PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 544

Act; and generally relating to insurance and voluntary noncontractual religious
publication arrangements.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 48A - Insurance Code
Section 9

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1994 Replacement Volume and 1994 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Insurance
Section 1-202

Annotated Code of Maryland
(As enacted by Chapter__ (H.B. 11) of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1995)

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

Article 48A - Insurance Code

9.

No provision of this article shall apply with respect to:

(1)     Fraternal benefit societies, except as stated in Subtitle 19 (Fraternal
Benefit Societies).

(2)     Nonprofit health service plans, except as otherwise provided in this
article.

(3)     A VOLUNTARY NONCONTRACTUAL RELIGIOUS PUBLICATION
ARRANGEMENT THAT:

(I)      IS A NONPROFIT RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH THE
STATE MAY NOT BE HELD IN ANY WAY LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF ITS
DEBTS, CLAIMS, OBLIGATIONS, OR LIABILITIES;

(II)     PUBLISHES A NEWSLETTER WHOSE SUBSCRIBERS ARE LIMITED
TO MEMBERS OF THE SAME DENOMINATION OR RELIGION;

(III)   ACTS AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR
INFORMATION BETWEEN SUBSCRIBERS WHO HAVE FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL, OR
MEDICAL NEEDS COSTS AND SUBSCRIBERS WHO CHOOSE TO ASSIST WITH THOSE
NEEDS COSTS;

(IV)   MATCHES SUBSCRIBERS WITH A WILLINGNESS TO PAY AND
SUBSCRIBERS WITH PRESENT NEEDS MEDICAL COSTS;

(V)     COORDINATES PAYMENTS DIRECTLY FROM ONE SUBSCRIBER
TO ANOTHER;

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