3114

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 805

period of three months or more, and after 20 days if for a
service bill period of less than three months, then a late
payment additional charge of five per centum (5%) of such
unpaid charges shall be added to the [said] bill and shall
be collected as a part of such bill; such, additional charge
being in addition to and not in substitution for or
derogation of any other right or remedy heretofore or
hereafter granted to the commission by any other law.

(d) Whenever the state, county or any municipal
corporation, commission, board, or agency of the state or
county, or the board of education of any county, acquires
property it shall ascertain if any bill for water and sewer
usage charges are outstanding against such property and
shall see that the bill is paid before it acquires such
property. If the bill is not paid by the property owner
prior to the date of acquisition, the acquiring authority
shall deduct the amount of the bill from the price to be
paid to the property owner and pay the bill amount over to
the commission. If by oversight or mistake, or for any
other reason, the bill for water and sewer usage charges has
not been paid when the acquisition is completed, then the
acquiring authority shall be responsible for the payment
thereof and shall pay the same to the commission upon
demand. As used in this subsection, the phrase "bill for
water and sewer usage charges" includes the commission's
usual late payment penalty if the same be applicable to the
bill involved.

6-5. Service for charitable institutions, public buildings,
etc.

(a)  The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is
hereby authorized and directed to supply without cost to any
charitable institutions in Montgomery and Prince George's
counties, not to exceed 100 gallons of water per day for
each inmate thereof, and shall make no sewer usage charge
for or on account thereof, provided such institution makes
no discrimination as to the entrance or care against
residents of Montgomery and Prince George's counties. The
minimum charges covering the cost of reading the water meter
may be assessed by [said] THE commission against such
institutions, which meter shall be installed and maintained
at the expense of the institutions, and [said] THE
commission may charge to such institutions the sewer usage
charge and current rate for water used in excess of 100
gallons per day for each inmate thereof. For the purposes
of this section, a charitable institution is herein defined
to be one whose object is primarily eleemosynary.

(b)  The commission shall collect its usual water
rates, including a meter service charge, for all water used
by any state, county or municipal authority except fire
departments and/or rescue squads recognized by the county
commissioners and/or the county council of the respective
counties and/or maintained, and operated by a municipal
authority within either of [said] THE counties,