2748                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [Ch. 819

(1971 Replacement Volume and 1973 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 257(a) of Article 27 - Crimes and
Punishments, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971
Replacement Volume and 1973 Supplement) be and it is
hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read
as follows:

Article 27 — Crimes and Punishments
257.

(a) Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to
make it unlawful for any bona fide religious, fraternal,
civic, war veterans' hospital, amateur athletic
organization in which all playing members are less than
eighteen years of age, or charitable organization or
corporation in Baltimore City or Baltimore County to
conduct or hold a carnival, bazaar or raffle for the
benefit of any such religious, fraternal, civic, war
veterans' hospital, amateur athletic or charitable
organization or corporation, provided that no individual
or group of individuals shall benefit financially from
the holding of any such bazaar, carnival or raffle or
shall receive or be paid any of the proceeds from any
such carnival, bazaar or raffle, for personal use or
benefit. At such carnival, bazaar or raffle, it shall be
lawful to award prizes to any individual in merchandise
and cash in any amount in Baltimore County AND BALTIMORE
CITY in any one game or spin by such devices as are
commonly designated as paddle wheels or wheels of
fortune. [In Baltimore City it shall be lawful to award
prizes in cash totaling up to five hundred dollars
($500.00) and in merchandise in any amount.] In
Baltimore County AND BALTIMORE CITY it shall be lawful to
award prizes in merchandise and cash up to any amount,
[[and in Baltimore City it shall be lawful to award
prizes in cash totaling up to five hundred dollars
($500.00) and in merchandise in any amount,]] but no one
organization IN BALTIMORE COUNTY shall conduct more than
two (2) raffles in any one calendar year[[.]] AND NO
ORGANIZATIONS IN BALTIMORE CITY MAY CONDUCT [[AS MANY]]

MORE THAN 12 RAFFLES [[AS THEY WISH,]] IN ANY CALENDAR

YEAR. As used herein, the word "raffle" shall mean one or
more drawings from a single series of chances sold by
means of chance books. Before any such carnival, bazaar
or raffle shall be operated, such group, organization or
corporation shall first obtain from the police
commissioner of Baltimore City, or the chief of police of
Baltimore county, as the case may be, a permit, which
permit shall provide that such carnival, bazaar or raffle