1258                               Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 390

59A.

The county superintendent of schools is hereby authorized to ad-
minister oaths and affirmations, AND TO examine under oath, in

any part of the county, witnesses in any matter pertaining to the

administration of the public schools of the county, and to cause the

examination to be reduced to writing. Any person, who having been

sworn or affirmed by him to tell the truth, and wilfully and corruptly

gives false testimony, shall be guilty of the offense of perjury and
punished as such. TO WITNESSES IN ALL APPEALS OR CASES
COMING BEFORE THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION.

CHAPTER 390
(Senate Bill 128)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, subsection (s)
of Section 5 of Article 62B of the Annotated Code of Maryland,
(1968 Replacement Volume and 1971 Supplement), title "Mary-
land Port Administration," to provide that certain contracts
entered into by the Maryland Port Administration for emergency
repairs may be awarded by negotiation.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That subsection (s) of Section 5 of Article 62B of the Annotated
Code of Maryland, (1968 Replacement Volume and 1971 Supple-
ment), title "Maryland Port Administration," be and it is hereby
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

5.

(s) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary
or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its
powers under this article; provided, however, that all projects in-
volving construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement and
repair of port facilities, including the dredging of ship channels and
turning basins and the filling and grading of land, which contracts
involve the expenditure of five thousand dollars or more, shall be
performed by private industry and contracts for the same shall be
awarded on the basis of the lowest responsible bid received therefor
in response to an invitation for bids published at least twice in two
newspapers having general circulation in the State of Maryland,
provided, however, that development work not susceptible to accu-
rate bidding may be awarded by negotiation; and provided that
contracts for emergency repairs required to keep port facilities in
operation or to return such facilities promptly to operation may be
awarded by negotiation SUCH NEGOTIATION TO INVOLVE AT
LEAST THREE COMPANIES, IF AVAILABLE, WHO ARE
QUALIFIED TO UNDERTAKE THESE REPAIRS; and, pro-

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1972.

Approved May 26, 1972.