Ch. 541                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND

than the Maryland Port Administration and therefore hold a
competitive advantage over the Maryland Port Administration; and

WHEREAS, The special committee recommended steps to
streamline the Maryland Port Administration's procurement process
to increase budgetary flexibility, and to develop a personnel
system that allows the Maryland Port Administration to recruit,
retain, and compensate employees to meet the increasingly
competitive challenge facing the ports of Maryland; and

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Administration and the
General Assembly to ensure that the Maryland Port Administration
is managed in a manner consistent with good business practices
and consistent with the best interests of the citizens of
Maryland; and

WHEREAS, The establishment of a Board of Port Commissioners
and certain administrative and budgetary mechanisms are intended
to increase the Maryland Port Administration's operational
efficiency and effectiveness; and

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Administration and the
General Assembly by enactment of this legislation to further
strengthen and enhance the statewide resources of the ports of
Maryland and their resulting economic benefits for all of the
citizens of Maryland; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Transportation

2-102.

(c) (1) With the approval of the Governor, the Secretary
shall appoint a deputy secretary who has the duties provided by
law or delegated by the Secretary.

(2)  The deputy secretary is the acting secretary
during periods when the Secretary is absent or disabled.

(3)  The deputy secretary serves at the pleasure of
the Secretary and is entitled to the salary provided in the State
budget.

(4)  THE DEPUTY SECRETARY SHALL SERVE AS ACTING
CHAIRMAN OF THE MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND ACTING
CHAIRMAN OF THE MARYLAND PORT COMMISSION DURING PERIODS WHEN THE
SECRETARY IS ABSENT OR DISABLED.

2-103.

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