1600                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 447

shall take effect July 1, 1978.
Approved May 16, 1978.

AN ACT concerning

CHAPTER 448
(Senate Bill 257)

Extortion

FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain governmental
officials from committing extortion and providing
penalties including a prohibition against future
employment; prohibiting the implied repeal of certain
common law statutes; providing for penalties; and
generally relating to extortion.

BY adding to

Article 27 — Crimes and Punishments

Section 562B

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1976 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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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 27 - Crimes and Punishments

562B.

EVERY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, A
COUNTY, BALTIMORE CITY, A MUNICIPALITY OR MULTICOUNTY
BI-COUNTY OR MULTI-COUNTY AGENCY, WHO OBTAINS OR ATTEMPTS TO
OBTAIN, BY EXTORTION, FROM ANY PERSON A SUM OF MONEY, REAL
OR PERSONAL PROPERTY OR ANY THING OF VALUE THAT EXCEEDS $-§•£
$300, IS GUILTY OF A FELONY AND SHALL BE FINED NOT MORE THAN
$5,000 OR IMPRISONED NOT MORE THAN TEN YEARS OR BOTH AND,
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PARDON, SHALL BE PERMANENTLY BARRED FROM
EMPLOYMENT BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND, ANY COUNTY,

MUNICIPALITY OR BI-COUNTY__OR MULTICOUNTY AGENCY EXCEPT

THAT, IF. IF THE PROPERTY EXTORTED DOES NOT EXCEED $50

$300, IT IS A MISDEMEANOR AND THE PUNISHMENT SHALL BE

LIMITED TO A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $500 OR IMPRISONMENT FOR
30 DAYS SIX MONTHS OR BOTH. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS
SECTION, EXTORTION MEANS THE WRONGFUL OBTAINING OF THE
PROPERTY FROM ANOTHER KITH HIS CONSENT, WHICH CONSENT WAS
OBTAINED UNDER COLOR OR PRETENSE OF OFFICE OR UNDER COLOR OF
OFFICIAL RIGHT, OR BY WRONGFUL USE OF ACTUAL OR THREATENED

FORCE, VIOLENCE, OR, BY WRONGFUL THREAT OF ECONOMY INJURY.

A PROSECUTION FOR THE FELONY OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION