MARVIN MANDEL,

Governor

797

CHAPTER 268

(Senate Bill 174)

AN ACT concerning

Rules of Interpretation — Meaning of "May Not"

FOR the purpose of clarifying that, in the Annotated Code
of Maryland and any rule, regulation, or directive
adopted under it, the phrase "may not" or phrases of
like import are intended to have a mandatory
negative effect and establish a prohibition.

BY adding to

Article 1 — Rules of Interpretation

Section 26

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1968 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 26 be and it is hereby added
to Article 1 — Rules of Interpretation, of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1968 Replacement Volume and 1975
Supplement) to read as follows:

Article 1 — Rules of Interpretation

26.

IN THIS CODE AND ANY ROLE, REGULATION, OR DIRECTIVE
ADOPTED UNDER IT, THE PHRASE "MAY NOT" OR PHRASES OF LIKE
IMPORT HAVE A MANDATORY NEGATIVE EFFECT AND ESTABLISH A
PROHIBITION.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language added
to clarify expressly the identity of meaning
of "may not", particularly as it has become
standard usage in the unnumbered revised
articles of the Code, or other phrases of
similar import (e.g., "may never" or "no
person may") with phrases such as "shall not"
or, in appropriate cases, "it is unlawful".

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the
Revisor's Note contained in this Act is not law and may
not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this
Act.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1976.

Approved May 4, 1976.