2023 Maryland Statutes › Natural Resources › Title 5 - Forests and Parks › Subtitle 2A - Maryland Park Service › Section 5-2A-02 - Increase of Full-Time Employees -- Staff Adequacy and Salary Reviews by Department of Budget and Management -- Volunteer Management Program

(a)    (1)    (i)    On or before October 1, 2023, the Department of Budget and Management shall increase the number of full–time employees in the Department by 100 permanent, classified positions.
(ii)    The Department of Budget and Management shall budget the 100 positions required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph as follows:
1.    90 positions in the Park Service, including 1 volunteer management program coordinator;
2.    5 positions in the Engineering and Construction Unit;
3.    3 positions in the Land Acquisition and Planning Unit; and
4.    2 assistant Attorneys General with experience in real estate law assigned to the Department and designated by the Attorney General to advise on real estate and transactional matters.
(2)    For fiscal year 2024, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $12,000,000 to fund the 100 permanent, classified positions required under paragraph (1) of this subsection and related operating costs.
(b)    (1)    The Department of Budget and Management shall:
(i)    Conduct a staff adequacy review of the Park Service every 2 years; and
(ii)    Report its findings to the Commission and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.
(2)    As a part of the report under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, the Department of Budget and Management shall consider staffing goals for the Park Service.
(c)    (1)    The Department of Budget and Management shall:
(i)    Conduct a staff salary review of the Park Service every 3 years; and
(ii)    Report its findings to the Commission and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.
(2)    The salary review required under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection shall focus on the goals of improving:
(i)    Hiring by compensating Park Service employees at a level commensurate with:
1.    Local park systems;
2.    The National Park Service; and
3.    For Park Service maintenance personnel who perform skilled and licensed trade functions, the private sector; and
(ii)    Retention by promoting upward mobility within a job series.
(d)    The Department shall recognize forest rangers, park rangers, and wildlife rangers as emergency services personnel.
(e)    (1)    (i)    The Department shall implement a volunteer management program to strategically manage volunteer services provided by individuals and State parks friends groups.
(ii)    The volunteer management program implemented under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be modeled on the National Park Service’s Volunteers–In–Parks program.
(2)    The volunteer management program shall be managed by a volunteer program manager dedicated to overseeing the volunteer management program.
(3)    The volunteer program manager shall:
(i)    Conduct annual training for staff and volunteers;
(ii)    Develop and promote volunteer opportunities;
(iii)    Perform audits, evaluations, and monitoring to determine the efficacy of the volunteer management program; and
(iv)    Develop an annual report on volunteer statistics and impacts.
(f)    The Department shall expand its work with park–focused organizations to leverage charitable funding for park enhancements.