786                               Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 380

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

Approved May 6, 1971.

CHAPTER 380
(Senate Bill 526)

AN ACT to add new Section 25D to Article 64A of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1970 Supplement), title "Merit System," to
follow immediately after Section 25C thereof, transferring to the
State Merit System those employees of the Prince George's County
Division of Air Pollution Control who apply for appointment and
relating generally to job classification, benefits and compensation.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 25D be and it is hereby added to Article 64A of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Supplement), title "Merit
System," to follow immediately after Section 25C thereof, and to
read as follows:

25D.

Any employee of the Prince George's County Division of Air
Pollution Control, who, while so employed, applies to the Secretary
of Personnel for appointment under the State merit system on or
before July 1, 1971, will be so appointed, provided that he has the
approval of the Health Officer of Prince George's County, and with-
out further examination or qualification he will be classified in the
job classification under the State merit system which is comparable
or which most closely compares with his last job classification as a
Prince George's County employee. An employee appointed to the State
merit system under this section will be given credit thereunder for
the years of service rendered in Prince George's County for the pur-
poses of establishing retirement and death benefits, compensation
rates, including longevity steps, and the basic rates for vacation and
sick leave credit earnings. AND FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULAT-
ING HIS RATE OF CONTRIBUTION INTO THE STATE EM-
PLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM. No employee who has been
transferred from the Prince George's County Division of Air Pollu-
tion Control will receive any diminution in compensation solely as a
result of the transfer and appointment.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby de-
clared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the immediate
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 May 6, 1971.