Executive Order .04 Reorganization of State Government — Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance

Be it ordered by the Governor of Maryland, pursuant to Article II, Section 24, of the Constitution of Maryland, that Sections 14-201 through 14-205 of the Economic Development Article and the Subtitle “Office of the Business Ombudsman” be repealed.

And be it further ordered, that:

And be it further ordered, that all persons who, as of the effective date of this Order, are employed in the Office of Business Ombudsman in the Office of the Governor are hereby transferred to the Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance in the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation without any change or loss of rights or status, and shall retain their merit system and retirement system status.

And be it further ordered, that any transaction affected by or arising from any statute here amended, repealed, or transferred, and validly entered into before the effective date of this Order and every right, duty, or interest flowing from it remains valid after the effective date and may be terminated, completed, consummated, or enforced pursuant to law.

And be it further ordered, that all rules and regulations, proposed rules and regulations, standards and guidelines, proposed standards and guidelines, orders and other directives, forms, plans, memberships, special funds, appropriations, grants, applications for grants, contracts, property, investigations, administrative and judicial proceedings, rights to sue and be sued, and all other duties and responsibilities associated with those functions transferred by this Order shall continue in effect under the Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance upon transfer to the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.

And be it further ordered, that any unexpended appropriation for the purpose of financing the Office of the Business Ombudsman shall be transferred by approved budget amendment to the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.

And be it further ordered, that this Executive Order shall become effective and have the force of law on this 15th day of January, 2018, unless specifically disapproved within 50 days after submission, by a Resolution of Disapproval concurred in by a majority vote of all members of either House of the General Assembly.