Ch. 601                                    1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

that throughout all phases of construction on interstate and interstate related projects.
the Maryland Department of Transportation shall maintain management control similar
to all other highway proiects to ensure compliance with all federal and Department
specifications, design standards, safety standards, operational standards, and quality
assurance.

SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding any
provision of the Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Bill as enacted, for the Fiscal Year 1998 budget.
except as otherwise provided in this section, the reporting and accounting of expenditures
and the presentation and format of budget data shall continue in the same manner as for
the Fiscal Year 1997 budget, subject to the requirements of the Department of Fiscal
Services and the Office of Legislative Data Processing in order to assure the ability of
these agencies to meet the information needs of the General Assembly. The budget and
expenditure data required for purposes of the Fiscal Year 1998 budget may be presented
in a revised coding structure to accommodate the Financial Management Information
Systems (FMIS). if:

(1) Record layouts and required data formatted in the new account code
structure are provided in sufficient time to enable conversion and testing of legislative
computer programs and operational systems, as agreed to by the Department of Budget
and Fiscal Planning, the Department of Fiscal Services, and the Office of Legislative Data
Processing; and

(2) By budget amendment, $75,000 of the appropriation for the Financial
Management Information Systems is transferred to the budget of the Office of Legislative
Data Processing to permit the Office to perform the functions and services necessary to
accommodate the revised structure. This $75,000 transfer is based on the equivalent of at
least 120 days of effort devoted to accomplish this purpose. A reduction on a pro rata
basis may be made if less effort is required. An accounting of this effort will be provided
to the Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning.

In accordance with the provisions of this section, the Governor may transfer the
$75.000 or a lesser amount as provided under the conditions of item (2) above by budget
amendment from the appropriation for the Financial Management Information Systems
to the Office of Legislative Data Processing in the legislative branch.

SECTION 2. 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1996 June 1, 1996.

Approved May 23, 1996.

CHAPTER 601
(House Bill 1)

AN ACT concerning

Heritage Preservation and Tourism Areas

FOR the purpose of establishing a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority as an independent

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