878                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 306

CHAPTER 305
(House Bill 776)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 145(b) (9)
of Article 26 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replace-
ment Volume and 1971 Supplement), title "Courts," subtitle "Dis-
trict Courts," to provide that an alcoholic charged with a criminal
offense be committed to a hospital or institution for treatment and
observation subject to discharge by order of the Superintendent or
medical staff upon reaching maximum improvement.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 145 (b) (9) of Article 26 of the Annotated Code of Mary-
land (1966 Replacement Volume and 1971 Supplement), title
"Courts," subtitle "District Courts," be and it is hereby repealed and
re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

145.

(b) (9) Every District Court judge shall have the power and au-
thority to commit persons suffering from acute or chronic alcohol-
ism or who are habitually addicted to narcotic drugs, to one of the
State hospitals for evaluation, treatment and observation under such
terms and conditions as he may determine. [, and every] However, as
to a defendant suffering from acute or chronic alcoholism, the com-
mitment shall be for not less than 96 hours or for more than six
weeks. The Superintendent of the hospital or other facility may ter-
minate the commitment at any time after 96 hours upon his determi-
nation that further continued commitment will not be in the best
interests of the alcoholic or serve any useful purpose. Every District
Court shall be held to be included within the term "court" as used in
Article 59, subtitle "Insanity as a Defense in Criminal Cases" of the
Annotated Code of Maryland, 1957 Edition, as amended; and each
judge of the District Court shall have the same power and authority
exercised by any judge of the circuit court for the purposes set forth
in those sections, including the determination of competency to
stand trial of any person charged with the commission of any
crime within the jurisdiction of the court.

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

Approved May 5, 1972.

CHAPTER 306
(House Bill 799)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 198 of
Article 56 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1972 Replacement
Volume) title "Licenses," subtitle "Dog Licenses in the Counties,"
relating generally to compensation for livestock killed by dogs in
Washington County, amending obsolete references to trial magis-
trates, and clarifying the language therein.