J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                     1289

cause for rejection; the probation period shall be for a period not
exceeding six months, unless the appointing authority shall suggest
and the Commissioner shall approve a longer period, which in no
event shall exceed one year; provided that no appointing authority
shall have power to remove a probationer who has been appointed
by promotion from another class without the consent of the Commis-
sioner [; and provided further, that no appointing authority who
has removed a probationer as hereinbefore set out shall have power
to exercise such right of removal again with respect to any other
probationer in a position of the same class within three calendar
months after such removal.]. The employee so rejected shall be con-
sidered permanently separated from such position, but Commissioner
may keep the name of the person thus rejected on the eligible list
from which he was appointed for future certification to another
position in the class to which the list applies.

No employee who has completed his probation may be perma-
nently removed from the classified service except for cause, upon
written charges and after an opportunity to be heard in his own
defense. Such charges may be filed by the appointing authority or
by any citizen, provided, however, that no such charges may be
filed by a citizen, without the consent of the appointing authority
or of the Commissioner, and such charge shall within ninety days
after filing, be heard, investigated and determined by the Com-
missioner or by some person or board appointed by the Commis-
sioner to hear, investigate and determine the same.

The finding and decision of the Commissioner or of such person
or board when approved by the Commissioner shall be final, and
shall be certified to the appointing authority and shall be forthwith
enforced by such authority.

The Commissioner shall, by rule, prescribe what may constitute
cause for removal, but no removal shall be allowed because of the
religious or political opinions or affiliations of any employee. The
provisions of this section shall apply to the demotion of an employee
as described in Section 31 of this article.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1966.

Approved May 6, 1966.

CHAPTER 731
(House Bill 400)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 110 (b) of
Article 52 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement
Volume), title "Justices of the Peace," subtitle "Trial Magistrates
System," making explicit the authority of the County Commis-
sioners of Charles County to increase the salaries of committing
magistrates and justices of the peace in Charles County.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 110 (b) of Article 52 of the Annotated Code of Maryland