944

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 283

WHEREAS, America is acutely aware of the precariousness
of our energy situation. With over 40 percent of our oil
coming from foreign sources, the instability of political
regimes around the globe subjects us to the vicissitudes of
an increasingly erratic supply, and the continuing excess of
imports over exports has resulted in a sharp decrease in the
value of the once respected American dollar.

The gasoline and alcohol mixture known as gasohol would
help relieve these problems by stretching domestic oil
supplies and reducing imports and dependence on foreign
suppliers. In addition, use of this clean burning fuel
would improve the quality of the air we breathe, and provide
a badly needed boost to the agricultural sector of the
economy.

For these reasons, it is the intention of the General
Assembly of Maryland to encourage the maximum use of gasohol
in place of ordinary gasoline; now, therefore,

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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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 56 - Licenses

135.

(b) "Motor vehicle fuel" means and includes gasoline,
casing head or natural gasoline, benzol, benzine, naphtha,
gas, substances or energy regardless of its composition or
properties and any other liquid prepared, advertised,
offered for sale, sold for use as, or used for, the
generation of power for the propulsion of motor vehicles,
and Diesel oil, oil or other liquids used in Diesel engines
or in internal combustion engines for the propulsion of
motor vehicles, including any product obtained by blending
together any one or more products of petroleum, with or
without other products, if the resultant product is capable
of [such] THIS use. THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ALCOHOL
CONTENT OF THE GASOLINE AND ALCOHOL MIXTURE KNOWN AS
"GASOHOL." THIS TERM INCLUDES "GASOHOL", A FUEL WHICH IS
COMPOSED OF A MIXTURE OF 5 PERCENT TO 20 PERCENT METHYL OR
ETHYL ALCOHOL IN GASOLINE.

136.

(I) THE ALCOHOL CONTENT OF THE GASOLINE AND ALCOHOL
MIXTURE KNOWN AS "GASOHOL" IS NOT SUBJECT TO TAX UNDER THIS

ARTICLE. THE COMPTROLLER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND

REGULATIONS TO PRORATE THE TAX ON GASOHOL SO THAT ONLY THE
GASOLINE CONTENT IS TAXED.

(I) ANY MIXTURE OF "GASOHOL" WHICH CONTAINS 10
PERCENT OR MORE OF ETHYL OR METHYL ALCOHOL SHALL BE TAXED