HARRY HUGHES, Governor

133

Section 255

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1982 Replacement Volume and 1983 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

255.

(a)  This subtitle may not be construed to make it unlawful
for any volunteer fire company or bona fide fraternal, civic, war
veterans', religious or charitable organization or corporation in
Allegany, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles,
Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Kent, Prince George's,
Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot and Washington
counties to conduct or hold a carnival, bazaar, or raffle for the
exclusive benefit of any such volunteer fire company or
fraternal, civic, war veterans', religious or charitable
organization or corporation, if no individual or group of
individuals benefits financially from the holding of any bazaar,
carnival, or raffle or receives or is paid any of the proceeds
from any carnival, bazaar, or raffle, for personal use or
benefit. It shall be lawful for such organization or corporation
to award prizes in cash or in merchandise by such devices as are
commonly designated as paddle wheels, wheels of fortune, chance
books, bingo, or any other gaming device, provided however that
any carnivals, bazaars, or raffles shall be managed by the
members of such group, organization or corporation personally
through its members, and further provided that in Carroll County
the use, of paddle wheels shall be subject to the restrictions of
§ 258 of this article.

(b)  In Charles County a volunteer fire company, or bona
fide fraternal, civic, war veterans', religious or charitable
organization or corporation may conduct or hold any carnival,
bazaar, raffle, or card party in accordance with subsection (a)
of this section if the County Commissioners of Charles County
grant a permit which specifies the nature of the gambling device
and the frequency with which the carnival, bazaar, raffle, or
card party shall be held. A person under the age of 18 may not
participate in the activities described in this section. The
County Commissioners may charge a reasonable fee for the issuance
of the permit.

(c)  In St. Mary's County, a volunteer fire company or bona
fide fraternal, civic, war veterans', religious, or charitable
organization or corporation may conduct or hold a carnival,
bazaar, or raffle and may operate gaming devices which are
commonly designated as paddle wheels, wheels of fortune, chance
books, bingo, Nevada cards, stamp machines, or any other gaming
device, excluding slot machines as defined in § 264B of this
article, if no individual or group of individuals benefits