<section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-103" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="General Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>The Secretary shall carry out those provisions of this Division I that are subject to the authority of the Secretary.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Secretary is responsible for the operation of the Department and shall establish guidelines and procedures to promote the orderly and efficient administration of the Department. The Secretary may establish, reorganize, or abolish areas of responsibility in the Department as necessary to fulfill effectively the duties assigned to the Secretary.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Secretary is responsible for establishing policy to be followed by the units in the Department.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-106" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="General Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>To carry out those provisions of this Division I that are subject to the authority of the Secretary, the Secretary may adopt regulations, guidelines, or policies.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>After consultation with the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Secretary shall adopt regulations governing peer review panels, that include procedures for a principal unit to establish peer review panels as an alternative mechanism for dispute resolution under Titles 11 and 12 of this article.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-107" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="General Provisions"> <text>For efficiency and economy in State government, the Secretary shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>conduct reviews of positions in the State Personnel Management System; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>recommend to the appointing authority a plan of reorganization, reassignment, or elimination of the positions reviewed.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-108" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="General Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>As to matters subject to the authority of the Secretary, the Secretary periodically shall conduct investigations and, as necessary, visits to various units to determine:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the enforcement and effect of this Division I and the regulations adopted under it;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the conduct of employees in the State Personnel Management System;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the nature, tenure, and compensation of all positions in the State Personnel Management System;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the appropriateness of position classifications by appointing authorities;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>whether the duties performed by an employee conform to the duties listed for that employee's class;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>the methods of administration of the State Personnel Management System; and</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>any other information that might help the Secretary to administer this Division I.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>In conducting an investigation under this section, the Secretary may require any employee in the State Personnel Management System to appear before the Secretary or the Secretary's designee and give evidence.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-109" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="General Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>As part of any investigation or hearing under this Division I, the Secretary or the person that the Secretary designates to conduct the investigation or hearing may administer oaths, take testimony and other evidence, and subpoena any person or any relevant document.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If a person fails to comply with a subpoena or refuses to be sworn or to testify, then, on complaint of the Secretary, a circuit court may order the person to comply with the subpoena, to be sworn, or to testify.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-201" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Classes and Position Classifications"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to those units of State government with an independent personnel system.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>In the State Personnel Management System the Secretary shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>establish classes;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>assign a rate of pay to each class;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>ensure that each class comprises one or more positions:</text> <level label="i"> <text>that are similar in their duties and responsibilities;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>that are similar in the general qualifications required to perform those duties and responsibilities;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>to which the same standards and, if required, tests of fitness can be applied; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>to which the same rates of pay can be applied;</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>give each class a descriptive classification title;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>prepare a description of each class; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <level label="i"> <text>create additional classes; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>abolish, combine, or modify existing classes.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Secretary shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>assign a class to the skilled service, professional service, management service, or executive service, as appropriate; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>designate special appointment positions in the State Personnel Management System that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>must be filled without regard to political affiliation, belief, or opinion; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>in accordance with § 6–405(b) of this article, may be filled with regard to political affiliation, belief, or opinion.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-202" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Classes and Position Classifications"> <text>The Secretary shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>classify skilled service positions, professional service positions, management service positions, and executive service positions;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>establish standards and general procedures to be used to classify positions in the skilled service, professional service, management service, and executive service; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>provide advice and guidance on the use of those standards and procedures.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-203" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Classes and Position Classifications"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The Secretary may delegate authority to the head of a principal unit to classify positions for the principal unit in accordance with standards and procedures established by the Secretary in accordance with § 4–202(2) of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If the Secretary delegates classification authority to the head of a principal unit under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the head of the principal unit shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>submit for the Secretary’s approval a position classification plan for classifying positions in the principal unit that are in the skilled service, professional service, and management service; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>classify skilled service positions, professional service positions, and management service positions in the principal unit in accordance with the approved classification plan.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Each employee in a position shall assume the classification title given the class to which that position belongs.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Secretary, the Comptroller, and the Treasurer shall use these classification titles in all relevant records and communications.