WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                     H.B. 1648

contractual provisions that are prohibited by this Act are void and unenforceable if
included in an agreement or contract covered by this Act; providing for the
application of this Act; making this Act an emergency measure; and relating
generally to the operation of retail service stations in the State.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article - Business Regulation
Section 10-311(a) and (c)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Volume and 1993 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Business Regulation
Section 10-311.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Volume and 1993 Supplement)

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

Article - Business Regulation

10-311.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, each retail service station
in the State:

(1)     shall be operated by a retail service station dealer; and

(2)     may not be operated by a producer or refiner of motor fuel:

(i) with a commissioned agent, company personnel, or a subsidiary
company; or

(ii) under a contract with a person who manages the station on a fee
arrangement with the producer or refiner.

(c) A retail service station shall be exempt from subsection (a) of this section for
a fiscal year that starts July 1, if:

(1)     on January 1, 1979, the station was operated by a subsidiary of a
producer or refiner of motor fuel; and

(2)     the gross revenues of the subsidiary from the sale of motor fuel in the
State for the preceding calendar year is less than 2% of the gross revenues of the
subsidiary from all retail operations in the State for the preceding calendar year.

10-311.1.

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