Marvin Mandel, Governor                         945

61.

The Maryland State Fair Board, to be composed of nine members,
is hereby created as part of the Department of Agriculture. Said
members shall be representative of all phases of the agricultural
interest of this State, shall serve without compensation and shall be
appointed by the Governor, with the advice of the Secretary of
Agriculture. [Upon the appointment of the original members to said
Board, the Governor, shall designate three of such members to serve
for one year, three to serve for two years and three to serve for
three years from July 1, 1947. Thereafter the] The term of office
of members shall be three years, but members appointed to fill va-
cancies in unexpired terms shall serve for the remainder of such
terms. Each member shall serve after expiration of his term until
his successor qualifies.

62.

The Board shall annually elect a chairman from among its mem-
bers. Meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and places
as the chairman or Secretary of Agriculture may designate by notice
to the members. Six members shall constitute a quorum, but action
by the Board shall require assent of a majority of all its members.
The Board shall keep a complete record of its proceedings and shall,
on or before December first in each year, make an annual report
of its activities and expenditures to the Governor and General As-
sembly. The Board, subject to the approval of the Secretary of
Agriculture, shall have the power and authority to employ such clerks,
stenographers, field representatives, assistants and other employees
as it may deem necessary in order to perform the duties of and
exercise the powers conferred upon the Board by the provisions of
this subheading and as may be provided in the State budget. The
Board shall establish a permanent office and shall be supplied with
all appliances and incidentals necessary for the proper discharge
of its duties. The salaries or compensation of all clerks, stenogra-
phers, field representatives, assistants, and other employees of the
Board, and the cost of maintaining and supplying the permanent
office of the Board shall be paid from such funds as shall be provided
in the State budget.

63.

It shall be the function of the Board to encourage and foster
agriculture in this State through promotion and assistance of agri-
culture fairs, exhibits, or other activities. For this purpose, the Board,
subject to approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, shall have sole
and complete control of the distribution of and expenditure of all
funds allocated to it by the provisions of Sections 15 and 22 of
Article 78B of this Code, for the payment of premium awards, pro-
motional and educational activities or otherwise, either in connection
with a bona fide agricultural fair, exhibit or activity, as determined
by the Board, or in connection with one State fair each year, as
designated by the Board. The Board shall, subject to approval of
the Secretary of Agriculture, from time to time, promulgate rules
and regulations to govern the conduct, qualifications and requirements
of agricultural fairs, exhibits or activities to which allocations or
distributions may be made as provided in this section, and no such
agricultural fair, exhibit, or activity shall be entitled to receive any