844                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 617

CHAPTER 617
(Senate Bill 605)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 163 (i) of
Article 2B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Supplement),
title "Alcoholic Beverages", sub-title "County Liquor Control
Boards and Dispensaries", amending the alcoholic beverage laws
applicable to Harford County in order to change the qualifications
required of the person appointed as chief inspector for the Liquor
Control Board of Harford County.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 163 (i) of Article 2B of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1964 Supplement), title "Alcoholic Beverages", sub-title "County
Liquor Control Boards and Dispensaries", be and it is hereby repealed
and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

163.

(1)   (1) In Harford County, the liquor control board shall employ
one full time chief inspector and such other inspector or inspectors
as in its discretion shall be required from time to time. Provided,
however, that neither the Sheriff, any deputy sheriff or any constable
or municipal peace officer in Harford County shall be eligible to be
appointed or to serve as the chief inspector or as an inspector. The
person appointed to be chief inspector shall have had at the time of
appointment [at least three years' experience in bookkeeping and
accounting or shall have a degree in accounting from a recognized
college or university] investigative experience as a police officer or
as an inspector for a governmental agency or as a police officer or
investigator for a private agency. After appointment, the chief in-
spector shall serve as such and shall be discharged only for cause
involving dishonesty, incompetency or immoral conduct; and prior to
his discharge, he shall be given a list of the charges against him
and an opportunity to reply thereto in an open hearing either in
person or by counsel. The chief inspector with the approval of the
liquor control board shall be empowered to contract with or hire
any independent accounting firm to audit the books and accounts
of any licensee. The liquor control board is authorized to establish
and change from time to time such reasonable compensation for the
chief inspector or any other inspector or inspectors as is warranted
by their respective duties and responsibilities. Nothing in this sub-
section shall be construed to relieve from the responsibility of enforc-
ing the provisions of this article in Harford County the several peace
officers listed in Section 187 of this article.

(2)  In Harford County the liquor control board shall appoint a
general manager, who shall act as secretary-treasurer of the board
and who shall be the chief business administrative officer of the
board under its control and supervision. No board member shall be
eligible to fill said position while retaining his membership on the
liquor control board. The manager so appointed shall hold office
during good behavior and shall be discharged only for cause involv-
ing dishonesty, incompetency, or immoral conduct after opportunity
for hearing.

(3)  The salaries of all employers of the liquor control board shall