(a) With the approval of the Governor, the Secretary shall appoint two Deputy Secretaries. (b) The Deputy Secretaries: (1) serve at the pleasure of the Secretary; and (2) are entitled to the compensation provided in the State budget. (c) The Deputy Secretaries: (1) shall assist the Secretary in administering the Department; and (2) have the other duties provided by law or delegated by the Secretary. (d) The Secretary shall designate a Deputy Secretary to be the acting Secretary when the Secretary is absent from the State or otherwise unavailable. (e) If the Secretary is required by law to make an appointment, with the approval of the Governor, to a particular office within the Department and the appointee is required by law to serve at the pleasure of the Secretary, the Secretary may not remove the appointee without first obtaining the Governor’s approval.
Maryland Legal Code