WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                         Ch. 378

relating to fund-raising campaign benefits for a public safety officer or a member of
a public safety officer's family.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments
Section 233A

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Replacement Volume and 1992 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

233A.

(A)     IN THIS SECTION, "PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER" MEANS:

(1)      A POLICE OFFICER;

(2)      A PAID OR VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER;

(3)      AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN;

(4)      A RESCUE SQUAD MEMBER;

(5)      THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL; OR

(6)      A SWORN OFFICER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

(B)     It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or similar organization to
encourage, TO RECEIVE, or to solicit donations or contributions of money or [other] TO
OFFER items of value [to] FOR SALE IN, OR TO OFFER ITEMS FOR SALE IN, a
charitable or other fund-raising campaign by FALSELY representing either to the public
or to prospective donors that such campaign has the approval or sanction of any police
OR FIRE department of any jurisdiction within this State OR ANY PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICER OR MEMBER OF ANY PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER'S FAMILY [unless the written
consent to the making of such a representation is first obtained from the chief
administrative officer of the police OR FIRE department concerned or his designee] OR
THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER OR FAMILY MEMBER CONCERNED. Nothing herein
shall be construed to prohibit or hinder the participation in fund-raising campaigns of
off-duty [policemen] PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS not in uniform.

(C)     Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than [one hundred dollars ($100.00)]
$100 $1,000 OR IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN 6 MONTHS 60 DAYS OR BOTH for
each violation.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1993.

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