Marvin Mandel, Governor                         655

25.

Nothing in this subtitle shall prohibit a religious organization,
association, or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization
operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a re-
ligious organization, association, or society, from limiting the sale,
rental, or occupancy of dwellings which it owns or operates for other
than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or from
giving preferences to such persons, unless membership in such re-
ligion is restricted on account of race, color, or national origin. Nor
shall anything in this subtitle apply to a private membership club
which is a bona fide club and which is exempt from taxation under
section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

26.

It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere
with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of or on account of his
having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his having aided or
encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any
right granted or protected by Sections 22, 23 or 24. This section may
be enforced by appropriate civil action.

27.

It is the general duty of the Commission to enforce the provisions
of this subtitle following and according to the procedures, powers
and duties which are vested in the Commission elsewhere in this
article. The Commission has the power for the purposes of this sub-
title and under the procedures outlined elsewhere in this article to
receive complaints, conduct investigations, issue subpoenas, hold
hearings and enforce generally the provisions of this subtitle in all
respects as if the provisions of this subtitle were included specifically
in such other pertinent sections of this article.

28.

If at any time after a complaint has been filed, the Commission
believes that appropriate civil action to preserve the status quo or to
prevent irreparable harm is advisable, the Commission may bring an
action necessary to preserve such status quo or to prevent such irrep-
arable harm, including but not limited to an action to obtain a
temporary restraining order and for a preliminary injunction. Such
action shall be brought in the circuit court of the County or in
Baltimore City where is located the dwelling which is the subject
of the alleged discrimination.

29.

Nothing in this subtitle shall affect the powers of any County,
municipality or other local government to enact ordinances on any
subject covered by this subtitle; provided that no such ordinance
shall permit the doing of any act which would be a discriminatory or
unlawful housing practice under this subtitle.