BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                         1329

(2)    PLEDGE COLLATERAL TO SECURE THE DEPOSITS
UNDER THIS SUBSECTION; AND

(3)    ACCEPT DEPOSITS UNDER THIS SUBSECTION ON
THE TERMS REQUIRED BY THE DEPOSITOR.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1978.

Approved May 2, 1978.

CHAPTER 273

(Senate Bill 869)

AN ACT concerning

Health Insurance, Life Insurance and Life Annuity
Contracts - Rates for Blind People

FOR the purpose of preventing certain insurers from asking
or permitting differentials in ratings, premium
payments or dividends because of blindness unless there
is actuarial justification for the differential.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 48A — Insurance Code

Section 223 (a), (b) and 234A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 48A — Insurance Code

223.

(a) (1) No person shall make or permit any unfair

discrimination between__individuals of the same class and

equals expectation of life in the rates charged__for__any

contract__of life insurance or of life annuity or in the

dividends or other benefits payable thereon, or in any other
of the terms and conditions of such contract.

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS IN

THIS__SECTION AN INSURER MAY NOT MAKE OR PERMIT ANY

DIFFERENTIAL IN RATINGS, PREMIUM PAYMENTS OR DIVIDENDS FOR

ANY__REASON BASED ON THE BLINDNESS OF AN APPLICANT OR

POLICYHOLDER UNLESS THERE IS ACTUARIAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THE

DIFFERENTIAL.