The Board may appoint a full-time secretary. The secretary serves at the pleasure of the Board. The secretary: must be a person of high character and integrity; and shall be appointed on the basis of executive skill and ability.

This section does not apply to property to be acquired in connection with State roads, bridges, or highways. Subject to Title 12 of the Real Property Article, the Board may condemn property for State use. The Department of General Services, with the approval of the Board, shall adopt regulations in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 1 of the State Government Article that establish a uniform method of determining the value of any applicable life estate discount for property condemned in accordance with this section.

On the recommendation of the Comptroller, the Board shall adopt regulations in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 1 of the State Government Article covering matters of business administration in the units of the State government. The regulations adopted under this section may include regulations that establish: uniform rates of mileage allowance; and the terms and renewals of bonds furnished by State officials and employees. Regulations adopted under this section are binding on all units of the State government affected by the regulations.

By regulation, the Board may require that any proposed contract, contract renewal, or change order, of a designated class or monetary value, of any unit of the Executive Branch be brought to the Board for consideration and approval before execution.

For purposes of the preparation of the State budget: the Board of Public Works is an independent agency; and all expenses related to the administration of the Board of Public Works shall be separately identified and independent of the budget of any other State agency.

Any payments due by the State for the Baltimore Zoo under a lease or sublease agreement shall be included in the annual budget for the Board of Public Works.

For each meeting of the Board held on or after October 1, 2024, beginning on the date the Board makes the meeting agenda available to the public, including any updates to the agenda, the Board shall allow members of the public to electronically submit public comments on agenda items. Public comments submitted under subsection (a) of this section or that are otherwise received by the Board by electronic or regular mail and relate to a Board agenda item shall: be included in each meeting packet prepared for members of the Board; be posted online at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, or as soon as practicable after the public comment is received; and be retained online through the Board’s public website. Any Board discussion items that are not subject to inclusion in a public agenda under § 3–302.1 of the General Provisions Article are not subject to public comment under this section. To carry out the requirements of this section, the Board shall employ at least one more staff position than the number of positions authorized in fiscal year 2023.

If the federal government does not comply with court decisions upholding congressionally approved spending, the Board may determine, by a majority vote, the federal government to be delinquent in federal funds owed to the State. Federal funds determined delinquent under subsection (a) of this section shall be referred to the Central Collection Unit of the Department of Budget and Management.