BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                         1719

defendants have been served by a subpoena or in any other
manner provided by law, shall have the force and effect of a
judgment in personam and the County Commissioners may sue,
or file a bill in equity to enforce said liens against the
owner of record at the time that suit is filed or any owner
of record between said dates, and publication thereon shall
be notice to all persons having any interest in the
property.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1978.

Approved May 16, 1978.

CHAPTER 523

(Senate Bill 955)

AN ACT concerning

State Employees - Defense of Sovereign Immunity

FOR the purpose of prohibiting the appointing authorities of
State government from invoking the doctrine of
sovereign immunity at an administrative or judicial
proceeding concerning disciplinary charges against a
State employee under the Merit System.

BY adding to

Article 64A - Merit System

Section 56

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 64A - Merit System

56.

IN ANY ADMINISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL PROCEEDING HELD
PURSUANT TO THIS OR ANY OTHER ARTICLE OR PURSUANT TO THE
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF PERSONNEL, WHERE
CHARGES FOR SEPARATION, DISCIPLINARY SUSPENSIONS, AND
INVOLUNTARY DEMOTIONS OF STATE EMPLOYEES ARE TO BE
ADJUDICATED, THE DEFENSE OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY IS NOT
AVAILABLE TO THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act