Ch. 651                             MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                1307

parent need not join in the petition with the adopting parent, but need only give his
or her consent to the adoption, as provided elsewhere in this subtitle.

82.

The legal effect of an adoption of a person over [21] 18 years of age shall be
the same as that of the adoption of a minor, except as to guardianship.

87.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the adoption of an adult shall be
governed by the laws applicable to adoption of a child, and an adopted adult shall
have the same rights as if adopted [during minority] WHILE UNDER
EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.

SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 of Article
19A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume and 1972
Supplement), title "Conflicts of Interest," be and it is hereby repealed and
re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

1.

Except as permitted by Section 3 hereof, it shall be unlawful for any officer,
employee, or agent of any department, board, commission, authority, or other
public agency of the State of Maryland to participate personally and substantially
as a State officer, employee, or agent through decision, approval, disapproval,
recommendation, the rendering of advice, investigation, or otherwise, in a judicial
or other proceeding, application, request for a ruling or other determination,
contract, claim, controversy, charge, accusation, arrest, or other particular matter
in which, to his knowledge, he, his spouse, parent, [minor] child UNDER
EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, brother, or sister has a financial interest or to
which any firm, corporation, association, or other organization in which he has a
financial interest or in which he is serving as officer, director, trustee, partner, or
employee, or any person or organization with whom he is negotiating or has any
arrangement concerning prospective employment, is a party.

SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Sections 256, 264
and 299(a) of Article 23 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement
Volume and 1972 Supplement), title "Corporations," subtitle "III. Particular
Classes of Corporations," subheading "Religious Corporations," be and they are
hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, and all to read as follows:

256.

In every church, religious society or congregation, of whatever sect, order or
denomination, or which shall at any time hereafter be known and acknowledged in
the State, and protected in the free and full exercise: of its religion by the
Constitution and the laws thereof, there shall be sufficient power and authority in
all persons above [twenty-one] EIGHTEEN years of age belonging to any such
church, society or congregation, to elect, at their discretion, certain sober and
discreet persons, not less than four, which persons so elected, upon being
registered, as hereinafter directed, shall be constituted a body politic or corporate
to act as trustees in the name and behalf of the particular church, society or
congregation for which they are respectively chosen, and manage the estate,
property interest and inheritance of the same.