Title 8. Soil Conservation — Subtitle 2. State Soil Conservation Committee
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 8-201 (2026)
Title 8. Soil Conservation
Subtitle 2. State Soil Conservation Committee
§ 8–201LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The following persons shall serve as members of the Committee:
(1)
The Secretary, or any employee of the Department the Secretary designates;
(2)
The Secretary of Natural Resources, or any employee of the Department of Natural Resources whom the Secretary of Natural Resources designates;
(3)
The Secretary of the Environment, or any employee of the Department of the Environment designated by the Secretary of the Environment;
(4)
The principal administrative official for agricultural affairs at the University System of Maryland as designated by the Chancellor of the University;
(5)
The Chairman of the Maryland Agricultural Commission, or the Chairman’s designee;
(6)
The President of the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts;
(7)
Five soil conservation district supervisors representing the five different geographic areas of the State, as provided in subsection (b) of this section;
(8)
The Director of the Cooperative Extension Service and the principal administrative officer for Maryland of the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, who shall be nonvoting members; and
(9)
Other representatives of cooperating State and federal agencies serving as consultants to the Committee as selected by the Committee.
(b)
The Secretary shall appoint the soil conservation district supervisors from recommendations submitted by the district supervisors of each area represented. Each supervisor shall be from one of the following five geographic areas:
(1)
Area No. 1: Garrett, Allegany, Washington County, Catoctin, Frederick, and Carroll Soil Conservation Districts;
(2)
Area No. 2: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert Soil Conservation Districts;
(3)
Area No. 3: Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, and Talbot Soil Conservation Districts;
(4)
Area No. 4: Baltimore County, Harford, Montgomery, Howard and Cecil Soil Conservation Districts; and
(5)
Area No. 5: Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Soil Conservation Districts.
(c)
The term of each supervisor appointed after July 1, 1974, is four years. Each supervisor shall serve until the supervisor’s successor is appointed. A supervisor may not serve as a member more than two full successive terms. Every other member shall hold office as long as the member retains the office by virtue of which the member is serving on the Committee.
(d)
An appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be made in the same manner as for a full term.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 8-202 (2026)
Title 8. Soil Conservation
Subtitle 2. State Soil Conservation Committee
§ 8–202LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Committee annually shall elect in July a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members. A majority of the Committee constitutes a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority in any matter is required for its determination.
(b)
The chairman and members of the Committee receive no compensation for their services on the Committee, but are entitled to expenses, including traveling expenses, necessarily incurred in the discharge of their duties on the Committee. The Committee shall be subject to an annual audit of the accounts of receipts and disbursements by the Legislative Auditor.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 8-203 (2026)
Title 8. Soil Conservation
Subtitle 2. State Soil Conservation Committee
§ 8–203LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Committee may employ any administrative officer, technical experts, and other permanent or temporary employees that it requires and shall determine their qualifications and duties.
(b)
The Committee may call upon the Attorney General for legal services it requires.
(c)
As authorized by the annual State budget, the Committee may employ clerical, administrative, or technical employees to be assigned to soil conservation districts organized under this title to assist the district boards of supervisors in carrying out the conservation program authorized under this title. This subsection does not authorize the hiring of employees to assist in the operation of equipment or similar optional activities for which a charge is made by the district, other than demonstration type projects approved by the Committee.
(d)
The Committee may cooperate with local governments in providing soil conservation districts with personnel, space, and other items or assistance to aid the district in carrying out the soil and water conservation program authorized under this title. The Committee may accept from local governments, financial or other aid to supplement State funds allocated to provide personnel, space, and other items for soil conservation districts. The Committee may spend public funds of the State, appropriated for administration of this title, to pay the State share of costs of the cooperative program as may be agreed on by the Committee and the county government.
(e)
(1)
The district clerical and administrative employees supported by State funds on July 1, 1978, on application by the district, shall become eligible for appointment under the State Personnel Management System as classified service employees of the State Soil Conservation Committee to be assigned to districts as provided in this subsection. The Committee may employ part-time classified personnel for these positions if full funding is not available from State or local sources, or both.
