Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                    615

When the Park Commissioner is elected as provided in Chapter
1008 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1943, he shall be further
designated as Vice-Chairman and Park Commissioner and shall act
as chairman in the absence of the Chairman. The Vice-Chairman and
Park Commissioner shall have full administrative and executive con-
trol over the parks and recreational system and in the matter of
appointments connected therewith under the Commission's jurisdic-
tion in Montgomery County. Subject to the approval of the Com-
mission, he shall execute contracts as provided in this section. He
shall be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the park
system, and for the initiation, establishment, operation, development
and extension of the comprehensive public recreational program here-
inafter authorized.

The Commission is authorized to establish a merit system or civil
service for the technical staff and other employees of the Commission,
and to promulgate rules and regulations for its administration. The
Commission is authorized to include in such permanent civil service
and merit system such members of the technical staff and other em-
ployees of the Commission as the Commission may in its discretion
decide, except that the members of the Commission, the General
Counsel and the Secretary-Treasurer shall not be included in such
permanent civil services or merit system. When such civil service
and merit system is so established by resolution of the Commission,
it can only be repealed and discontinued by an act of the General As-
sembly of Maryland. Any changes or amendments proposed for such
permanent civil service or merit system by the Commission, once such
permanent civil service and merit system has been so established,
shall be approved by the State Commissioner of Personnel of the
State of Maryland before such changes or amendments shall become
effective.

On the recommendation of the Vice-Chairman and Park Com-
missioner, the] The Commission may appoint such park police officers
as may be necessary to protect the park system [and the public recre-
ational program herein authorized.]. The said park police shall have
concurrent general police jurisdiction with the Montgomery and
Prince George's County Police within the parks and other areas and
within buildings [,] under the Commission's jurisdiction [or in
which any part of the said public recreational program is in effect].
The said park police shall possess all the powers and authority vested
by existing law in the Montgomery and Prince George's County
Police; but they shall be responsible to and under the supervision
of the [Vice-Chairman and Park Commissioner] Director of Parks
and shall exercise supervisory jurisdiction over the park system [,
the conduct of the public recreational program and the administra-
tion of the Regulations of the Commission]. The Montgomery and
Prince George's County Police shall have the same general police
jurisdiction and responsibility for the apprehension of criminals and
detection of crime within the parks and other areas and buildings
under the Commission's jurisdiction which they have elsewhere in
[Montgomery County] their respective counties, [and Section 780
sub-title "Police" of Article 16 of the Code of Public Local Laws of
Maryland is hereby repealed to the extent to which it may be incon-
sistent with or contrary to the provisions of this section.

On the recommendation of the Vice-Chairman and Park Commis-
sioner, the Commission shall have the power to lease for a term not