and the public with current information about the operations of the State Treasurer's Office. Board of Public Works The State Board of Public Works was first created by the Maryland Constitution of 1864 and is composed of the Governor, who chairs it, the Comptroller, and the Treasurer. The three-member board is quite powerful and there is no other state that has a similar institution. The board, which generally meets twice a month, reviews and approves capital projects, procurement contracts, and the acquisition, use, and transfer of State assets, to assure that executive decisions are made responsibly and responsively. Other The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) oversees food safety, consumer protection, farmering, food and fiber processing, and other businesses engaged in agricultural related operations. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) oversees public school districts. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is the environmental protection agency. The Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) manages, operates, and maintains state property and acts as a primary procurement agency. The Maryland Department of Health oversees and regulates health-related issues. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) oversees housing policy. The Maryland Department of Labor oversees unemployment insurance, occupational and professional licensing, labor regulation, workforce training, financial regulation, and the Maryland Racing Commission. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains natural resources such as state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, wildlife and recreation areas. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) oversees the Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland Transit Administration, Maryland Port Administration, State Highway Administration, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, and Maryland Aviation Administration. The Maryland State Archives serves as the central depository for government records of permanent value. Legislative branch The state's legislative branch is styled as the General Assembly and consists of a 47-member Senate and a 141-member House of Delegates. It meets each year for 90 days to act on more than 2300 bills including the State's annual budget. The 426th Session began January 14, 2009 and adjourned April 13, 2009. Like the governor, members of both houses serve four-year terms. Each house elects its own officers, judges the qualifications and election of its own members, establishes rules for the conduct of its business, and may punish or expel its own members. The current pattern for distribution of seats began with the legislative apportionment plan of 1972 and has been revised every ten years thereafter according to the