516                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 220

Code of Maryland (1968 Replacement Volume), title "Maryland
Port Authority," subtitle "Powers generally," subheading "Con-
tracts," ADMINISTRATION," be and the same is hereby repealed
and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

5.

(s) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary
or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of
its powers under this article; provided, however, that all projects
involving construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement
and repair of port facilities, including the dredging of ship channels
and turning basins and the filling and grading of land, which con-
tracts involve the expenditure of five thousand dollars or more, shall
be performed by private industry and contracts for the same shall
be awarded on the basis of the lowest responsible bid received there-
for in response to an invitation for bids published at least twice
in two newspapers having general circulation in the State of Mary-
land, provided, however, that development work not susceptible to
accurate bidding may be awarded by negotiation; and, provided
further, that [all of said contracts for said projects which are to
be performed in, on, upon, or in connection with the port of Balti-
more in the Patapsco River estuary shall require the payment of
wage rates in an amount not less than the schedules of minimum
hourly wage rates, including minimum hourly wage rates for over-
time work, established from time to time by the board of estimates
of the City of Baltimore pursuant to Article 1 of the Baltimore
City Code (1950 Edition), title "Mayor and City Council," subtitle
"City Contracts," subheading "Hours and Wages," as heretofore
amended and as the same may be hereafter amended, for the classi-
fications of laborers, mechanics, and apprentices, required to per-
form said projects, as established by the said board pursuant to the
said ordinance, and said contracts shall specifically set forth the
said schedules of minimum hourly wage rates and the said classi-
fications;] with respect to all of the contracts for projects, except
contracts of less than $500,000.00, the Authority shall be considered
to be a "public body" within the meaning of Article 100, Section
96 (d) of this Code, title "Work, Labor and Employment," subtitle
"Contracts for Public Works," whether or not the projects are
funded in whole or in part out of public funds, and without regard
to the source of the funding of the Authority, and as a "public body,"
the Authority shall comply with all of the requirements relating to
"public bodies" as set forth in said subtitle, as amended and as the
same may be amended.

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

Approved April 29, 1971

CHAPTER 220
(Senate Bill 128)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 96 (d)
of Article 100 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Supple-
ment), title "Work, Labor and Employment," subtitle "Contracts