994                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 348

(c)  To keep itself fully informed of the activities of the Depart-
ment and to receive periodic and special reports concerning the cur-
rent operations of the Department.

(d)  To consider the needs for further resource development in
the Chesapeake Bay and other tidal waters of the State from the
points of view of the several economic and social interests of its
people and to recommend to the Director long-range plans and pro-
grams of the Department.

(e)  To advise the Director, whenever he so requests, with respect
to rules and regulations which the Director shall promulgate pur-
suant to the authority granted by the laws of Maryland and which
the Director shall modify or amend from time to time as may be
necessary or proper in order to carry out the responsibilities of the
Department. The rules and regulations established by the Director
with the advice of the Commission shall include but not be limited
to those deemed necessary and proper for governing or restricting
the taking or catching of fish, shellfish, and other resources, the
possession thereof, or the method by which the same may be taken,
or the opening or closing of any specified areas for the taking or
catching of fish, shellfish, and other resources, or prohibiting or
restricting devices used for the taking or catching of fish, shellfish,
or other resources, or establishing seasons for taking same or estab-
lishing minimum size limits for fish, shellfish, and other resources.
Rules and regulations promulgated shall be subject to the provisions
of the Administrative Procedure Act and other rule-making require-
ments imposed by law. Nothing contained herein shall be construed
to grant any power to change or modify any law enacted by the
General Assembly of Maryland either before or after the passage
of this subheading.

(f)  To review the annual budget request of the Department and
to advise the Director with respect to any items reflecting changes
in established programs or objectives before October 1 of each year.

(g)   To assist the Director in fostering public awareness and
understanding of the objectives and functions of the Department,
and in stimulating public participation and interest in orderly inte-
grated resource development within the Chesapeake Bay and coastal
regions.

(h) To hold public hearings and to sponsor meetings subject to
the approval of the Director, when deemed necessary or useful in
the execution of its duties.

(i) Except as provided in this section, all other powers and duties
exercised and performed by the Commission or its chairman pur-
suant to any provisions of law shall, from and after July 1, 1969,
be exercised and performed by the Director.]

[10.

(a) The Governor shall appoint, upon the recommendation of the
Secretary of Natural Resources, a competent person with the quali-
fications prescribed herein as Director of the Department of Chesa-
peake Bay Affairs. The Director shall be the head of the Department
and shall personally direct its operations and activities. The Director
shall be a person with executive ability and experience, and shall