632 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 385

State and such other States and the appropriate Federal
agencies in exchanging services, and making available facili-
ties and information. The Board is therefore authorized to
make such investigations, secure and transmit such informa-
tion, make available such services and facilities and exercise
such of the other powers provided herein with respect to the
administration of this Act as he deems necessary or appro-
priate to facilitate the administration of any such unemploy-
ment compensation or public employment service law, and in
like manner, to accept and utilize information, services and
facilities made available to this State by the agency charged
with the administration of any such other unemployment com-
pensation or public employment service law.

(d) To the extent permissible under the laws and Constitu-
tion of the United States, the Board is authorized to enter
into or cooperate in arrangements whereby facilities and
services provided under this Act and facilities and services
provided under the unemployment compensation law of any
foreign government, may be utilized for the taking of claims
and the payment of benefits under the unemployment com-
pensation law of this State or under a similar law of such
government.

DEFINITIONS

19. (a) "Base Period" means the twelve-consecutive-month
period ending December 31st, immediately preceding the first
day of a benefit year.

(f) "Employer" means:

(1) With respect to the calendar years 1936 and 1937,
any employing unit which in each of 20 different weeks
within either the current or the preceding calendar year
(whether or not such weeks are or were consecutive) has or
had in employment, eight or more individuals (not neces-
sarily simultaneously and irrespective of whether the same
individuals are or were employed in each such week), and,
with respect to the calendar years 1938 and any calendar
year thereafter, any employing unit which in each of 20
different weeks within either the current or preceding
calendar year (whether or not such weeks are or were con-
secutive) has or had in employment four or more individuals
(not necessarily simultaneously and irrespective of whether
the same individuals are or were employed in each such
week);

(2) Any individual or employing unit which acquired the
organization, trade or business, or substantially all the
assets thereof, of another which at the time of such acquisi-
tion was an employer subject to this Act or which acquired
the organization, trade or business of any distinct severable
portion of another employing unit, which portion, if treated