1528                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 730

Any person who receives physical possession of goods or things of value under a
written contract or written lease for the purpose of leasing or renting the use of the
same for a valuable consideration NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OPTION TO
PURCHASE (OTHER THAN FOR A NOMINAL CONSIDERATION) SAID
GOODS OR THINGS OF VALUE PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT [ [SAID
OPTION]] THE LEASE CONTAINING THE OPTION SHALL NOT BE
FOR A PERIOD OF LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS and who fraudulently
converts the same to his own use shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and
shall restore the goods or things so converted or pay the full value to the owner
thereof or to the person who delivered the goods and things, and upon conviction
be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than sixty
days or both fined and imprisoned. The failure to return to the possession of, or to
account for said goods or things with, the person who delivered the goods and
things at the time or in the manner described in said written contract or written
lease shall be prima facie evidence of intent to fraudulently convert; provided that
if such person is a bona fide resident of the State of Maryland and returns to the
possession of, or accounts for said goods or things with, the person who delivered
the same prior to the expiration of ten days after a written demand for the return
of said goods or things has been mailed by certified or registered United States
mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the person who was so entrusted at his
address which is last known to the person who delivered the said goods and things,
such person who was so entrusted shall not be prosecuted under this section; and
no prosecution either by presentment, indictment, or otherwise shall be instituted
or commenced until after the expiration of said period of ten days. In Baltimore
City the Municipal Court of Baltimore City shall have jurisdiction to hear and
determine alleged offenses under this section.

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

Approved May 24, 1973.

CHAPTER 730
(Senate Bill 991)

AN ACT to add new Section 11 to Article 19A of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume and 1972 Supplement), title, "Conflicts
of Interest," to follow immediately after Section 10 thereof; providing that any
person making a campaign contribution to a public officer whose business with
the State is in excess of a certain sum shall file an annual statement disclosing
these contributions; and providing a penalty for violation of these provisions.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 11 be and it is hereby added to Article 19A of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume and 1972
Supplement) to follow immediately after Section 10 thereof and to read as follows:

11.

(A) ANY PERSON MAKING ANY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO A
PUBLIC OFFICER AND WHOSE BUSINESS WITH THE STATE IS IN
EXCESS OF TEN THOUSAND ($10,000) DOLLARS PER YEAR ON
EITHER AN INDIVIDUAL OR CUMULATIVE BASIS, NOT INCLUDING
SALARIES PAID BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND SHALL FILE AN