768                                      LAWS OF MARYLAND                              Ch. 355

AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS, AND SHALL TRANSFER ALL SUCH
EMPLOYEES TO THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT CREATED
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. ALL EMPLOYEES SO TRANSFERRED
SHALL BE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT LOSS OR DIMUNITION OR
REMUNERATION OF BENEFITS.

(4)    THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WITH THE ADVICE OF THE
SECRETARY, SHALL ASSIGN ONE OR MORE ASSISTANT
ATTORNEYS GENERAL TO THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT. SUCH
ASSISTANT OR ASSISTANTS SHALL DEVOTE FULL TIME TO THEIR
DUTIES WITH THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT AND SHALL HAVE
NO OTHER DUTIES OR ASSIGNMENTS. IF A GENERAL COUNSEL IS
APPOINTED FOR THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 41
SECTION 71(D), THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL ASSIGNED TO
THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT SHALL BE UNDER THE CONTROL
AND SUPERVISION OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL. THE SECRETARY
MAY ENTER INTO ARRANGEMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER
ATTORNEYS TO HANDLE COLLECTIONS ON AN AGREED CASE BY
CASE BASIS WHERE IT IS NOT FEASIBLE FOR THE ASSISTANT
ATTORNEYS GENERAL ASSIGNED TO THE CENTRAL COLLECTION
UNIT TO HANDLE THE PARTICULAR CASE OR CASES.

(5)    EVERY STATE AGENCY AND OFFICIAL SHALL PROMPTLY
REFER TO THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT ALL DELINQUENT
DEBTS AND ACCOUNTS AND ALL DATA, RECORDS, AND
INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR THE COLLECTION OF SUCH DEBTS
AND ACCOUNTS. NO STATE AGENCY OR OFFICIAL SHALL
HEREAFTER COMPROMISE, SETTLE OR WAIVE ANY DELINQUENT
DEBT OR ACCOUNT. ALL STATE AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS
CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN THE COLLECTION OF DEBTS AND
DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS SHALL TURN OVER TO THE CENTRAL
COLLECTION UNIT, ALL PROPERTY, FURNITURE, MOVABLE
FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT USED BY THE EMPLOYEES
TRANSFERRED TO THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT PURSUANT
TO THIS SECTION, AS WELL AS ALL DATA, RECORDS, AND
INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR THE COLLECTION OF DEBTS AND
ACCOUNTS CURRENTLY BEING PROCESSED BY SUCH AGENCIES
AND OFFICIALS. ANY UNEXPENDED APPROPRIATIONS AND
MONEYS IN THE CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF ANY STATE AGENCY
OR OFFICIAL APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING
THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT DEBTS AND ACCOUNTS SHALL
BE TRANSFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND FISCAL
PLANNING FOR THE USE OF THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT.

(6)     NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY TO THE
COLLECTION OF TAXES, AND THAT FUNCTION SHALL REMAIN
WITH THE COMPTROLLER AND NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO THE
CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 7(f) of
Article 27A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1972 Supplement), title "Public
Defender," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read
as follows: