Marvin Mandel, Governor                         173

AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THIS ACT.

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That all persons who are as of

May 1, 1970, classified employees of any board, commission, office

or agency abolished by this Act, shall retain their merit system

status except as otherwise provided in this Act, and shall be entitled
to all of the rights conferred upon such employees by Article 41,
Section 6, of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Sec. 10 9. And be it further enacted, That all books, papers, files
records, furniture, fixtures, and all other personal property owned
by or in the custody, as of May 31, 1970, of any board, commission,
office or agency abolished by this Act, shall be transferred to and
be in the ownership or custody of the Department of Personnel
created in this Act.

Sec. 11 10. And be it further enacted, That all appropriations
and credits on the books, papers, and accounts of any department
or other agency of this State, as of May 31, 1970, for and to the
credit of any board, commission, office or agency abolished by this
Act, and all liabilities and obligations as of May 31, 1970, of any
board, commission, office or agency abolished by this Act, shall be
transferred to and become the appropriations, credits, liabilities,
and obligations of the Department of Personnel herein created.

Sec. 12 11. And be it further enacted, That all forms of the boards,
commissions, offices or other agencies included within the Depart-
ment of Personnel existing on May 31, 1970, together with all rules,
regulations, orders and other directives relating thereto, or promul-
gated thereby, and then in effect, shall continue in force pending
exercise by the Secretary or the boards, commissions, offices or
agencies of the powers, duties and responsibilities vested in him or
them by this Act or by other provisions of law.

SEC. 13 12. And be it further enacted, That if any part of this act,
or any section or part of the section thereof, shall be held to be un-
constitutional or invalid for any reason, such unconstitutionality or
invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Act, or any
section or part of a section hereof, the General Assembly hereby de-
claring that it would have passed the remaining parts of this act, or
sections or parts of sections hereof, if such unconstitutionality or
invalidity had been known; and to this end, all parts, sections, and
parts of sections of this act are declared to be severable.

Sec. 14 13. And be it further enacted, That all laws or parts of
laws, public general or public local, inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act, are hereby repealed to the extent of any such incon-
sistency.

Sec. 15 14. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1970.

Approved April 15, 1970