MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

1967

[251.

Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to make
it unlawful for any bona fide fraternal, religious,
patriotic, educational or charitable organizations or
corporations, or volunteer fire companies, to conduct or
operate a game of bingo for the benefit of charity in St.
Mary's County, or in furtherance of the purpose of such
organization, corporation or volunteer fire department.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That new
Section 251 be and it is hereby added to Article 27 —
Crimes and Punishments, of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1971 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement) to read as
follows:

Article 27 — Crimes and Punishments

251.

(A)                       NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF
THIS SUBTITLE, THE SHERIFF OF ST. MARY'S COUNTY [[MAY]]
SHALL ISSUE [[LICENSES TO CONDUCT GAMES OF BINGO AND TO
AWARD PRIZES.]] AN ANNUAL NUMBERED LICENSE TO AN ELIGIBLE

ORGANIZATION TO CONDUCT GAMES OF BINGO AND TO AWARD

PRIZES.

(B)     [[ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR THESE LICENSES

ARE AS FOLLOWS]] AN ORGANIZATION IS ELIGIBLE FOR A

LICENSE IF IT IS:

(1)     A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY OR VOLUNTEER
RESCUE SQUAD OR AUXILIARY UNIT OF WHICH THE MEMBERS ARE
ASSOCIATED DIRECTLY WITH THAT FIRE COMPANY OR RESCUE
SQUAD. TAX-SUPPORTED VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES OR

VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUADS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ALL TYPES OF

LICENSES UNDER THIS SECTION ALSO.

(2)      A NATIONALLY CHARTERED VETERANS'
ORGANIZATION OR AN AUXILIARY UNIT WHOSE MEMBERS ARE
ASSOCIATED DIRECTLY WITH THE ORGANIZATION.

(3)    A BONA FIDE RELIGIOUS GROUP WHICH HAS
CONDUCTED RELIGIOUS SERVICES AT A FIXED LOCATION IN ST.
MARY'S COUNTY FOR A PERIOD OF AT [[LEASUT]] LEAST THREE
YEARS PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION TO THE SHERIFF.

(4) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH DESIRES
TO RAISE MONEY FOR AN EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE, ATHLETIC,
OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED IN THE
APPLICATION TO THE SHERIFF. TO QUALIFY UNDER THIS
SUBSECTION A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SHALL HAVE BEEN
OPERATING AS SUCH IN ST. MARY'S COUNTY FOR A PERIOD OF AT
LEAST THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION TO THE
SHERIFF.

(C)      THE APPLICATION TO THE SHERIFF FOR THE
ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE SHALL CONTAIN A CERTIFICATION BY