(2)
(i)
Any soil conservation district, with concurrence of the State Soil Conservation Committee and on application to the Secretary of Personnel before July 1, 1979, may have all of its clerical and administrative employees who are currently supported by State funds and who were employed on June 30, 1978, and who are otherwise eligible, appointed under the State Personnel Management System as classified service employees of the State Soil Conservation Committee assigned to the district.
(ii)
Any employee appointed to the classified service under this paragraph (2) shall be appointed without further examination or qualification. Each employee shall be placed in the classification that is comparable to, or most closely compares with, the employee’s former position in duties and responsibilities.
(iii)
Employees appointed to the classified service under this paragraph (2) may not suffer a diminution of salary or wages, accrued paid leave whether earned or granted, or seniority rights. Any increase in salary or wages granted after December 31, 1977, may be retained upon appointment to the classified service only if approved by the Secretary of Personnel.
(iv)
For all employees appointed to the classified service under this paragraph (2), the Secretary of Personnel shall consider the monetary value of any and all other benefits, entitlements, services, or prerogatives and, at the Secretary’s discretion and in consideration of the best interests of the classified service, may take such values or any portion thereof into consideration when establishing the rate of salary upon appointment. Once the rate of salary has been established upon appointment, the employee shall be entitled to the same benefits provided to classified service employees under Division I of the State Personnel and Pensions Article. Funding for these positions may be on a cost-sharing arrangement with local governments.
(3)
(i)
Personnel who are employed on or after July 1, 1978, or who have been employed for fewer than 6 months on the date of application by the district will be appointed to the skilled service or professional service, with the exception of special appointments, on completion of 6 months of satisfactory employment with the district, and in conformity with the provisions of this subsection.
(ii)
Clerical and administrative personnel appointed after the date of application by the district shall be appointed in conformity with the provisions of the State Personnel and Pensions Article that govern the skilled service or professional service, with the exception of special appointments.
(4)
(i)
An employee who has been included in the skilled service or professional service under this subsection shall become a member of the Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Maryland with service credit beginning on the date the employee is covered in the skilled service or professional service.
(ii)
If the member’s compensation is paid wholly or partly from funds other than State funds, the employer’s cost of Social Security and retirement contributions shall also be proportionately paid from the other funds.
(5)
(i)
Employees appointed effective July 1, 1978, under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be given a January increment date and shall receive their first increment on January 1, 1979.
(ii)
Employees appointed after July 1, 1978, shall receive an increment as if the appointment date were the entry on duty date.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 8-204 (2026)
Title 8. Soil Conservation
Subtitle 2. State Soil Conservation Committee
§ 8–204LinkCopy Citation
The Committee may accept any allotment of federal funds and commodities. It may manage and dispose of it in whatever manner may be required by federal law.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 8-205 (2026)
Title 8. Soil Conservation
Subtitle 2. State Soil Conservation Committee
§ 8–205LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Committee may perform acts, hold public hearings, and, subject to the approval of the Secretary, adopt rules and regulations necessary for the execution of its functions under this subtitle.
(b)
The Committee may delegate to its chairman, any member, or any employee powers and duties it deems proper.
(c)
The Committee shall:
(1)
Adopt a seal which shall be judicially noticed;
(2)
Offer assistance to the supervisors of soil conservation districts;
(3)
Keep the supervisors of each district informed of the activities and experience of the other districts and facilitate cooperation and interchange of advice and experience between the districts;
(4)
Coordinate the programs of the several soil conservation districts by advising and consulting with the districts;
(5)
Secure the cooperation and assistance of the United States, its agencies, and State agencies in the work of the districts;
(6)
Disseminate information throughout the State concerning the activities and programs of the soil conservation districts and encourage the formation of districts in any areas where their organization is desirable;
(7)
Grant to the districts either directly or through the counties funds made available to the Committee for use by the districts in implementing the soil conservation program;
(8)
Provide for the execution of surety bonds or insurance policies of the type and in the amount of coverage determined by the State Treasurer under § 5–108 of the State Government Article for every employee or officer entrusted with funds or property;
(9)
Keep a full and accurate record of all proceedings and every rule or regulation or order issued or adopted; and
(10)
Assign to the districts such clerical and administrative employees as authorized by the annual State budget or through agreement with local governments.