Section 8-205 - Secretaries of principal departments; powers and duties. - Maryland Statutes

§ 8-205. Secretaries of principal departments; powers and duties.
 

(a)  Serving at the pleasure of the Governor.- The secretary of each principal department serves at the pleasure of the Governor unless otherwise provided by law. 

(b)  Duties.- A secretary shall: 

(1) receive the salary and have the assistants, employees, and professional consultants provided in the budget, unless otherwise provided by law; 

(2) be responsible for establishing policy to be followed by the units of State government within the secretary's department; 

(3) be responsible for the efficient and orderly administration of the department; 

(4) be responsible for the comprehensive planning of programs and services within the secretary's jurisdiction and for reviewing and approving the plans of all units of State government within the secretary's jurisdiction; 

(5) be responsible for the budget of the secretary's office and for the budgets of other units of State government within the secretary's jurisdiction; 

(6) be responsible for the organization of the secretary's office and for recommending to the Governor changes in the organization and placement of units of State government within the secretary's jurisdiction; and 

(7) recommend to the Governor any modification, abolition, and transfer of advisory bodies within the secretary's jurisdiction. 

(c)  Powers.- A secretary may: 

(1) appoint officers and employees in the secretary's office as provided in the budget and review the personnel action taken by any unit of State government within the secretary's jurisdiction; and 

(2) create the citizen advisory bodies that may be necessary for the operation of the secretary's department. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 41, § 1-201; 1997, ch. 31, § 1.]