880                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 307

County and Washington County, the appraisers to be appointed
as provided by this section may also be appointed by the Sheriff,
or any deputy sheriff of [said] the county, (g) In Kent County,
the application to the [trial magistrate] District Court Judge
SHERIFF shall be made within thirty days after the occurrence of
the injury or destruction.

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

Approved May 5, 1972.

CHAPTER 307
(House Bill 831)

AN ACT to add new Section 399B to Article 27 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume and 1971 Supple-
ments), title "Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "Crimes and Pun-
ishments," subheading "Minors—Care and Protection of," to follow
immediately after Section 399A thereof, to make it unlawful in
Howard County for any person charged with the care of a child
age seven (7) or less to confine that child to a dwelling or
building while he is absent from the premises, unless he leaves a
responsible person of at least thirteen (13) years of age with the
child in order to protect the child from certain dangers, and to
provide penalties for the violation of this section.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 399B be and it is hereby added to Article 27 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume and 1971
Supplement), title "Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "Crimes and
Punishments," subheading "Minors—Care and Protection of," to
follow immediately after Section 399A thereof, and to read as
follows:

399B.

In Howard County, any person who is charged with the care of a
child age seven (7) or less shall not allow that child to be locked
or otherwise confined in any building, dwelling or enclosure with
the exception of a fenced yard while the person so charged is absent
from, the premises or out of AND FROM THE sight of the premises,
unless he provides a responsible and reliable person of at least thir-
teen (13) years to remain with the child in order to protect the child
from the danger of fire, scalding, smoke inhalation or suffocation.
Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 or im-
prisoned for not more than one year, or both.

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

Approved May 5, 1972.