1288                             Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 529

HEREIN SHALL IMPAIR OR ABROGATE THE POWER OF
THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO PURCHASE OR CONDEMN
FRIENDSHIP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

24.    Article to be liberally construed.

This article, being necessary for the welfare of the State and
its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes
thereof.

25.    Severability.

The provisions of this article are severable, and if any of its
provisions shall be held unconstitutional by any court of competent
jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect or impair
any of the remaining provisions.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That any person or persons
who are members of the Maryland Airport Authority as of June 30,
1970, shall not continue as members of the Friendship International
Airport Authority unless reappointed to the Friendship Internation-
al Airport Authority on or after July 1, 1970, in accordance with
Section 3 of this article.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That as of the date the
Authority assumes operation and control of Friendship Interna-
tional Airport, all full time employees of the Mayor and City Coun-
cil of Baltimore who have been for a period of six (6) months or
more immediately preceding regularly employed by the City at the
Airport shall be transferred to the employment of the Authority
herein created, without further examination or qualification by the
Authority Employment Commission created by Section 5 (o) of
this Act. Thereafter, their employment shall be subject to such rules
and regulations as may be established by the said Commission*
, PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT ANY AGREEMENTS BE-
TWEEN THE CITY AND ANY LABOR GROUP REPRESENTA-
TIVE OF EMPLOYEES AT THE AIRPORT WHICH IS IN EX-
ISTENCE AT THE TIME THE AUTHORITY ASSUMES OPER-
ATION OF THE AIRPORT SHALL BECOME THE OBLIGATION
OF THE AUTHORITY.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the creation of the
Authority and the carrying out of the corporate purposes of the
Authority is in all respects for the benefit of the people of the State
and is for a public purpose. Accordingly, any and all real and
personal property (both tangible and intangible) and any and all
right, title and interest therein, gross receipts, gross or net income,
purchases, sales, franchises, licenses, operations, activities and func-
tions, owned or controlled, or received, or made, or performed or
carried on, by the Authority shall be and remain totally exempt from
any and all taxes, assessments, charges and fees of every kind,
now or hereafter in effect, imposed, levied or made by the State
of Maryland or any political subdivision, or any agency or instru-
mentality of any of them.

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1970.

Approved May 5, 1970