(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) “Department” means the Department of Human Services.
(c) (1) “Local board” means the board of social services in a county.
(2) “Local board” includes the commission of social services in Baltimore City.
(d) “Local department” means:
(1) a local department of social services created or continued in a county under § 3–201 of this title; or
(2) in Montgomery County, the Montgomery County government.
(e) “Local director” means the director of a local department.
(f) “Local governing authority” means:
(1) in references to executive authority:
(i) the board of county commissioners of a county that does not have a charter form of government;
(ii) the highest executive authority of a county that has a charter form of government; or
(iii) the Mayor of Baltimore City;
(2) in references to purely legislative authority:
(i) the board of county commissioners of a county that does not have a charter form of government;
(ii) the county council of a county that has a charter form of government; or
(iii) the City Council of Baltimore City; or
(3) in references to combined executive and legislative authority:
(i) the board of county commissioners of a county that does not have a charter form of government;
(ii) the county council and the highest executive authority of a county that has a charter form of government; or
(iii) the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City.
(g) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Human Services.