Md. Code, State Personnel and Pensions § 8–401

Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Secretary may adopt regulations that prohibit a State officer from paying an employee in the State Personnel Management System any wages unless:

(1) the officer has a payroll authorization from the Secretary that lists:

(i) the name of that employee;

(ii) the amount to be paid to that employee; and

(iii) the services for which payment is to be paid; and

(2) the head of a principal unit certifies in each payroll for that unit that the employees named in the payroll have been lawfully employed during the pay period and are entitled to the compensation authorized by the Secretary.