Section 256A
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1996 Replacement Volume and 1998 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

256.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subtitle, the Sheriff of
Wicomico County is authorized to issue licenses to conduct games at which it shall be
lawful to award prizes in cash or merchandise by such devices as are commonly
designated as paddle wheels, wheels of fortune, chance books, bingo, raffles or any
other gaming device.

Organizations eligible TO APPLY TO THE SHERIFF for licenses as provided in this
section are listed as follows:

[(1)](I) A tax-supported volunteer fire company or auxiliary unit of
which the members thereof are directly associated with such fire company[.];

[(2)] (II) A nationally chartered veterans' organization or auxiliary unit
of which the members thereof are directly associated with such organization AND
THAT HAS BEEN LOCATED IN WICOMICO COUNTY FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE APPLICATION TO THE SHERIFF [.];

[(3)] (III) A bona fide religious group which has conducted religious
services at a fixed location in Wicomico County for a period of at least [three] 5 years
IMMEDIATELY prior to the application to the Sheriff[.];

(IV) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXEMPT, FROM
TAXATION UNDER § 501(C)(3) OR § 501(C)(4) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND
HAS BEEN LOCATED IN WICOMICO COUNTY FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS IMMEDIATELY
BEFORE THE APPLICATION TO THE SHERIFF;

(V) A NONPROFIT FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXEMPT
FROM TAXATION UNDER § 501(C)(10) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND HAS
BEEN LOCATED IN WICOMICO COUNTY FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS IMMEDIATELY
BEFORE THE APPLICATION TO THE SHERIFF; AND

[(4)] (VI) [A] SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, A
nonprofit organization [desiring] THAT DESIRES to raise money for an exclusively
charitable, athletic [or], OR educational purpose specifically described in the
application to the Sheriff[. To. qualify under this subsection a nonprofit organization
must have] AND HAS been operating as such in Wicomico County for. a period of at
least [three years prior to] 5 YEARS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE the application to the
Sheriff.

(2) TO QUALIFY UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(VI) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE
CHARITABLE, ATHLETIC, OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE: