(a)    Each political subdivision shall:

(1)    establish a local organization for emergency management in accordance with the State emergency management plan and program; and

(2)    participate in federal programs for emergency management.

(b)    (1)    On recommendation of the mayor, executive, or governing body of the political subdivision, the Governor shall appoint a director of emergency management for each local organization for emergency management.

(2)    Each director of a local organization for emergency management is directly responsible for the organization, administration, and operation of the local organization for emergency management.

(3)    Each director of a local organization for emergency management is subject to the direction and control of the mayor, executive, or governing body of the political subdivision, under the general power of the Governor.

(c)    (1)    Subject to the budget of the political subdivision, each local organization for emergency management shall include those programs and positions recommended periodically by MEMA to meet federal and State standards.

(2)    (i)    In a county in which there is a local merit system or classified service for the general employees of the county, the employees and officers of the local organization for emergency management are included in and subject to all rights, duties, privileges, and responsibilities of that system or service.

(ii)    Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not apply to the director of the local organization for emergency management.

(3)    (i)    If a county does not have a local merit system or classified service, the governing body of the county, or the board of estimates of Baltimore City, may include by regulation the employees and officers of the local organization for emergency management in the classified service of the State Personnel Management System.

(ii)    Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not apply to the director of the local organization for emergency management.

(iii)    1.    Except as otherwise provided by law, during the effective period of the regulation the employees and officers are subject to the rights, duties, privileges, and responsibilities of Division I of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.

2.    The governing body of the county or the Mayor of Baltimore is the appointing officer under Division I of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.

(4)    Paragraph (3) of this subsection does not remove from the governing body of a county or from the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore the power to establish and regulate the compensation, vacation allowance, or sick leave of all employees and officers of the local organization for emergency management in the county or Baltimore City.

(d)    Each political subdivision may make appropriations in the manner provided by law to pay the expenses of its local organization for emergency management.