The Secretary shall carry out those provisions of this Division I that are subject to the authority of the Secretary. 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. The Secretary is responsible for establishing policy to be followed by the units in the Department.

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. 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.

For efficiency and economy in State government, the Secretary shall: conduct reviews of positions in the State Personnel Management System; and recommend to the appointing authority a plan of reorganization, reassignment, or elimination of the positions reviewed.

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: the enforcement and effect of this Division I and the regulations adopted under it; the conduct of employees in the State Personnel Management System; the nature, tenure, and compensation of all positions in the State Personnel Management System; the appropriateness of position classifications by appointing authorities; whether the duties performed by an employee conform to the duties listed for that employee's class; the methods of administration of the State Personnel Management System; and any other information that might help the Secretary to administer this Division I. 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.

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. 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.