The Secretary shall: bring any civil action necessary to enforce those provisions of this Division I that are subject to the authority of the Secretary or any regulation adopted under them; and defend any civil action brought against the Secretary or the Department.

A resident of this State may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction: to recover, for the use of this State, a payment made in violation of this Division I or of a regulation adopted under it from the person who authorized or made the payment; to enjoin a person, this State, or a unit of this State from authorizing a payment in violation of this Division I or of a regulation adopted under it; or if a payroll authorization is provided for by law or regulation, to enjoin the Secretary from issuing a payroll authorization in violation of this Division I or of a regulation adopted under it. In an action brought under this section, a judgment or other order may not be recorded as “released” or “satisfied” unless the Attorney General files with the court a notice of release or satisfaction.

Except as otherwise specifically provided by State law, this State, its officers, and its units may not raise the defense of sovereign immunity in any administrative, arbitration, or judicial proceeding involving an employee grievance or hearing that is held under: this Division I or a regulation adopted under it; or a personnel policy or regulation that governs classified employees of the University System of Maryland or Morgan State University.