Public Service Commission – Administrative Operations and Personnel Matters (Public Service Commission Flexibility Act)

HB 1147, the "Public Service Commission Flexibility Act," gives Maryland's Public Service Commission (PSC) greater control over its internal operations. The bill requires the PSC to establish its own personnel management system (separate from the state system), set all employee compensation directly, and hire independent contractors for specialized work. It also mandates annual budget submissions to the Department of Budget and Management, annual financial audits, and exempts the PSC from certain state procurement laws and taxes. These changes directly affect PSC employees and the Commission’s administrative structure, streamlining its management while maintaining oversight requirements.