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>To ensure that positions in the State Personnel Management System are classified properly, the Secretary:</text> <level label="1"> <text>shall conduct position classification audits at least once every 3 years for any classification activity performed in accordance with subsection (a)(2) of this section; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>may conduct operational audits of classification practices and records in principal units at least once every 3 years.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-204" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Classes and Position Classifications"> <level label="a"> <text>The Secretary may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>classify positions in a unit when, in the Secretary's judgment, it is necessary to preserve the integrity of the classification system; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>order the head of a principal unit to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>take appropriate action to properly classify a position or take other appropriate action to comply with a position classification audit; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>modify the unit's classification practices to comply with the findings of an operational audit.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Secretary shall determine the effective dates for newly created or modified classes, position classification plans, and classification standards and procedures.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Secretary shall adopt regulations to provide for effective dates of position reclassifications.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-205" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Classes and Position Classifications"> <text>If there is a material change in the duties of a position, the Secretary shall abolish the position and create a new position in its place.</text> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-301" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Reports and Assistance"> <text>On or before October 15 of each year, each unit of the Executive Branch of State government shall submit to the Secretary the information that the Secretary requires on the processing and disposition during the preceding fiscal year of each:</text> <level label="1"> <text>denial of a pay increase;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>disciplinary suspension;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>grievance;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>involuntary demotion;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>rejection on probation; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>attendance incentive award and conversion made pursuant to Title 9, Subtitle 12 of this article.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-302" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Reports and Assistance"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to the University System of Maryland.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Secretary shall submit to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly an annual report covering all units of the Executive Branch of State government, including a unit with an independent personnel system, for each fiscal year that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>provides information about:</text> <level label="i"> <text>employee performance and efficiency;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>use of leave by State employees;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>incentive awards;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>whistleblower proceedings;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>each denial of a pay increase, each disciplinary suspension, each grievance, each involuntary demotion, and each rejection on probation; and</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>a summary of the equal employment opportunity report required under § 5–204 of this article, including hiring, firing, promotions, terminations, and rejections on probation, by race, sex, and age;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>provides statistics and rankings that compare minority group State employees to all State employees in all job categories;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>provides information about part–time work and, in the Secretary’s discretion, alternate work schedules, work days, and work locations;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>provides information on the total number of positions designated as special appointments, including special appointments designated with regard to political affiliation, belief, or opinion; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>makes any recommendations about conditions in State employment that the Secretary considers advisable.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The report required by this section shall be submitted on or before January 1 following the fiscal year to which it applies.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-303" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Reports and Assistance"> <level label="a"> <text>On the request of a unit of State government, the Secretary, consistent with available resources, shall offer assistance to the unit in personnel and employee relations matters.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>On request to the Secretary, the Department, consistent with available resources, shall assist any county or municipal corporation of the State that adopts a merit system for its employees, so that merit systems may be administered throughout the State without unnecessary expense.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Department shall assist the county or municipal corporation making the request by:</text> <level label="i"> <text>helping to test candidates for positions;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>helping to prepare regulations; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>making available the full use of the facilities of the Department.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Department shall provide the assistance required by this subsection without charge.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A county or municipal corporation shall reimburse the Department for travel and other expenses that the Department incurs because of the use of departmental facilities by that county or municipal corporation.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-304" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Reports and Assistance"> <level label="a"> <text>On request of the Secretary, all employees and officers of the State shall assist the Department in all proper ways in carrying out this Division I and the regulations, guidelines, and policies adopted under it. This assistance shall be provided as a public duty and without extra compensation.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>On request of the Secretary, all employees and officers of the State or of a county or municipal corporation of the State shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>allow the Department reasonable use of public buildings for tests or investigations under this Division I;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>provide heat and light for the public buildings used by the Department under this subsection; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>in all other proper ways, facilitate the work of the Department.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gsp" article_name="State Personnel and Pensions" number="4-401" title_number="4" title_name="Personnel Management" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Hearings and Final Decisions"> <text>The Office of Administrative Hearings shall dispose of a case or conduct a hearing and issue a final decision in:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a Whistleblower Law hearing under § 5–310 of this article;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>an appeal under Title 11 of this article of a disciplinary action;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>a grievance under § 12–205 of this article;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>an appeal under § 18–121 of the Public Utilities Article for the suspension of an employee of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>an appeal under § 18–123 of the Public Utilities Article for the removal of an employee of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.</text> </level> </section>