1336 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 904

tion of the Board of County Commissioners, and who continue
in the County service as of August 1, 1945, shall become mem-
bers of the classified service upon successful completion of a
special qualifying examination, except those persons excluded
by Section 677 of this sub-title. The Commissioner shall pre-
pare and conduct such special qualifying examinations and
shall make such rules and regulations as are, to his discretion,
necessary to carry out the purpose of this section.

(b) Any person formerly employed by a department, com-
mission, board, office or institution of Montgomery County,
which comes within the direct executive and administrative
jurisdiction of the Board of County Commissioners, and whose
employment was terminated by his entry into the armed forces
of the United States shall become a member of the classified
service upon successful completion of a qualifying examina-
tion, as provided in (a), and shall be entitled to be restored to
his former position. Any conflict between individuals de-
scribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 684 shall be
decided by the Commissioner and the Commissioner's decision
shall be final.

(c) Any veteran who served in ny branch of the Armed
Forces during the present World War for twelve (12) months
or more and who has been honorably discharged from the
Armed Forces shall be given a preference credit of ten percent
(10 %) in any qualifying examination to be held under the pro-
visions of this Act; and any veteran who has had overseas duty
in the present world war shall be given a preference credit of
twenty percent (20%) in any such qualifying examination; and
such credit preferences shall be extended to all such veterans
through January 10, 1952, but not thereafter, for any position
included in the provisions of this Act. These credit prefer-
ences shall continue to be given for qualifying examinations to
members of the County Police Force through January 10, 1956,
but not thereafter. No person who qualifies through the pro-
visions of paragraph (a) of Section 684 shall be regarded as
holding a permanent position under the provisions of this Act
that is not subject to the claim of reinstatement by a returning
serviceman to that or a similar position, which claim must be
made within ninety (90) days of the honorable discharge of
the serviceman making the claim and which claim will then be
decided by the Commissioner as authorized by the terms of
this Act.

685. The Commissioner shall by rule prescribe standards of
performance for any positions or classes of positions and may
prescribe the form and scope of the records that the appointing
authorities shall keep of the actual performance, output and
conduct of employees as a basis for the determination of the
efficiency of such employees; and the Commissioner shall have