HARRY HUGHES, Governor

611

2.

(a)  All assessors engaged in performing assessment
functions shall on and after July 1, 1974 be employees of the
State of Maryland, except to the extent otherwise provided
herein.

(b)  All assessors, who on July 1, 1974 have been so
employed by any county or Baltimore City for at least six months
prior thereto, may elect, within sixty days after July 1, 1974,
to remain thereafter as a member of or subject to the merit,
classification or salary system, pension or retirement system,
and health benefit system of the counties or Baltimore City and
shall not be subject to the applicable system of the State of
Maryland.

(c)  All assessors who elect under subsection (b) above to
remain in a local salary system and subject to a local pension or
retirement system, and health benefit system shall be eligible to
receive any salary increases or change in benefits applicable
after July 1, 1974 to all employees in the local system. Any
salary increases or change in benefits applicable to less than
all the employees in the local system which are applicable to
assessors shall be effective for them only upon approval of the
increases or change in benefits by the Secretary of Personnel.
For the purpose of achieving organizational uniformity with the
State classification, system, the State Department of Assessments
and Taxation with the approval of the Secretary of Personnel, may
initiate changes to the classification and salary of assessors
who have elected to remain as a member of or subject to the
classification and salary system of the counties or Baltimore
City. Any assessor who elects to remain in a local system shall
be entitled to receive the benefits of that system, and shall not
share in any benefit of a system provided for State employees.

(d)  All assessors who on July 1, 1974 become subject to any
of the provisions of the State Merit System Law under Article 64A
of this Code shall become members of the Employees' Retirement
System on July 1, 1974 and shall be placed in that position which
is comparable or which most closely compares with his former
position, without further examination or qualification, and
without diminution or loss of any benefits to which entitled
prior to July 1, 1974. All assessors who were members of a local
actuarial system prior to becoming subject to the State employees
pension system under Article 73B of this Code shall be credited
with all prior service rendered by them to the counties or
Baltimore City to which they were entitled prior to July 1, 1974
for purposes of retirement and death benefits and rates of
contribution under Article 73B. Provided however that until July
1, 1976 or until the State salary rate equals at least 90% of the
applicable local salary rate for comparable assessor positions,
whichever is sooner, such assessors and assessors hired after
July 1, 1974 shall be paid at the applicable local salary system
rate. Any assessor who elects to transfer to the State shall
receive those benefits provided for by the State under Articles