1194                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 669

when an emergency arises which does not permit compliance with
the usual and ordinary provisions of the Classified Service.             

(4) Members of the Classified Service may be permanently sepa-
rated therefrom through resignation, rejection on probation, or
removal for cause. They may be temporarily separated from the
Classified Service through suspension pending charges or leave of
absence granted at the request of the employee.

(5)    An employee shall not be permanently removed from the
Classified Service other than through resignation or rejection on
probation except for cause upon written charges and after an oppor-
tunity to be heard in his own defense. The Civil Service Board
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY shall file a copy of any charges
against any employee at his last known mailing address and shall
provide that within thirty days thereafter the employee has an op-
portunity to be heard in his own defense. The finding and decision
of the Civil Service Board BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY may be
appealed to the Circuit Court for Charles County, and the case, shall
be heard de novo by said Court.

(6)    The County Commissioners, among the rules and regulations,
shall prescribe what may constitute cause for removal, but no removal
shall be allowed because of the religious or political opinions or affilia-
tions of any employee.

(7) The County Commissioners shall appoint a Civil Service
Board of three persons, not more than two of whom shall be members
of that political party in the last preceding general election in Charles
County who polled the highest number of votes in the aggregate for
the several offices of County Commissioners therein.

(8) The Civil Service Board shall meet as necessary from time to

time to conduct the business of the Board. Terms of office shall be

as specified by the County Commissioners. They shall be provided
with suitable office space and facilities by the County Commissioners.
The salary of the member of the Board shall be $300.00 annually.

(n) [No members of the Sheriff's office shall engage in any-
political activity.] The administrative, clerical, and police employees
of the Board who are appointed and employed under the provisions
of subsection (c) (3) and (4) of this section shall not engage in any
political activity beyond their regular and normal powers to vote
and as citizens to express their views on public affairs.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby declared
to be an emergency measure and necessary for the immediate preser-
vation of the public health and safety and having been passed by a
yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members elected
to each of the two houses of the General Assembly, the same shall
take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved May 6, 1966.