1430                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 672

CHAPTER 672
(Senate Bill 707)

AN ACT to repeal Section 409 of Article 41 of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1970 Supplement), title "Governor—Executive and
Administrative Departments," subtitle "Commission on Negro
History and Culture," and to enact new Section 409 in lieu thereof,
to stand in the place of the section repealed, creating a new Com-
mission on Negro History and Culture to exist for a three-year
period, defining its composition, purposes, powers and duties, and
providing for the transfer of assets to the new Commission, and
providing that this Act is an emergency measure.

Whereas Chapter 435 of the Acts of 1969 established a "Com-
mission on Negro History and Culture" to study Negro history and
culture and to report its findings and recommendations to the Gov-
ernor and General Assembly; and

Whereas Chapter 129 of the Acts of 1970 extended the life of the
Commission to the end of the 1971 session of the Maryland General
Assembly; and

Whereas the Commission has faithfully carried out its duties and
has discerned on the part of Marylanders, white and black, a ground-
swell of interest in black history and culture as evidenced by the
response to thousands of questionnaires distributed throughout the
State by the Commission; now, therefore

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 409 of Article 41 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1970 Supplement), title "Governor—Executive and Administrative
Departments," subtitle "Commission on Negro History and Culture,"
be and it is hereby repealed and that new Section 409 be and it is
hereby enacted in lieu thereof, to stand in the place of the section
so repealed, and to read as follows:

[409.

(a)  Creation and composition; appointment of members; chair-
man and vice-chairman; quorum; meetings.—There is created a com-
mission to be known as the Commission on Negro History and
Culture (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission"). The Com-
mission shall be composed of seven members, appointed by the Gov-
ernor from persons who are authorities on Negro history and culture.
The Governor shall designate one of the members of the Commission
as chairman, and one as vice-chairman. Four members of the Com-
mission shall constitute a quorum. The Commission shall meet at the
call of the chairman or at the call of a majority of the members
thereof.

(b)  Employees.—The Commission shall have the power to appoint
and fix the compensation of such personnel, as it deems advisable.
The Commission may procure the temporary or intermittent services
of experts or consultants.

(c)  Duties.—The Commission shall conduct a study of all proposals
to create a better understanding and knowledge of Negro history
and culture and shall make a recommendation to the Governor and to