This regulation applies to all employees of the State Personnel Management System in classifications compensated in accordance with the Standard Salary Plan which are under the salary authority of the Secretary. Establishing a rate of pay for a new classification or amending the rate of pay for an existing classification is governed by State Personnel and Pensions Article, §4-201 and Title 8, Subtitle 1, Annotated Code of Maryland. The Secretary shall publish guidelines and policies for individual position actions, including but not limited to: Salary for part-time employment; Salary upon initial appointment; Salary upon reemployment or reinstatement; Determination of increments or merit increases; Salary upon transfer or reassignment; Salary upon promotion or demotion; and Processing sequence for simultaneous transactions which affect salary. Increments or merit increases are: Granted January 1 to an employee who was appointed on or between January 1 and June 30, or July 1 to an employee who was appointed on or between July 1 and December 31, unless delayed by an act of the legislature or an executive order; Provided to an employee whose overall performance is rated satisfactory or above on the employee’s annual performance appraisal; and Subject to the availability of funding in the State budget.