EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.01.2025.08

(Rescinds Executive Order 01.01.2015.26)

Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement

A. Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement. The Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement (“GOPI”) shall be responsible for improving the performance of Maryland State agencies through greater accountability, coordination, and capacity building.

(1) GOPI shall be managed by the Chief Performance Officer, who shall direct the operations of GOPI. The Chief Performance Officer shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(2) GOPI shall be comprised of staff appointed by the Governor.

B. Duties. GOPI shall:

(1) Develop the State Comprehensive Plan (“State Plan”), as defined in §3-1001 of the State Finance & Procurement Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, at the outset of a new gubernatorial administration, which shall:

a) Include a statement of goals which serve as broad directives for improving or making more cost-effective State resources and services; and

b) Align State programs and services with the Governor’s priorities.

(2) Direct State agencies to develop objectives, strategies, key milestones, and/or performance measures to track the State Plan implementation.

(3) Develop and implement common sense government modernization initiatives as well as improve State operations and service delivery in order to:

a) Ensure strategic resource management.

b) Maintain fiscal sustainability.

c) Promote cost optimization strategies to ensure receipt of the highest value for state expenditures; and

d) Elimination duplication and fragmentation.

(4) Hold State agencies accountable for delivering results, and maintain a data-driven approach to performance improvement and decision-making by:

a) Tracking progress on the State Plan and government-modernization initiatives;

b) Holding regular data-driven reviews with the Governor; Lieutenant Governor; and/or agency leaders;

c) Identifying areas for improvement and/or key actions;

d) Building agency capacity to support a data-driven, action-oriented culture within State government; and

e) Leveraging social science and evidence of best practices to ensure results for Marylanders.

(5) Establish a Performance Improvement Council (“PIC”) composed of State agency representatives to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas to enable continuous improvement in the delivery of government services, accountability, and cross-agency collaboration.

C. Procedures

(1) Each State agency and department of the Executive Branch shall appoint a performance lead to drive performance improvement at their agency, and who shall be primarily responsible for:

a) Providing access to the data requested by GOPI to determine progress being made by the agency;

b) Collaborating with GOPI to analyze the collected data; and

c) Following -up on areas of improvement identified by GOPI.

(2) On a regular basis, each Secretary or agency head, or their designee, shall meet with GOPI.

(3) The State agencies and departments of the Executive Branch shall build a data-driven, action-oriented culture that is accountable for delivering results.

D. All State agencies, departments, and boards and commissions within the Executive Branch are authorized and directed to cooperate with GOPI in implementing the provisions of this Executive Order.

E. This Executive Order shall not be construed to alter existing authorities of any Executive agency or department, except that all Executive agencies and departments are directed to assist the GOPI in carrying out the purposes of this Executive Order.

Effective Date: January 10, 2025.