Ch. 171                                    1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(10)   assess cost-efficiency incentives that would allow governmental units to:

(i) realign compensation structures to reward productivity increases
consistent with the attainment of mutually agreed upon service goals; and

(ii) carry forward savings from 1 year to the next that would not be
subject to the State's General Fund reversionary requirement under § 7-302 of the State
Finance and Procurement Article;

(11)   encourage the utilization of the State's Innovative Idea Award Program
and the Incentive Performance Awards Program for State employees under Title 8,
Subtitle 2 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article and assess the need for expanding
eligibility under these programs;

(12)   work with appropriate State and local officials:

(i) to assess the costs and benefits of existing State mandates imposed
on local governments and of proposals for helping to mitigate the fiscal implications of
the mandates;

(ii) to evaluate the funding and management of those county-funded
State entities specified in Article 24, § 8-101 of the Code;

(iii) as a substitute for individual State grant programs, to investigate
block grant funding proposals that afford greater flexibility at the local level for use of
grant funds;

(iv) to identify duplicative programs and services and determine which
level of government should be exclusively responsible for administration and funding of
these programs and services;

(v) to formulate short- and long-term strategies that focus on the
operating and capital budget needs of local governments and the extent, if any, to which
the State should be committed to help finance these needs; and

(vi) to determine appropriate changes, if any, to existing taxing
authorities; and

(13)   hold regular public hearings throughout the State for the purpose of
soliciting public input pertinent to cost efficiency in State government.]

(1)     SOLICIT IDEAS, PROPOSALS, AND SUGGESTIONS FROM THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND
CITIZENS OF THE STATE FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS FOR THE STATE TO MANAGE ITS
RESOURCES MORE EFFICIENTLY WHILE MAINTAINING QUALITY PROGRAMS AND
DELIVERY OF SERVICES;

(2)     REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF STATE GOVERNMENT;

(3)     EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
ALTERNATIVES REGARDING THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF STATE
PROGRAMS;

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