260

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 50

Services] HUMAN RESOURCES as set forth in Article 41 of this
Code or elsewhere in the laws of Maryland.

363.

(a)   The Office shall maintain liaison with the
Federal [Office of Economic Opportunity] COMMUNITY SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION, county and city commissions on economic
opportunity, citizens groups and all other agencies of the
State, federal, county and municipal governments and it
shall consult with and advise these local groups on their
programs on economic opportunity and shall work at all
levels of government to administer and implement the Federal
HEADSTART, Economic Opportunity AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
Act OF 1974 and program.

(b)   The Office shall collect and assemble pertinent
information and data available from other departments and
agencies of the State and federal governments and shall
disseminate information in the interest of economic
opportunity programs in this State by publication,
advertisement, conferences, workshops, programs, lectures
and other means.

(c)   The Office may employ professional, technical,
clerical, stenographic, and other personnel to carry out its
duties and functions within the limits of budgetary
appropriations from time to time. The employees of the
Office, except the Director and deputy director, shall be
subject to the provisions contained in Article 64A of the
Code, title "Merit System." Any employee of the Office who
is eligible for transfer to the State Merit System, and who
has held this position for at least six (6) months, shall be
so transferred without further probation, examination, or
qualification. An employee transferred to the State Merit
System, pursuant to this subsection shall be transferred in
the respective job classification under which he is employed
at the time of transfer and shall not receive any diminution
in compensation and/or respective amounts of accumulated
leave or sick leave, solely as a result of this transfer.

(d)   In the performance of its duties, the Office is
hereby authorized and empowered to make and enter into
contracts and to assume such other functions as are
necessary to carry out the provisions of this subtitle that
are not inconsistent with this or other acts. The Office
may make and enter into contracts with other boards,
commissions, agencies and institutions of this State, other
states and the federal government, upon such terms as may be
eventually agreed upon, to have such studies and research
activities as may be necessary and proper, and is authorized
to pay the cost thereof out of funds which may be
appropriated to the Office.

364.