Ch. 529                             MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                1157

that notice of this subsection, prior to or upon execution of the contract, has been
given to the party who seeks to recover from such person, provided that nothing
herein contained shall affect any contract entered into prior to June 1, 1967.

(v) The State shall provide such funds as the inspector may require to defray the
expense, legal or otherwise, in the prosecution of any violations of the subtitle.

(w) All alleged violations of this subtitle when reported to the inspector and
when duly substantiated by affidavits, or other satisfactory evidence, shall be
investigated by him. The inspector may employ such number of special
investigators as the inspector deems necessary or as may be provided in the annual
State budget. If the evidence of violations is substantiated, the inspector shall
report the same to the Attorney General or State's attorney of the political
subdivision in which the violations are alleged to have occurred.

(x) Upon receiving reports together with proper evidence, from the inspector
that any of the provisions of this subtitle have been violated, the Attorney General
or the appropriate State's attorney of the political subdivision in which it is
claimed such violations occurred shall institute and conduct the proper proceedings
of the appropriate court to prosecute and punish such alleged offenders.

(y) Notwithstanding the penalties provided in subsections, (u) or (aa), the courts
of record having equity jurisdiction shall have jurisdiction to enjoin any person,
firm, association or corporation violating the provisions of this subtitle.

(z) All contractors licensed under the provisions of §§ 245 through 269 of
Article 56 of the Annotated Code of Maryland shall be exempt from the provisions
of the subtitle insofar as their activities do not exceed the home-improvement
activity described therein.

(aa)   Any violations of this subtitle set out herein as misdemeanors shall be
punishable to the extent of a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or not more than six
months in jail, or both, in the discretion of the judge hearing the case.

(ab)  The Municipal Court of Baltimore City shall have concurrent jurisdiction
with the Criminal Court of Baltimore City to try persons charged with offenses
under this subtitle.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1973.

Approved May 21, 1973.

CHAPTER 529
(House Bill 309)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 17(a) of Article 23A
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume), title
"Corporations - Municipal," subtitle "Home Rule," subheading "Charter
Amendments," amending the law which concerns the form of proposals to
amend an existing charter of a municipal corporation in order to change certain
requirements therein.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 17 (a) of Article 23A of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume), title "Corporations - Municipal," subtitle