Ch. 636

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1)     REVIEW AUDIT REPORTS ISSUED BY THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR
AND SUBMIT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WITH RESPECT TO ISSUES IN AUDIT REPORTS; AND

(2)     REVIEW THE AUDIT PROCESS AND PROCEDURES AND PROVIDE
COMMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE SPEAKER, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES, AND THE
LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(a)     beginning June 1, 1997, the Executive Director of Legislative Services shall
carry out a study regarding the most effective and efficient manner of implementing the
provisions of this Act, including consultation with and receipt of comments from
employees of the Department: and

(b)     not later than September 15, 1997, the Executive Director of Legislative
Services shall report to the Legislative Policy Committee on the following matters:

(1)     a proposed reconfiguration of the physical layout of the staff offices in
the Legislative Services Building, a listing of employees to be placed under the
supervision of each office director, and a salary structure;

(2)     a competitive salary plan for all employees of the Department;

(3)     the education requirements and experience levels for the Department's
professional staff positions;

(4)     the identification of the grounds by which an employee may be
terminated from State service and the avenues to be made available for appealing a
termination decision;

(5)     the establishment of flexible working schedules that accommodate the
needs of employees during nonpeak production times in recognition of their contributions
during peak production times;

(6)     an assessment of existing reports and studies prepared according to
statutory mandates and internal policies, with a goal of eliminating reports that are
duplicative or unnecessary;

(7)     an identification of alternatives for strengthening the fiscal efficiency of
the Department's operations, such as the modernization of equipment, the consolidation
and downsizing of functions, and the use of contractual employees to perform certain
functions;

(8)     a proposed plan for meeting the future telecommunications needs of the
Department and the General Assembly including the availability of an adequate number
of telephone and facsimile machine lines, the enhancement of the toll-free lines of the
General Assembly, and methods for maximizing the efficiency of developing
telecommunications technology;

(9)     the feasibility of incorporating the fiscal notes and economic impact
analyses currently prepared by the Department of Fiscal Services and the committee

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