596                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 286

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 324(g) of the Code of Public Local Laws of Somerset
County (1963 Edition and 1970 Supplement), being Article 20 of the
Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland), title "Somerset County,"
subtitle "Tax Exemptions," be and it is hereby repealed and re-
enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

324.

(g) No tax exemption granted by the County Commissioners
under the authority of this section shall have any effect after
December 31, [1970] 1975.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the imme-
diate preservation of the public health and safety and having been
passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the
members elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly,
the same shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 29, 1971

CHAPTER 286
(House Bill 318)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 3(f) of
Article 25 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Supplement),
title "County Commissioners," subtitle "General Provisions," to
provide that the County Commissioners of Garrett County shall
institute a merit system for all county employees pursuant to cer-
tain reports, and to delete obsolete provisions relating to merit
system study commissions for Charles CALVERT and Garrett
Counties.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 3(f) of Article 25 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1970 Supplement), title "County Commissioners," subtitle "General
Provisions," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amend-
ments, to read as follows:

3.

(f) To establish a merit system in connection with the appoint-
ment of all county officials and employees not elected or appointed
under the Constitution or public general laws of the State, except
that this power is not available to the County Commissioners of
Dorchester County. This subsection shall be applicable in Queen
Anne's County, and the County Commissioners of Queen Anne's
County shall have the powers provided herein. [There is hereby
created in Calvert County a commission of nine persons, three of
whom shall be appointed by the County Commissioners of Calvert
County, three of whom shall be appointed by the Calvert County
delegation in the House of Delegates and three of whom shall be