificated by the State
Superintendent of Schools or who hold equivalent status in the City
of Baltimore as determined by the State Department of Education.

(2)     "Allowed professional staff members" means those provided
according to the terms of Section 68 of this article.

(3)    "Prescribed salaries" means the salaries required in Sections
112, 57 and 68.

(4)    "Pupils enrolled" shall be all pupils enrolled as of September
30 of each year in grades 1 to 12 or in special programs for children
within the age limit prescribed in the law and 50 percent of the
pupils enrolled in kindergartens as of September 30 except that IN
GARRETT COUNTY for any full day kindergarten pupil 100 per-
cent (100%) shall be allowed provided the program offered for such
pupils is approved by the State Superintendent of Schools.

(5)    "Adjusted assessed valuation of real property" shall be as
reported by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation as of
July 1 of the first completed fiscal year preceding the school year for
which the calculation of State aid is to be made, plus 50 percent of
new property assessed between July 1 and December 31 of such
completed fiscal year; and real property as defined herein shall include
land, improvement to land, land and nonoperating property of rail-
roads, land and nonoperating property of public utilities, and public
utility operating property.

If for any county or Baltimore City, the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation shall estimate that real property is assessed
at less than 50 percent or at more than 56 percent, of the assessed
valuation of those categories which are estimated to be under-
or over-assessed, on the basis of surveys made under the provisions of
Section 232(14) of Article 81 of this Code, shall be adjusted (up to