Except as otherwise provided, a reference to one gender includes and applies to the other gender.

The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.

In this Code and any regulation or directive adopted under it, the phrase “may not” has a mandatory negative effect and establishes a prohibition.

A reference to “the Annotated Code of Maryland”, “the Annotated Code”, “the Maryland Code”, “the Code”, or “this Code” means a code of the public general laws of the State that has been adopted and made evidence of the public general laws of the State under § 10–201 of the Courts Article.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, the repeal, repeal and reenactment, or amendment of a statute does not release, extinguish, or alter a criminal or civil penalty, forfeiture, or liability imposed or incurred under the statute. A repealed, repealed and reenacted, or amended statute shall remain in effect for the purpose of sustaining any: criminal or civil action, suit, proceeding, or prosecution for the enforcement of a penalty, forfeiture, or liability; and judgment, decree, or order that imposes, inflicts, or declares the penalty, forfeiture, or liability.

Where a public general law and a public local law enacted by the General Assembly are in conflict, the public local law shall prevail.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, if two or more amendments to the same section are enacted at the same or different sessions of the General Assembly, and one of the amendments makes no reference to and takes no account of the other, the amendments shall be construed together and each shall be given effect, if possible, with due regard to the wording of their titles. If the amendments are irreconcilable and it is not possible to construe them together, the latest in date of final enactment shall prevail.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the caption or catchline of a section or subsection that is printed in bold type, italics, or otherwise: is intended as a mere catchword to indicate the contents of the section or subsection; and may not be considered as a title of the section or subsection; and may not be considered as a title if the section, subsection, caption, or catchline is amended or reenacted.

The rule of construction established by this section applies to an amendment adopted before, on, or after July 1, 1973. Except as otherwise provided, when a public general law or public local law refers to a portion of the Code or to any other law, the reference applies to any amendment to that portion of the Code or other law.

Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of all statutes enacted after July 1, 1973, are severable. The finding by a court that part of a statute is unconstitutional or void does not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the statute, unless the court finds that the remaining valid provisions alone are incomplete and incapable of being executed in accordance with the legislative intent.