Marvin Mandel, Governor                         313

(4) Prohibited Jurisdiction. The District Court shall have no
equity jurisdiction, nor shall it have jurisdiction to try title to real
property.

(5) Pleadings. In all civil actions in which in the amount in con-

troversy is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or less, there shall be no
formal pleadings. In all other cases forms and pleadings shall be
as provided by rule.

SEC. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, THAT SECTION
135 OF ARTICLE 81 OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARY-
LAND (1969 REPLACEMENT VOLUME), TITLE "REVENUE
AND TAXES," SUBTITLE "INSURANCE TAXES" BE AND IT
IS HEREBY REPEALED AND RE-ENACTED, WITH AMEND-
MENTS TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

135. DEFINITIONS.

AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:

(1)    THE PHRASE "INSURANCE COMPANY" MEANS (A)
EVERY PERSON ENGAGED AS PRINCIPAL IN THE BUSI-
NESS OF WRITING INSURANCE, SURETY, GUARANTY OR
ANNUITY CONTRACTS (EXCEPT NONPROFIT HOSPITAL
SERVICE PLAN CORPORATIONS AND FRATERNAL BENE-
FICIARY ASSOCIATIONS) AND INCLUDES MUTUAL IN-
SURANCE COMPANIES, TITLE INSURANCE COMPANIES,
THE MARYLAND AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE FUND AND
CREDIT INDEMNITY COMPANIES, AND (B) ATTORNEYS
IN FACT FOR RECIPROCAL EXCHANGES OR INTER-
INSURERS.

(2)    THE TERM "PREMIUMS" INCLUDES THE CONSID-
ERATION FOR SURETY, GUARANTY AND ANNUITY CON-
TRACTS, DIVIDENDS ON LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
WHICH HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL
INSURANCE OR TO SHORTEN THE PREMIUM PAYING
PERIOD, AND SO MUCH OF THE GROSS RECEIPTS OF TITLE
INSURANCE COMPANIES AS IS DERIVED FROM THE BUSI-
NESS OF INSURANCE OR GUARANTY, BUT SHALL NOT IN-
CLUDE PREMIUMS ON POLICIES COVERING WEEKLY DIS-
ABILITY BENEFITS ON WHICH PREMIUMS ARE PAYABLE
WEEKLY, OR CREDITS ALLOWED ON PREMIUMS UNDER
POLICIES OF INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE BY REASON OF
PAYMENT THEREOF BEING MADE TO THE HOME OFFICE
OR TO A BRANCH OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.

(3)    THE TERM "POLICY" INCLUDES INSURANCE,
SURETY, GUARANTY AND ANNUITY CONTRACTS.

(4)    THE PHRASE "PROPERTY INSURANCE" MEANS
INSURANCE KNOWN AS FIRE, EXTENDED COVERAGE,
HOMEOWNERS, FARM OWNERS, AND OTHER ALLIED
LINES, EARTHQUAKE, GROWING CROPS, AIRCRAFT PHYS-
ICAL DAMAGE, AUTOMOBILE PHYSICAL DAMAGE, GLASS,
LIVESTOCK AND ANIMAL.

Sec. 5 6. Be it further enacted, That if any provision of this Act
or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held