ANNAPOLIS — A bill sponsored by Del. Christopher B. Shank that would prevent improper searches of correctional officers has been merged with another strip search bill.

Shank, R-Washington, said he’s unsure what the change will mean for his legislation — drafted in response to an incident in August 2008 in which nine Maryland Correctional Training Center employees were wrongfully strip searched.

Gary D. Maynard, secretary of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, has said publicly mistakes were made in the searches.

Shank’s bill would require within 14 days of conducting a strip search of prison employees, the secretary of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services must forward a report to the Attorney General on actions taken during the search.

Under the bill, the secretary also must deliver a report to state lawmakers by the end of each year on strip searches conducted during the previous 12 months that includes the number of strip searches performed at each state prison and a compilation of the reports drafted after each search.

Shank said the changes would allow for independent oversight of the searches.

However, lawmakers merged Shank’s bill with one that prohibits someone from being strip searched or forced to submit to a body cavity search for a misdemeanor or traffic offense.

Shank said that bill got a late start and was stalled in a House committee. It was attached to his bill to gain some traction — a tactic lawmakers sometimes use, Shank said.

Shank said he is unsure what impact the merger will have on his strip search bill.

“I don’t want anything to adversely impact my bill, but I think both bills are important,” Shank said.