Maryland House Bill HB370

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/25
• Refer: 1/16/25

Caption

Prince George's County Public Schools - Office of Integrity and Compliance - Alterations PG 504-25

Impact

The bill is designed to strengthen the checks and balances within the local school system by establishing clear responsibilities for the Integrity and Compliance Officer. It empowers the officer to prevent, detect, and report incidents of fraud, waste, and abuse, thereby promoting ethical conduct among employees and vendors. Furthermore, it mandates that an annual report be submitted to the County Council, summarizing the activities and findings of the Office, thereby ensuring public transparency.

Summary

House Bill 370 proposes significant changes to the structure and operations of the Office of Integrity and Compliance within the Prince George’s County public school system. This bill designates the County Executive as the appointing authority for the Integrity and Compliance Officer, shifting the responsibility from the County Council and emphasizing the officer's role as a full-time independent employee within the county government. This change aims to enhance accountability and effectiveness in addressing compliance and integrity issues within the school system.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding this bill may arise from the shift in authority from the County Council to the County Executive. Critics may argue that this could centralize power and reduce the level of scrutiny that the County Council could provide over compliance issues within the school system. Additionally, the requirement that the officer must achieve cost savings four times their budget could lead to pressure on the office to prioritize financial efficiency over comprehensive oversight.