338                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 153

If the Commission has received reliable information from any indi-
vidual or individuals, and after a proper investigation by the Com-
mission, it shall be determined by the Commission that an officer or
employee of a state agency, department or board has engaged in
discrimination in hiring, firing, or any other type of activity against
any person because of race, creed, color , SEX or national origin,
AND IF THE COMMISSION IS UNSUCCESSFUL IN RESOLV-
ING THE COMPLAINT, THEN the Commission shall report such
act to the Governor, and he shall review the case and findings of the
Commission. If the Governor is satisfied that an act of discrimina-
tion has taken place, he shall remove or suspend said officer or
employee or take such action as he deems appropriate under the
circumstances. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY REMOVAL,
SUSPENSION, OR OTHER ACTION AFFECTING ANY OFFI-
CER OR EMPLOYEE WHO IS COVERED BY THE STATE
MERIT SYSTEM SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL RULES AND
REGULATIONS PERTAINING THERETO. The authority of the
Commission relating to discrimination in State agencies, boards or
departments shall be limited to the conduct of any investigation,
CONCILIATION, MEDIATION and a report REPORTING to the
Governor as provided in this Section 11B.

12.

(a) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged discrimi-
nation as to any of the subtitles of this Article, on the basis of race,
creed, color , SEX or national origin, and within the provisions of
any of these subtitles may make, sign and file with the ([Commission
on Human Relations] Human Relations Commission (hereinafter
referred to as the "Commission") a complaint in writing under oath.
The complaint shall state the name and address of the person, firm,
association, partnership , or corporation , STATE AGENCY, DE-
PARTMENT OR BOARD alleged to have committed the act of dis-
crimination together with the particulars thereof; and the complaint
also shall contain such other information as may be required from
time to time by the Commission.

(B) WHENEVER THE COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED RE-
LIABLE INFORMATION FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL OR INDI-
VIDUALS THAT ANY PERSON HAS BEEN ENGAGED OR IS
ENGAGED IN ANY DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE WITHIN
THE SCOPE OF THIS ARTICLE, AND AFTER A PRELIMINARY
INVESTIGATION BY THE COMMISSION'S STAFF AUTHOR-
IZED BY THE CHAIRMAN OR A MAJORITY OF THE COMMIS-
SION, IT IS SATISFIED THAT SAID INFORMATION WAR-
RANTS THE FILING OF A COMPLAINT, THE COMMISSION,
ON ITS OWN MOTION, MAY ISSUE A COMPLAINT IN ITS
NAME IN THE SAME MANNER AS IF THE COMPLAINT HAD
BEEN FILED BY AN INDIVIDUAL.

(b) Whenever the Commission has received reliable information
from any individiual or individuals that any person has been engaged
or is engaged in any discriminatory practices within the scope of