1546                                      LAWS OF MARYLAND                            Ch. 577

Approved May 17, 1976.

CHAPTER 578

(Senate Bill 430)

AN ACT concerning

District Court Clerks — Duties

FOR the purpose of requiring a clerk of the District
Court to assist a person in preparing certain
claims; and making a clerk immune with respect to
any liability in preparing any statement of claim.

BY adding to

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Section 2-603(c)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1975 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 2-603 (c) be and it is hereby
added to Article — Courts and Judicial Proceedings, of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1974 Volume and 1975
Supplement) to read as follows:

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

2-603.

(C) (1) WHEN REQUESTED TO DO SO, A CLERK OF THE
DISTRICT COURT SHALL ADVISE AND ASSIST, AS TO PROCEDURAL
MATTERS ONLY, A PERSON IN THE PREPARATION OF A STATEMENT
OF CLAIM OR OTHER PAPERS REQUIRED TO BE FILED IN A CIVIL
ACTION IN WHICH THE AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY DOES NOT EXCEED
$500.

(2) A CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT IS NOT
LIABLE TO ANY PERSON WITH RESPECT TO ANY ADVICE OR
ASSISTANCE IN THE PREPARATION OF ANY STATEMENT OF CLAIM.

[[SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this
Act shall take effect July 1, 1976.]]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act

is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and

necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
health and safety and having been passed by a yea and nay
vote supported by three—fifths of all the members elected