616                              Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 476

the hospital should start operating as a locally-controlled facility as
of July 1, 1960; now, therefore AND

WHEREAS, IT IS NOW CONSIDERED DESIRABLE TO
ALLOW THE SAME LEVEL OF BASIC STATE SUPPORT FOR
THE 1961 FISCAL YEAR AS IS PROVIDED FOR THE 1960
FISCAL YEAR IN ORDER TO ASSIST THE LOCAL COM-
MUNITY TO ORGANIZE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOSPITAL; NOW, THEREFORE,

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That as of July 1, 1960, the Board of Public Works is authorized to
transfer without consideration therefor Miners' Hospital, including
all property thereof, real, personal or mixed whether in possession
or expectancy, and all liabilities, to the County Commissioners of
Allegany County, or to a local municipal corporation or to a respon-
sible non-profit corporation which undertakes to continue operation
of the hospital.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That no general funds shall be
included in the budget request submitted to the General Assembly as
a direct appropriation to the Miners' Hospital for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1961; but the 1961 fiscal year general fund appropria-
tion request shall include an item for payment to Miners' Hospital
of State aid for the In-Patient and Out-Patient Programs; provided
that if the amount included in such budget request for the 1961 fiscal
year be less than an amount equal to 25 50 per centum of the general
fund appropriation to Miners' Hospital for the 1958 fiscal year, the
budget request for the State Department of Health for the 1961 fiscal
year shall include an item for a payment to Miners' Hospital equal
to the amount by which 25 50 per centum of the 1958 fiscal year
appropriation to Miners' Hospital exceeds the amount requested for
State aid under the hospital In-Patient and Out-Patient Programs.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act shall
be construed to impair or change in any particular the merit system
status of employees of Miners' Hospital, so long as they remain
employees of the State of Maryland, under the provisions of Article
64A of the Annotated Code of Maryland, title "Merit System", and
also under the provisions of Article 73B of said Code, title "Pensions".
All rights and privileges belonging to any said employees under
Articles 64A and 73B shall be retained by them so long as they hold
their status as State employees in active employment.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1959.

Approved April 8, 1959.

CHAPTER 476
(House Bill 537)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 9(32) of
Article 81 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition),

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law,

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.

CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.

Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.