Marvin Mandel, Governor                         823

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

Approved May 5, 1972.

CHAPTER 265
(House Bill 168)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 9, 44
and 43 of Article 13 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971
Supplement), title "Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes,"
subtitle "Legal Holidays," to establish January 15, as Martin Luther

King Day and to make general provision for its observance as a

legal holiday; and to repeal the provision that the third Sunday in

January shall be a day of prayer in honor of Martin Luther King

TO PROCLAIM JANUARY 15 AS MARTIN LUTHER KING
DAY AND A DAY OF PRAYER IN HONOR OF MARTIN
LUTHER KING.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Sections 9, 11 and 12 of Article 13 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1971 Supplement), title "Bills of Exchange and Promis-
sory Notes," subtitle "Legal Holidays," be and the same are hereby
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

9.

The following days in each and every year, namely the first day of
January, commonly called "New Year's Day"; the 15th day of Janu-
ary, known as "Martin Luther King Day"; the 12th day of February,
known as "Lincoln's Birthday"; the third Monday in February,
known as "Washington's Birthday"; the 25th day of March, known as
"Maryland Day"; "Good Friday"; the first Monday in September,
commonly called "Labor Day"; the last Monday in May, commonly
called "Memorial Day"; the 4th day of July, called "Independence
Day"; the 12th day of September, known as "Defenders' Day"; the
second Monday in October, known as "Columbus Day"; the fourth
Monday in October, known as "Veterans' Day", the fourth Thursday
in November, known as "Thanksgiving Day"; the 25th day of Decem-
ber, called "Christmas Day"; and all days of general and congressional
elections throughout the State and all special days that may be ap-
pointed or recommended by the State and all special days that may
be appointed or recommended by the Governor of this State, or the
President of the United States, as days of thanksgiving or fasting
and prayer, or other religious observance or for the general cessa-
tion of business, shall be regarded as legal holidays, and shall be
duly observed as such, and shall for all purposes whatsoever as re-
gards the presenting for payment or acceptance and of the protest-
ing and giving notice of dishonor of bills of exchange, bank checks,
drafts and promissory notes, to be treated and considered as the
first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and all such bills,
drafts, checks and notes presented for payment or acceptance on
these said days, shall be deemed to be presented for acceptance or
payment on the secular or business day next succeeding such holiday,
[The third Sunday in THE 15TH DAY OF January of each and
every year shall be known PROCLAIMED BY THE GOVERNOR