148                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 21

general applicability throughout this article,
definitions of a more limited applicability
appear at the beginning of those units of this
article - e.g., title, subtitle, or section - to
which the definitions apply.

SUBTITLE 2. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

1-201. VERIFICATION.

(A)  IN GENERAL.

A REQUIREMENT IN THIS ARTICLE THAT A DOCUMENT BE
VERIFIED MEANS THAT THE DOCUMENT SHALL BE VERIFIED BY A
DECLARATION MADE UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE
MATTERS AND FACTS CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENT ARE TRUE TO THE
BEST OF THE KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION, AND BELIEF OF THE
INDIVIDUAL MAKING THE DECLARATION.

(B)  PROCEDURES.

THE VERIFICATION SHALL BE MADE:

(1)  BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZED TO
ADMINISTER OATHS; OR

(2)  BY A SIGNED STATEMENT OF VERIFICATION THAT:

(I)  IS IN THE DOCUMENT OR ATTACHED TO AND
MADE PART OF THE DOCUMENT; AND

(II)  STATES THAT THE STATEMENT IS MADE
UNDER THE PENALTIES FOR PERJURY.

(C)  EFFECT OF STATEMENT.

IF THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B)(2) OF THIS
SECTION ARE USED, THE STATEMENT OF VERIFICATION SUBJECTS THE
INDIVIDUAL MAKING THE STATEMENT TO THE PENALTIES FOR PERJURY
TO THE SAME EXTENT AS IF THE STATEMENT HAD BEEN VERIFIED
UNDER OATH BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER
OATHS.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language added to
permit a signed statement to have the effect of a
verification, without detracting substantively
from the purpose and effect of requiring the
verification. Therefore, an individual who makes
a verification under this article is subject to
the penalties for perjury if the verification is
false even if the individual does not appear
before an individual authorized to administer
oaths.