HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                     2937

actions relating to certain cash, money, and currency seized
in connection with gambling operations; requiring certain
seizing authorities to deposit contraband coin and currency
to the accounts of municipal treasurers and directors of
finance; and generally relating to the seizure of cash in
connection with arrests for gambling violations; and making
this Act an emergency measure.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 264 and 297A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1982 Replacement Volume and 1984 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

264.

(a)  Whenever any money, currency, or cash is seized or
captured by any police officer in this State in connection with
any arrest for the playing or operation of any bookmaking,
betting and wagering on horses or athletic events, or any
lottery, game, table, or gaming device unlawful under the
provisions of this article, all such money, currency, or cash
shall be deemed prima facie to be contraband of law as a gambling
device or as a part of a gambling operation. All rights, title,
and . interest in and to such money, currency, or cash seized by
the police of the local government shall immediately vest in and
to the local governments of the county, municipality, or
Baltimore City, or if seized by State authorities, to the State,
and no such money, currency, or cash shall be returned to any
person claiming the same, or to any other person, except as
provided in this section. The Baltimore City police department
is not a State authority for the purposes of this section.

(b)  Pending trial or ultimate disposition of the charge or
charges, indictment or indictments, growing out of any arrest in
connection with which any such money, currency or cash may have
been so seized or captured, the same shall be deposited in an
interest-bearing bank account or invested in accordance with
Article 95 and accounted for by the county treasurer of the
county or the director of finance in Baltimore City, OR THE
MUNICIPAL TREASURER OR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE OF THE MUNICIPALITY.

(c)  (1) If the trial or other ultimate disposition of such
charge or charges, indictment or indictments, results in a record
of conviction being entered against the person or persons so
arrested, in connection with which the money, currency, or cash
may have been so seized or captured, the State Treasurer, the
county treasurer of the county or director of finance in