Marvin Mandel, Governor                            973

and is 17 years of age or older, irrespective of the aforementioned
one year residency requirement, may obtain [an equivalent certifi-
cate] a diploma by examination in accordance with this section.
The State Board of Education may waive any or all of the age,
residence, and six months withdrawal period requirements of this
section, if they deem such waiver justified.

(b) The State Board of Education shall provide for examinations
for such persons on at least two occasions in each year at places
throughout the State reasonably convenient for the applicants. On
each occasion, examinations shall be offered in appropriate high
school subject areas. This may be construed to mean some type of
comprehensive examinations, as determined by the State Board of
Education. Failure in any examination shall not prevent the taking of
retests. Members of the armed forces may earn the Maryland [cer-
tificate] high school diploma by taking the examinations furnished
by the United States Armed Forces Institute and given by the appro-
priate service officer. The '[certificate] diploma shall be awarded in
accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the State
Board of Education.

Sec. 2. 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 May 17, 1971.

CHAPTER 440
(Senate Bill 224)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 8.01,
8.03, 8.05, 8.09, 8.10 and 8.12 of Article 66B of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume), title "Zoning and
Planning," subtitle "Historic Area Zoning," to generally clarify
wording and procedure, substituting the word "reconstruction"
for "repair" where appropriate; providing for designation of
Maryland Historical Trust by local commissions to make studies
where desired; and to provide a ninety-day negotiation period
where a structure of unusual importance is in need of preservation
under certain circumstances.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Sections 8.01, 8.03, 8.05, 8.09, 8.10 and 8.12 of Article 66B of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume), title
"Zoning and Planning," subtitle "Historic Area Zoning," be and they
are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

8.01.

(a) The preservation of structures of historic and architectural
value is a public purpose in this State. The board of county com-