1704                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 776

(e) The council may employ such staff, and consult and retain
such experts, as it deems necessary.

(f)(l) [the] The governing bodies of the [member] partici-
pating governments may appropriate funds to meet the expenses of
the council. Services of personnel, use of equipment and office
space, and other necessary services may be accepted from [members]
participating governments as part of their financial support.

(2)    The council may accept funds, grants, gifts, and services
from the government of the United States or its agencies, and from
the State of Maryland or its departments, agencies or instrumen-
talities, or from any governmental unit whether participating in the
council or not, and from private and civic sources.

(3)    It shall make an annual report of its activities to the [mem-
ber] participating governments.

(g) The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments oper-
ating under the provisions of this section shall be entitled to receive
State financial support to assist it in carrying out its activities on the
basis of fifty per centum of the per capita contributions of the partici-
pating MARYLAND governments in the council; provided, however,
that the State contribution shall not exceed an amount equal to the
sum computed on the basis of five thousand dollars ($5,000) THREE
THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED ($3,200) for each fifty thousand
(50,000) persons residing in the participating MARYLAND govern-
ments in the council. THIS AMOUNT SHALL BE INCLUDED IN
THE ANNUAL STATE BUDGET AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO
REVIEW BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1971.

Approved May 28, 1971.

CHAPTER 776
(House Bill 265)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections
317-1(g), 317-5(a), 317-21, 317-35, 317-39, 317-51, 317-56(c),
317-66, 317-79, and 318-82(a) 317-82(A) of Article 41 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1965 Replacement Volume and
1970 Supplement), title "Governor—Executive and Administra-
tive Department," subtitle "Washington Metropolitan Area Tran-
sit Authority Compact," AND TO ADD A NEW SECTION 317-56
(E) TO SAID ARTICLE AND SUBTITLE, TO FOLLOW IM-
MEDIATELY AFTER SECTION 317-56(D) THEREOF, to
permit the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to
perform charter service, to operate its facilities directly or by
contract, to operate buses and to acquire any transit company by
condemnation; to eliminate the six per centum interest limitation
imposed on the revenue bonds and temporary borrowings of the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; to permit an