68

NEWS RELEASE ON LEGISLATION FOR
PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE

February 27, 1967

The Agnew administration's proposal for a People's Advocate, to
investigate complaints from the public against State agencies and
officials, will be introduced in both houses of the Maryland General
Assembly Monday night.

The legislation implements a major campaign proposal made by
Governor Agnew in the 1966 election to give the people a more ef-
fective means of "cutting through bureaucratic red tape. "

The People's Advocate would be a lawyer required to devote full
time to the State position. He would have the qualifications of a
judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals and would receive a salary
commensurate with that position.

People with complaints against the government or an official or
employee would lodge them with the Advocate, who would investigate
the complaint and recommend any corrections he deemed advisable.
He also would make studies of administrative practices in response
to complaints.

The People's Advocate would have jurisdiction over "every act or
omission of a public officer or employee of Maryland affecting a mem-
ber of the public. "

He could decline to investigate complaints where he felt there was
an otherwise adequate remedy available to the citizen, or when he
felt the complaint related to a policy of the General Assembly instead
of a State execution of that policy, or when he felt the complaint
was frivolous and not made in good faith, "or for any other good
reason. "

He would be required to afford an officer or employee of the govern-
ment a hearing before making an adverse report to the Governor. The
law would require that investigations resulting in an adverse recom-
mendation would not be made public except with consent of the
Governor. However, in a case involving misfeasance, malfeasance or

nonfeasance of the person involved, the Governor would be required

to make public the findings.

The People's Advocate would have subpoena powers and it would
be unlawful to obstruct his investigations.