722                               Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 351

(c)  All employees of the boards of supervisors EXCEPT JUDGES
OF ELECTIONS as of December 31, 1971, as well as other ap-
plicants for positions held by such employees, shall no later than
July 1, JANUARY 31, 1972, be administered a competitive qualify-
ing examination by the Secretary of Personnel. Any incumbent
employee, who passes the examination and ranks within the top
five (5) qualifying eligibles-, shall be retained in his position. Any
existing employee, who fails to pass the examination for who fails to
rank within the top five (5) qualifying eligibles, shall be terminated
from employment with the board no later than August MARCH 1,
1972, and a vacancy shall be deemed to exist.

(d)   Upon the occurrence of a vacancy, the Secretary of Personnel
shall certify to the board of supervisors a list of five (5) qualified
eligibles for such vacancy, or such lesser number as may be on the
eligible list. The board of supervisors shall select from the list a
person to fill the vacancy, who shall hold the position for the pro-
bationary period established by the Secretary of Personnel.

(E)   IN THOSE COUNTIES WHICH HAVE ADMINISTERED
QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS TO INCUMBENT EMPLOYEES
OF THE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS, UNDER
A LOCAL MERIT SYSTEM, WHICH EXAMINATIONS ARE
APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF PERSONNEL, IT SHALL
NOT BE NECESSARY FOR THE INCUMBENT EMPLOYEES
TO BE RE-EXAMINED FOR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE
PROVISION OF THIS SECTION AND THE EMPLOYEES SHALL
BE RETAINED IN THEIR POSITION AND CONSIDERED TO
BE QUALIFIED UNDER THIS SECTION.

(F)   IN ANY COUNTY WHERE EMPLOYEES OF THE GOV-
ERNMENT OF THE COUNTY ARE COVERED BY A MERIT
SYSTEM, THE BOARD FOR THAT COUNTY MAY CHOOSE,
BY RESOLUTION DATED NO LATER THAN AUGUST 1, 1971,
TO APPLY TO BE COVERED BY THE LOCAL MERIT SYSTEM
RATHER THAN THE STATE CLASSIFIED SERVICE. THE
AFORESAID RESOLUTION OF APPLICATION SHALL BE
FORWARDED TO THE SECRETARY OF PERSONNEL OF THE
STATE OF MARYLAND AND TO THE STATE ADMINISTRA-
TIVE BOARD OF ELECTION LAWS. THE SECRETARY OF
PERSONNEL SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE
LOCAL MERIT SYSTEM IS A BONA FIDE ONE, PROVIDING
APPROPRIATE STANDARDS FOR QUALIFICATION, EM-
PLOYMENT AND COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES. ON OR
BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 1971, HE SHALL COMMUNICATE HIS
DECISION TO THE BOARD WHICH MADE AFORESAID AP-
PLICATION AND TO THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD
OF ELECTION LAWS. IF THE SECRETARY OF PERSONNEL
RULES THAT THE LOCAL SYSTEM MEETS APPROPRIATE
STANDARDS, THE BOARD'S APPLICATION TO BE INCLUDED
IN THE LOCAL RATHER THAN STATE CLASSIFIED SERVICE
SHALL BE DEEMED APPROVED AND, BEGINNING JANUARY
1, 1972, ALL PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF SAID BOARD
SHALL BE IN THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE OF THE LOCAL
PERSONNEL SYSTEM.

(G)  ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ELECT TO TRANSFER TO THE
LEAVE SYSTEM OF THE STATE SHALL BE GIVEN CREDIT
FOR PRIOR SERVICE WITH SUCH PRIOR EMPLOYER FOR