Section 8-205 - Secretaries of principal departments; powers and duties.
§ 8-205. Secretaries of principal departments; powers and duties.
(a) Serving at the pleasure of the Governor.- The secretary of each principal department serves at the pleasure of the Governor unless otherwise provided by law.
(b) Duties.- A secretary shall:
(1) receive the salary and have the assistants, employees, and professional consultants provided in the budget, unless otherwise provided by law;
(2) be responsible for establishing policy to be followed by the units of State government within the secretary's department;
(3) be responsible for the efficient and orderly administration of the department;
(4) be responsible for the comprehensive planning of programs and services within the secretary's jurisdiction and for reviewing and approving the plans of all units of State government within the secretary's jurisdiction;
(5) be responsible for the budget of the secretary's office and for the budgets of other units of State government within the secretary's jurisdiction;
(6) be responsible for the organization of the secretary's office and for recommending to the Governor changes in the organization and placement of units of State government within the secretary's jurisdiction; and
(7) recommend to the Governor any modification, abolition, and transfer of advisory bodies within the secretary's jurisdiction.
(c) Powers.- A secretary may:
(1) appoint officers and employees in the secretary's office as provided in the budget and review the personnel action taken by any unit of State government within the secretary's jurisdiction; and
(2) create the citizen advisory bodies that may be necessary for the operation of the secretary's department.
[An. Code 1957, art. 41, § 1-201; 1997, ch. 31, § 1.]