WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                           Ch. 662

WHEREAS, The vehicle most commonly used to monitor the delivery of
government services, as well as to make that information generally available, has been the
enactment of mandated reports to be submitted to the General Assembly at regular
intervals by various government and government-related agencies; and

WHEREAS, Just as it is incumbent on government to assess its delivery of services
on a regular basis, to eliminate programs that have outlived their usefulness, and to
streamline where unnecessary duplication occurs, so also is it incumbent on government
to evaluate the submission of mandated reports reflecting this delivery of services and to
tailor these report obligations where efficiency and economy would be served; and

WHEREAS, In July 1993, the Speaker of the House initiated a study, jointly staffed
by the Department of Fiscal Services and the Department of Legislative Reference, to
determine the efficacy of current reporting requirements imposed by the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, Among the purposes of this study have been the determination of
whether mandated reports are actually being prepared and distributed, as required by
law, as well as the assessment of their compliance with legislative intent, the justification
of their continuance, and any potential cost savings in the event of their elimination or
diminution in scope; and

WHEREAS, Findings of this joint review indicate that of the 242 reports currently
required to be submitted to the General Assembly on a regular basis, 10 percent have
never been prepared, and 7.9 percent were prepared at one time but not in recent years;
and

WHEREAS, Staff recommendations include the continuation of 58 percent of these
reports with no change either in their legal requirements or the manner in which they are
presented, and the modification of reporting practices in 9.5 percent of the reports; and

WHEREAS, In addition, staff recommendations call for legislative action in
approximately one-third of the total reporting requirements — that is, the repeal of 18
percent and the adjustment of 14.6 percent; and

WHEREAS, This legislation will be the first step toward an established system to
track compliance with mandated reporting requirements, to be jointly designed and
implemented by the Departments of Legislative Reference and Fiscal Services; and

WHEREAS, Though direct cost savings may be minimal, the elimination,
modification, or consolidation of a significant share of currently mandated reports will
promote the overall efficiency and productivity of State government while relieving the
burden imposed by recent State personnel reductions; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section(s) 14-401 through 14-414, inclusive, and the subtitle
''Subtitle 4. Maryland Cultural Commission" of Article 41 - Governor - Executive and'
Administrative Departments of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section(s) 130A through
130D, inclusive, and the subtitle "Statewide Nutrition Assistance Program" of Article 88A
- Social Services Administration of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed.

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