1378                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                  Ch. 538

(B) THE BOARD MAY EMPLOY THE ADDITIONAL STAFF
PROVIDED FOR IN THE STATE BUDGET. THE COMMISSIONER AND
ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE BOARD ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
MEMBERSHIP IN AND [[MAY]] SHALL BECOME MEMBERS OF THE
TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR THE STATE EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM. HOWEVER, EMPLOYEES HOLDING POSITIONS
DETERMINED BY THE BOARD [[OF TRUSTEES OF THE TEACHERS'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM]] TO BE PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS MAY, IN
LIEU OF THIS MEMBERSHIP, BECOME MEMBERS OF AN OPTIONAL
RETIREMENT PROGRAM PROVIDED FOR IN §217 OF ARTICLE 77.

30.   DUTIES OF BOARD; DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN.

(A)    THE BOARD, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE VARIOUS
INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION IN THE STATE, SHALL INVESTIGATE AND EVALUATE ON
A CONTINUING BASIS:

(1)    THE PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE FOR POSTSECONDARY TRAINING AND RESEARCH
FACILITIES; AND

(2)    THE PRESENT AND FUTURE CAPABILITIES OF
THE VARIOUS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES
OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN MARYLAND TO MEET THOSE
NEEDS.

(B)    IN CONSULTATION WITH THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS
AND AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN
THE STATE, THE BOARD SHALL DEVELOP AN OVERALL PLAN,
SETTING FORTH ON BOTH A LONG RANGE AND SHORT RANGE BASIS,
THE OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
AND METHODS AND GUIDELINES FOR ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING
THOSE OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES. THE PLAN SHALL INCLUDE
AN IDENTIFICATION OF THE ROLE, FUNCTION, AND MISSION OF
EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE
STATE. THE BOARD SHALL ALSO DEVELOP SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR
CHANGING THE STATUS, NAME, OR METHOD OF GOVERNANCE OF
THESE INSTITUTIONS. IF AND AS ANY OF THE PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION QUALIFY FOR ANY
OF THESE CHANGES UNDER THE CRITERIA ADOPTED BY THE BOARD,
THE BOARD SHALL MAKE APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(C)    THE BOARD SHALL SUBMIT ITS INITIAL PLAN TO THE
GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY JULY 1, 1978, AND
SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF IT BY EACH JULY 1,
THEREAFTER. THE INITIAL PLAN AND THE ANNUAL REVIEW SHALL
INCLUDE A REPORT ON THE STATUS AND NEEDS OF POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION IN MARYLAND.

31.   DUTIES OF BOARD; COORDINATION AND APPROVAL OF PUBLIC
PROGRAMS.

(A) THE BOARD SHALL COORDINATE THE OVERALL GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN MARYLAND.
IT SHALL, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, CONSULT WITH THE
AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY ITS