136                              Laws of Maryland                         Ch. 97

"PUBLIC WORKS," SUBTITLE "ARTISTIC PROPERTY," BE
AND THE SAME IS HEREBY REPEALED AND REENACTED,
WITH AMENDMENTS, TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

(A)     THE [BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS] SECRETARY OF
GENERAL SERVICES, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE GOV-
ERNOR, SHALL APPOINT THREE PERSONS AS A COMMIS-
SION ON ARTISTIC PROPERTY, TO KEEP A CONTINUING
INVENTORY OF VALUABLE PAINTINGS AND OTHER DECO-
RATIVE ARTS IN ALL STATE BUILDINGS AND PREMISES
IN THE ANNAPOLIS AREA; SAID COMMISSION TO BE PART
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES. THE COM-
MISSION ALSO SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE LOCATION,
PROPER CARE, CUSTODY, RESTORATION, DISPLAY, AND
PRESERVATION OF THESE PAINTINGS AND OTHER DECO-
RATIVE ARTS.

(B)     THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL SERVE
AT THE PLEASURE OF THE [BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS]
SECRETARY OF GENERAL SERVICES. THEY SHALL RE-
CEIVE NO SALARY BUT MAY BE COMPENSATED FROM
TIME TO TIME FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES INCURRED
IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES. FROM TIME TO
TIME THE SECRETARY OF GENERAL SERVICES, WITH THE
APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR, SHALL APPOINT ONE
MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION TO SERVE AS ITS CHAIR-
MAN.

(C)    THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE SUCH STAFF AND
FUNDS AS PROVIDED IN THE BUDGET. ALSO, AND WITH
THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY OF GENERAL SERV-
ICES OR THE GOVERNOR, THE COMMISSION, ON BEHALF
OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, MAY RECEIVE AND ACCEPT
GIFTS AND LOANS OF PAINTINGS AND OTHER DECORATIVE
ARTS, THEREAFTER CARING FOR THESE OBJECTS AS PART
OF THE COMMISSION'S REGULAR DUTIES.

(D)     THE COMMISSION, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE
GOVERNOR, MAY ACCEPT GIFTS OF MONEY FROM ANY
SOURCE, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, AND THEREAFTER AD-
MINISTER AND EXPEND THE FUNDS ACCORDING TO THE
CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF THE GIFT.

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That all persons who are as of
July 31, 1970, members, officers and employees of all departments,
offices, boards, commissions and agencies included within the De-
partment of General Services are hereby confirmed in the office, posi-

tion and classification which they hold as of July 31, 1970, as mem-

bers, officers and employees of such departments, offices, boards

commissions and agencies, except as otherwise provided in this Act
or until they retire, resign or are removed as provided by law, or

until the terms to which they were appointed expire.        JULY 31,

1970, CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES OF ANY DEPARTMENT,
BOARD, COMMISSION, OFFICE, OR AGENCY ABOLISHED
BY THIS ACT ARE HEREBY TRANSFERRED TO THE DE-
PARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES CREATED HEREIN,
WITHOUT ANY CHANGE OR LOSS OF RIGHTS OR STATUS,
AND SHALL RETAIN THEIR MERIT SYSTEM STATUS
SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, AND ALL