WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Ch. 198

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.

(b) (1) 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 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.

(2)  The organization or corporation may 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.

(3)  However, carnivals, bazaars, or raffles shall be
managed by the members of such group, organization or corporation
personally through its members. In Carroll County the use of
paddle wheels shall be subject to the restrictions of § 258 of
this article.

(I) IN CALVERT 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, OR RAFFLE GAMING EVENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (B)
OF THIS SECTION IF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CALVERT COUNTY
GRANT A PERMIT THAT SPECIFIES THE NATURE OF THE GAMBLING GAMING
DEVICE AND THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THE CARNIVAL, BAZAAR, OR
RAFFLE GAMING EVENT SHALL BE HELD. A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18
YEARS MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS
SECTION THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL APPOINT A GAMBLING PERMIT
REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF 5 MEMBERS. THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMULGATING REGULATIONS, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY
THE COMMISSIONERS, PERTAINING TO GAMBLING ACTIVITIES AND THE
ISSUANCE OF PERMITS UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS MAY CHARGE A REASONABLE FEE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF THE
PERMIT.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an
emergency measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of
the public health and safety, has been passed by a yea and nay
vote supported by three-fifths of all the members elected to each

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