46                                           LAWS OF MARYLAND                               [Ch. 2

(A)   OFFICE EQUIPMENT.

[[SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE COURT,]] A CLERK MAY
USE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS TO AID HIM IN

THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES, AND , SUBJECT TO

APPROVAL BY THE COURT, MAY CHANGE THE SYSTEM OF

INDEXING RECORDS IN HIS OFFICE TO A MORE MODERN AND
EFFICIENT SYSTEM.

(B)   COST OF EQUIPMENT.

EXCEPT IN THE DISTRICT COURT, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
OF THE COMPTROLLER, THE COST OF OFFICE EXPENSES AND
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT USED BY A CLERK TO PERFORM HIS
DUTIES SHALL BE ALLOWED AS EXPENSES OF HIS OFFICE.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language
derived from Art. 17, §§ 1 and 2 and Art.
75, §90. Sec. 2 presently applies only to
circuit court clerks, however, clerks of
any court, subject to the approval of the
judges, probably have the authority to
modernize their indexing systems, even
without specific statutory authority. See
Art. 26, §149(d). Therefore, it seems
appropriate to expand this section to apply
to clerks of all courts.

This section is shortened by omitting the
list of specific items for which the clerk
may expend money (i.e., books, racks,
shelves, and other supplies). As more
modern storage systems, such as microfilm,
are developed, this listing might
unintentionally limit the employment of
modern methods.

The requirement that this reindexing be
budgeted from the excess fees of the clerks
office is deleted as obsolete. The
Comptroller's office expresses the opinion
that reindexing may be done even if there
are no excess fees.

An exception for the District Court is
contained in subsection (b) because that
court is separately budgeted, and not
funded through the Comptroller's office.

SEC. 2-203. INSPECTION OF RECORDS.