Marvin Mandel, Governor                         137

CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENTS, OF-
FICES, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND AGENCIES WHICH
CONSTITUTE PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GEN-
ERAL SERVICES SHALL RETAIN THEIR MERIT SYSTEM
STATUS, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PRO-
VIDED IN THIS ACT.

Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That all persons who are as of
July 31, 1970, classified employees of the Department of Public Im-
provements are hereby confirmed in the position and classification

which they hold as of July 31, 1970, as classified employees of the

Department of General Services until they retire, resign or are re-

moved as provided by law, and all persons who are as of July 31,
1970, classified employees of any other board, commission, or agency

abolished by this Act, shall retain their merit system status and

shall be entitled to all the rights conferred upon such employees by

Article 41, Section 6, of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Sec. 11 10. And be it further enacted, That all books, papers, files
records, furniture, fixtures, and all other personal property owned
by or in the custody, as of July 31, 1970, of any department, board,
commission or agency abolished by this Act, shall be transferred to
and be in the ownership or custody of the Department of General
Services created in this Act.

Sec. 12 11. And be it further enacted, That all appropriations and
credits on the books, papers, and accounts of any department or other
agency of this State, as of July 31, 1970, for and to the credit of any
department, board, commission or agency abolished by this Act, and
all liabilities and obligations as of July 31, 1970, of any department,
board, commission or agency abolished by this Act, shall be trans-
ferred to and become the appropriations, credits, liabilities, and
obligations of the Department of General Services herein created.

Sec. 13 12. And be it further enacted, That all forms of the boards,
commissions, offices or other agencies included within the Depart-
ment of General Services existing on July 31, 1970, together with
all rules, regulations, orders and other directives relating thereto, or
promulgated thereby, and then in effect, shall continue in force
pending exercise by the Secretary or the boards, commissions, offices
or agencies of the powers, duties and responsibilities vested in him
or them by this Act or by other provisions of law.

Sec. 14 13. And be it further enacted, That all rules, regulations,
forms, orders and directives promulgated by or in effect for any
department, board, commission, office or other agency abolished by
this Act, shall continue in force unless and until changed by the
Secretary or the successor agency.

Sec. 15 14. And be it further enacted, That if any part of this
act, or any section or part of the section thereof, shall be held to be
unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such unconstitutionally
or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Act, or any
section or part of a section hereof, the General Assembly hereby
declaring that it would have passed the remaining parts of this act,
or sections or parts of sections hereof, if such unconstitutionality or
invalidity had been known; and to this end, all parts, sections, and
parts of sections of this act are declared to be severable.