280                              Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 72

of any registered passenger motor vehicle and pickup truck not ex-
ceeding [one-half] three-quarter ton, beginning with the 1972-1973
registration year and accompanied with due proof that the owner is
a bona fide member of a volunteer fire department, and upon payment
of all fees required by this article, the [Department of Motor Vehi-
cles] Motor Vehicle Administration shall issue special registration
plates, subject to the rules and regulations of the [Department of
Motor Vehicles] Motor Vehicle Administration.

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 April 11, 1972.

CHAPTER 72
(Senate Bill 801)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 19A (a)
of Article 78A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969 Replace-
ment Volume and 1971 Supplement), title "Public Works," subtitle
"Department of General Services," to clarify the manner of acqui-
sition of land by State agencies and to remove any question as
to the validity of eminent domain proceedings brought in the name
of certain State agencies and not in the name of the Secretary
of General Services and generally relating to the acquisition of
land by the State.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 19A (a) of Article 78A of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume and 1971 Supplement), title
"Public Works," subtitle "Department of General Services," be and
it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

19A. Land Acquisition Division.

(a) There shall be a Land Acquisition Division under the Depart-
ment of General Services. Land for all public improvements within
the meaning of Section 20 of this subtitle, including those State
projects funded under the "Outdoor Recreation Land Loan of 1969"
or "Program Open Space" shall be [acquired] negotiated exclusively
by this Division; and all STATE acquisitions shall be made in the
name of the using State agency or in the name of the principal
department of the State government of which the using agency is a
constituent part. The Land Acquisition Division [is charged with
the sole responsibility to acquire land for State projects funded
under the "Outdoor Recreation Land Loan of 1969" or "Program
Open Space," and] has no responsibility for local projects or for
developing the acquired land. Development of land acquired under
"Program Open Space" is the responsibility of the managing State