HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3557

WHEREAS, There are presently approximately 14,000 8,000
unclassified positions in State service; and

WHEREAS, The use of unclassified positions circumvents the
concepts and principles of the Merit System; and

WHEREAS, Unclassified Employee organizations representing
State unclassified positions limit the promotional opportunities
of career-minded classified employees and greatly reduce the
quality of applicants for classified positions in State service
below the Secretariat level; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Secretary of Personnel is hereby urged to investigate and conduct
a thorough study of the number of unclassified positions in every
agency of every State Department, including the total length of

service and grade of every employee in such unclassified

position, and to consider the abolition restriction of most
unclassified positions in the State Merit System in conjunction
with developing a plan to convert these positions, whenever,
possible, into classified positions under the State Merit System;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That the conversion plan formulated by the
Secretary of Personnel contain a justification, in writing, for
all positions job titles the Secretary wishes to remain
unclassified; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of Personnel report the
findings and recommendations of the study to the General Assembly
by December 31, 1986; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent by the
Department of Legislative Reference to the Honorable Harry
Hughes, Governor of Maryland; the Honorable Joseph Curran,
Lieutenant Governor; the Honorable Melvin A. Steinberg, President
of the Senate of Maryland; the Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin,
Speaker of the House of Delegates of Maryland; the Honorable John
F. X. O'Brien, Secretary of Personnel, 301 West Preston Street,
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201; and the Honorable Louis L. Goldstein,
Comptroller of the Treasury, State Treasury Building, Annapolis,
Maryland, 21404.

Signed May 13, 1986.