Ch. 3                                       1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(b) If the applicant is a qualified voter fas stated in his affidavit], the board shall,
as soon as practicable thereafter, deliver to him at the office of the board, or mail to him
at an address designated by him, an absentee voter's ballot and an envelope therefor. If
the applicant is one with respect to whom free postage privileges are provided for by the
federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or any other federal law,
rule, or regulation, the board shall take full advantage of these privileges; in all other
instances, postage for transmitting ballot material to voters shall be paid by the board,
and postage for the return of ballots shall be paid by the voters. If the ballots are to be
sent by mail, the determinations required in subsection (a) of this section shall be made
in such time as will allow for the sending and return of the ballots by regular mail, or
airmail, depending on the mailing address and including at least one secular day for
marking the ballots and completing the affidavit THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE RETURNED
WITH THE BALLOTS. All investigations shall be concluded and any determinations made
as to all absentee ballot applications not later than five days before election day.

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 of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is
enacted.

Approved February 8, 1996.

CHAPTER 3
(Senate Bill 220)

AN ACT concerning

Education - School Performance Recognition Awards

FOR the purpose of recognizing a public school's progress on meeting or exceeding
satisfactory that shows substantial improvement towards meeting standards
established by the State Board of Education under the Maryland School
Performance Program; providing for distribution of the awards by the State
Superintendent; requiring the State Board of Education to establish certain
guidelines; establishing certain parameters for use of the funds; requiring certain
annual reports; and generally relating to recognition awards and education.

BY adding to

Article - Education

Section 5-203.3

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1992 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

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

- 4 -