566                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 287

(f)  On or after June 1, 1967, no person shall hereafter be given
or accept a permanent appointment as a police officer unless such
person has successfully completed a police training course at an
approved police training school. OR HAS BEEN APPROVED BY
THE COMMISSION BASED UPON OTHER CRITERIA AND
QUALIFICATIONS AS ESTABLISHED.

(g)  Except as expressly provided in this Act, nothing herein con-
tained shall be deemed to limit the powers, rights, duties or responsi-
bilities of municipal or county governments.

(h) There is hereby appropriated the sum of twenty five thousand
dollars ($25,000) to establish and maintain the Commission.

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

Approved April 29, 1966.

CHAPTER 287
(Senate Bill 602)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 18 (c) of
Article 64A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Replace-
ment Volume), title "Merit System", to give the veteran's prefer-
ence in the State employment to members of the Armed Forces
who served outside the United Spates during certain years in polic-
ing operations undertaken by the United States with a foreign
nation in combating hostile forces. AND TO THE RECIPIENTS
OF CERTAIN SERVICE MEDALS, AND TO CLARIFY THE
MANNER OF LISTING VETERANS ON THE CERTIFICA-
TION OF ELIGIBLES IN THE MERIT SYSTEM.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 18 (c) of Article 64A of the Annotated Code of Mary-
land (1964 Replacement Volume), title "Merit System", be and it
is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

18.

(c) Examinations shall be competitive, free and open to all per-
sons who may be lawfully appointed to any position within the class
for which the examination is held, with such limitations as may be
specified in the rules by the Commissioner as to age, sex, health,
habits, moral character, physical condition, and other qualifications,
except as hereinafter provided that are in the judgment of the Com-
missioner prerequisite to the performance of the duties of such posi-
tions; provided, however, that the Commissioner may, from time to
time, provide for general rules exempting from competitive exami-
nations, positions to be filled by unskilled manual laborers, including
positions for road patrolmen under the State Roads Commission, and
may, if he sees fit, provide in lieu of said competitive examinations
such system or systems of registration for said laborers or other-
wise as in its judgment will best provide for such positions; and pro-