776 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 450

compensation as a contribution to the pension fund estab-
lished by the retirement plan, but any employee who shall
have made such contributions and shall thereafter terminate
his employment with the department, by reason of death or
otherwise, whether or not he shall have then become entitled
to other benefits under the retirement plan, shall be credited
with not less than the amounts contributed by him into the
pension fund, and the aggregate amounts thereof, together
with such interest thereon as may be prescribed by the retire-
ment plan, shall be refunded to such employee, his depend-
ents, or his estate, as the case may be, and as may be pro-
vided by such retirement plan. Except with respect to the
refund of contributions made by him into the pension fund
as hereinbefore provided, no employee of the Fire Department
shall have any vested interest in the pension fund in excess
of such interest, if any, as may be prescribed by the retire-
ment plan, and such plan may provide for the total or partial
disqualification for benefits (other than such refund of con-
tributions) in respect of any employee discharged for cause,
or who shall terminate his services or die, before becoming
entitled to a vested interest in such pension funds. Upon the
establishment of the retirement plan, the Treasurer of the
said Chevy Chase Fire Department, Inc., is authorized to
expend such of the moneys received by him pursuant to this
section, or any other avilable funds of the Fire Department,
as may be required with respect to such plan. Nothing here-
in contained shall be deemed to prohibit the Chevy Chase
Fire Department, Inc., from qualifying under the provisions
of any statute hereafter enacted pursuant to which the said
Chevy Chase Fire Department, Inc., would otherwise be en-
titled to participate as an employing unit in any pension,
retirement or other benefit plan established for the State of
Maryland or the County of Montgomery. All provisions re-
specting the retirement plan contained in this section shall
be applicable to the said Chevy Chase Fire Department, Inc.,
its successor or successors.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted. That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency law and necessary for the imme-
diate preservation of the public health and safety, and having
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 of Maryland, the same shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

Approved April 16, 1947.