HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                     3811

(c) (1) The Appeals Board shall have jurisdiction to hear
and decide all appeals arising under the provisions of §
ll-137(f) of this subtitle.

(2) Proceedings before the Appeals Board shall be
conducted in accordance with the provisions of Title 10, Subtitle
2 of the State Government Article (Administrative Procedure Act -
Contested Cases). The Appeals Board shall, in accordance with
the provisions of Title 10, Subtitle 1 of the State Government
Article (Administrative Procedure Act - Regulations), adopt
regulations that are not inconsistent with that act to provide
for informal, expeditious, and inexpensive resolution of appeals
before the Appeals Board.

(3) THE DECISION OF THE APPEALS BOARD IS FINAL,
SUBJECT TO ANY JUDICIAL REVIEW.

(4) THE FOLLOWING TIME LIMITS SHALL APPLY TO CONTRACT
DISPUTE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE APPEALS BOARD:

(I) A BRIEF, IF REQUIRED SHALL BE FILED BY THE
APPELLANT AND THE RESPONDENT IN THE ORDER AND WITHIN THE TIME
LIMITS ESTABLISHED BY THE PRESIDING APPEALS BOARD MEMBER AFTER
CONSULTATION WITH BOTH PARTIES; AND

(II) THE FINAL DECISION OF THE APPEALS BOARD
SHALL BE RENDERED WITHIN 180 DAYS AFTER ALL BRIEFS IN THE CASE
HAVE BEEN FILED OR THE RECORD IS OTHERWISE CLOSED, WHICHEVER IS
LATER, UNLESS BOTH PARTIES TO THE CONTRACT DISPUTE AGREE TO AN
ENLARGEMENT OF THIS PERIOD.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(a)  If House Bill 100 of 1985 becomes law, Section 1
of this Act shall be void and of no effect, and

(b)  If House Bill 100 of 1985 fails to become law,
Section 2 of this Act shall be void and of no effect.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect January 1, 1986.

May 28, 1985
The Honorable Melvin A. Steinberg
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404