160 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 99

and exercising the rights, powers, obligations, duties, and
functions now or hereafter conferred by law.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That Sections 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, and 8G of Article 88A of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1935 Supplement) be and
the same are hereby repealed.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That fifteen new sections
be and the same are hereby added to Article 88A of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland (1935 Supplement), to follow imme-
diately after Article 88A and the title as amended, to be
known as Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E,
8F, and 8G of said Article, and to read as follows:

1. The "Department of Charities", the "Board of State Aid
and Charities" and the office of "Director of Charities" are
hereby abolished.

There is hereby created and established a new State Depart-
ment, to be known as the "State Department of Public Wel-
fare". All the rights, powers, duties, obligations and functions
heretofore conferred by law upon the Department of Charities
are hereby transferred to, and hereafter shall be exercised and
performed by the State Department of Public Welfare, as the
lawful successor thereto. Wherever in the Code of Public
General Laws of Maryland the term "Department of Charities"
appears, there shall be substituted therefor the term "State
Department of Public Welfare"; wherever the term "Board of
State Aid and Charities" appears, the term "State Department
of Public Welfare" shall be substituted therefor.

The Board of Public Welfare shall appoint a competent
person to act as Director of Public Welfare, and as Secretary
to the Board of Public Welfare, who shall be paid for his
services such compensation as may be provided in the budget.
The Director shall be a competent person having adequate
training and practical experience in social welfare work; and
in making said appointment, the Board shall be governed by
Article 64A of the Code of Public General Laws of Maryland.
The Director shall devote his whole time to the duties of his
office. The present Executive Secretary of the Department of
Charities shall retain his present status under the merit
system, and be reclassified as the first Director of Public
Welfare.

2. There is hereby created and established a Board of
Public Welfare, consisting of seven members to be appointed
by the Governor, one of whom shall be designated by the
Governor as Chairman. One member of such Board shall be