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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="5-2A-02" title_number="5" title_name="Forests and Parks" subtitle_number="2A" subtitle_name="Maryland Park Service">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>On or before October 1, 2023, the Department of Budget and Management shall increase the number of full–time employees in the Department by 100 permanent, classified positions.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Department of Budget and Management shall budget the 100 positions required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph as follows:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>90 positions in the Park Service, including 1 volunteer management program coordinator;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>5 positions in the Engineering and Construction Unit;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>3 positions in the Land Acquisition and Planning Unit; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>2 assistant Attorneys General with experience in real estate law assigned to the Department and designated by the Attorney General to advise on real estate and transactional matters.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For fiscal year 2024, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $12,000,000 to fund the 100 permanent, classified positions required under paragraph (1) of this subsection and related operating costs.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department of Budget and Management shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Conduct a staff adequacy review of the Park Service every 2 years; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Report its findings to the Commission and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>As a part of the report under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, the Department of Budget and Management shall consider staffing goals for the Park Service.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department of Budget and Management shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Conduct a staff salary review of the Park Service every 3 years; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Report its findings to the Commission and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The salary review required under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection shall focus on the goals of improving:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Hiring by compensating Park Service employees at a level commensurate with:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Local park systems;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The National Park Service; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>For Park Service maintenance personnel who perform skilled and licensed trade functions, the private sector; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Retention by promoting upward mobility within a job series.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Department shall recognize forest rangers, park rangers, and wildlife rangers as emergency services personnel.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Department shall implement a volunteer management program to strategically manage volunteer services provided by individuals and State parks friends groups.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The volunteer management program implemented under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be modeled on the National Park Service’s Volunteers–In–Parks program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The volunteer management program shall be managed by a volunteer program manager dedicated to overseeing the volunteer management program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The volunteer program manager shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Conduct annual training for staff and volunteers;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Develop and promote volunteer opportunities;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Perform audits, evaluations, and monitoring to determine the efficacy of the volunteer management program; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Develop an annual report on volunteer statistics and impacts.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Department shall expand its work with park–focused organizations to leverage charitable funding for park enhancements.</text>
  </level>
</section>
