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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="2-502.1" title_number="2" title_name="Maryland Department of Health" subtitle_number="5">
  <level label="a">
    <text>There is an Inspector General in the Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Health.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An individual is eligible to be the Inspector General only if the individual executes an affidavit stating that the individual will not accept appointment to, or be a candidate for, a State or local office:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>During the period of service as the Inspector General; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>For at least 3 years immediately after the individual last serves as the Inspector General.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Inspector General shall renew the affidavit every 2 years during the period of service.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A failure to renew the affidavit under this subsection shall subject the Inspector General to removal from office under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Inspector General shall be appointed unanimously by the Governor, the Attorney General, and the State Treasurer, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The term of the Inspector General is 5 years, beginning July 1 after the appointment of the Inspector General.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>At the end of a term, the Inspector General shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>If a vacancy occurs in the Office, an interim Inspector General shall be appointed as successor to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Inspector General may be removed unanimously by the Governor, the Attorney General, and the State Treasurer for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Misconduct in office;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Persistent failure to perform the duties of the Office; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Conduct prejudicial to the proper administration of justice.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Inspector General must be professionally qualified through experience or education in at least one of the following areas:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Law;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Auditing;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Government operations;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Financial management; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Health policy.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the Inspector General is professionally qualified in the area of health policy, the Inspector General also must be professionally qualified through experience or education in at least one of the other areas listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Inspector General is entitled to the salary provided in the State budget.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Funding for the Office shall be as provided in the State budget.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
