544                               Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 251

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby de-
clared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public health and safety and having been passed
by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members
elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, the same
shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 29, 1971

CHAPTER 250
(Senate Bill 592)

AN ACT to add new Section 700C (d) to Article 27 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume), title "Crimes and
Punishments," subtitle "Ill-Places of Reformation and Punish-
ment," to follow immediately after Section 700C (c) thereof, to
provide for the granting of weekend leave to prisoners who are
participating in a prerelease program and to prescribe the condi-
tions and requirements for such weekend leaves.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 700C (d) be and it is hereby added to Article 27
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume),
title "Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "III—Places of Reformation
and Punishment," to follow immediately after Section 700C (c) there-
of, and to read as follows:

700C.

(d) (1) Any prisoner who has participated for at least 2 months
in a prerelease program as authorized by this section may be granted
weekend leave in this State; provided, however, that the prisoner
shall have the recommendation of his direct supervisor in the Pre-
Release program.

(2) Final authorization and terms and conditions for such leave
shall be granted only by the Commissioner of Correction. A weekend
shall consist of a period of time no longer than from 6 p. m. Friday
to 6 p.m. the Sunday immediately following.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1971.

Approved April 29, 1971

CHAPTER 251
(Senate Bill 594)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 700A
(b-1) (1) of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971
Replacement Volume), title "Crimes and Punishments," subtitle