in areas where asbestos may prove to be a poten-
tial health hazard. The Task Force resolved the is-
sue in September 1984 and concluded its work in
late 1984.

EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE
FEASIBILITY OF A BIENNIAL
BUDGET

Chairperson: H. Louis Stettler III, Secretary of
Budget and Fiscal Planning

Tyras S. Athey; Benjamin L. Cardin; Meyer M.
Emanuel; Robert W. Hearn; William S. James;
Helen L. Koss; Laurence Levitan; Edward J.
Mason; Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.; R. Clayton
Mitchell, Jr.; Dennis F. Rasmussen; Lawrence D.
Shubnell; Melvin A. Steinberg; Mildred L.
Tyssowski.

c/o Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning
Goldstein Treasury Building, 4th Floor
60 Calvert St.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 974-2114

The Governor established the Commission to
Study the Feasibility of a Biennial Budget in Au-
gust 1985.

A substantial portion of the State operating
budget is devoted to funding the continuing oper-
ation of State government and nondiscretionary
appropriations for programs, such as those deter-
mined by various formulas. In light of this, the
Committee was asked to ascertain if executive
branch development and legislative review of
those items could be done more efficiently on a bi-
ennial basis. The Committee also considered
whether a biennial process would enable agencies
to proceed with greater knowledge in administer-
ing programs and allow both the executive and
legislative branches greater opportunity for policy
development.

The Committee reported its findings in Decem-
ber 1985.

TASK FORCE ON CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT

Chairperson: Charles I. Shubin, M.D.
Vice-Chairperson: Gerald W. Winegrad
Staff: Carol J. Lawson; Frances F. May

Department of Legislative Reference
90 State Circle
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 841-3870

The Task Force reported to the Governor in
December 1983 and submitted a final report De-
cember 1985.

The Task Force recommended legislation, much
of which was enacted. Task Force proposals in-
cluded bills concerning investigations of reports of
child abuse; payment of medical examinations of
suspected abused or neglected children; custody
and visitation limits for allegedly abused children;
and penalties for not reporting suspected child
abuse or neglect. Proposed legislation also con-
cerned the competency of children to testify; use
of closed-circuit television for testimony; criminal
background checks on child care workers; and ad-
missability of an out-of-court statement by a vic-
tim of child abuse. In accordance with Task Force
recommendation, the Governor's Council on
Child Abuse and Neglect was created in 1986
within the Office of Children and Youth.

CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Chairperson: Charles H. Dorsey

Richard J. Bandelin; Kathleen O'Ferrall
Friedman; Elaine M. Fromm; A. Wade Kach;
David L. Levy; Kenneth M. Long, Jr.; Theresa A.
Nolan; Margaret J. Pecora; Paula J. Peters; Leslie
M. Pittler; Ida G. Ruben; William Schmidt;
Robert B. Watts; Thomas M. Yeager.

c/o Legal Aid Bureau
714 E. Pratt St.
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 383-4779

The Council submitted an interim report in Au-
gust 1984 and a final report on November 30,
1986. The Council's final report included recom-
mendations to improve the State child support
system by the creation of a family court; the
adoption of guidelines to establish child support
orders; an education program to teach parental
responsibility; and numerous administrative re-
forms.

COMMISSION ON COMPENSATION
AND PERSONNEL POLICIES

Chairperson: H. Louis Stettler III, Secretary of
Budget and Fiscal Planning