4.__Establish positions.__By financial order the Adjutant General may establish positions necessary to support the operations of the Maine Readiness Sustainment Center in Limestone or to maintain, repair, store and manufacture equipment under section 157.__A position that is established by financial order to become permanent must be presented to the next session of the Legislature through the normal budgetary process.

5.__Employee administration.__Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 26, section 979-A, subsection 5 and consistent with the overall objectives of the Governor, the Governor shall direct the authority to develop and execute employee relations policies, conduct negotiations with certified and recognized bargaining agents for its employees and administer and interpret the collective bargaining agreements applicable to the employees of the authority consistent with procedures that now exist.__As consistent with the overall objectives of the Governor, the Bureau of Employee Relations shall assist and advise the Governor and the authority to ensure compliance with state and federal labor and employment laws.__Employees of the authority are considered essential employees for the purpose of shutdown or furlough days imposed on employees of the State.

Sec. OO-10. 37-B MRSA §395, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 374, §8, is amended to read:

§395. Books and records

The Adjutant General shall ensure the accurate and timely maintenance of books, records, accounts and other evidences of the financial transactions of all the authority's activities in accordance with accounting standards established by a governmental accounting standards board and the State Controller. Books and records must be open to inspection and audit by the Maine National Guard, the State Auditor and the Federal Government audit in conjunction with federal contracts, agreements, grants or cooperative agreements but are otherwise confidential and not subject to Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter I 1. The State Auditor shall periodically conduct an audit of the financial records of the authority and report the results of the audit to the Adjutant General, the State Controller, the Governor and the Legislature. The Adjutant General may maintain the required books, records, accounts and other evidences of the financial transactions of all of the authority's activities or enter into service agreements or contracts with departments and agencies of State Government for that purpose.