HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                       549

for information processing master plans. The Secretary shall
continuously study the information processing function within the
State in order to improve its efficiency and economy. All
changes effected by any department or agency pertaining to
information processing shall first be reviewed and approved by
the Secretary for compatibility with existing information
processing master plans and current procedures and equipment.
The purchase, lease, or rental of mechanical or electronic
information processing equipment and associated services for all
State departments and agencies shall be reviewed and approved by
the Secretary prior to the purchase, lease, or rental. However,
the Secretary, by rule or regulation, may delegate procurement
functions to the head of any other State agency which has an
information processing master plan approved by the Secretary and
such procurements are consistent with that plan.

(b) This section does not apply to changes pertaining to or
to the purchase, lease, or rental of mechanical or electronic
data or information processing equipment and related services by
the University College of the University of Maryland for use in
its overseas programs.

(C) (1) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO MECHANICAL OR
ELECTRONIC INFORMATION PROCESSING EQUIPMENT AND ASSOCIATED
SERVICES TO BE USED SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL ACADEMIC OR RESEARCH
PURPOSES BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION OR THEIR
GOVERNING BOARDS.

(2)  PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THEIR
GOVERNING BOARDS MAY PURCHASE, LEASE, OR RENT MECHANICAL OR
ELECTRONIC INFORMATION PROCESSING EQUIPMENT AND ASSOCIATED
SERVICES TO BE USED SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL ACADEMIC OR RESEARCH
PURPOSES WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY.

(3)  MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC INFORMATION PROCESSING
EQUIPMENT AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES, WHICH ARE TO BE USED IN WHOLE
OR PART FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USE BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION OR THEIR GOVERNING BOARDS, DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE
PURPOSES OF PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1984.

Approved May 8, 1984.

CHAPTER 144
(Senate Bill 960)
AN ACT concerning