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Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. § 19-106

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Entity” means:

(i) a commercial enterprise or business that is in goodstanding with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation and is:

1. incorporated in the State; or

2. registered to do business in the State; or

(ii) a corporation, foundation, school, hospital, or other legal entity for which none of the net earnings inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual holding an interest in the entity.

(3) “State benefit” means:

(i) State capital grant funding totaling $1,000,000 ormore in a single fiscal year;

(ii) State tax credits totaling $1,000,000 or more in a single fiscal year; or

(iii) the receipt of a State contract with a total value of $1,000,000 or more.

(4) “State contract” means a contract that:

(i) resulted from a competitive procurement process; and

(ii) is not federally funded in any way.

(5) “Underrepresented community” means a community whose members self–identify:

(i) as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Alaska Native; or

(ii) with one or more of the racial or ethnic groups listed in item (i) of this paragraph.

(b) This section does not apply to:

(1) a sole proprietor;

(2) a limited liability company owned by a single member;

(3) a privately held company if at least 75% of the company’s shareholders are family members; or

(4) an entity that:

(i) has an annual operating budget or annual sales less than $5,000,000; and

(ii) does not qualify for a State benefit.

(c) An entity may not qualify for a State benefit unless the entity is able to demonstrate:

(1) membership of underrepresented communities in the entity’s board or executive leadership; or

(2) support for underrepresented communities in the entity’s mission.

(d) The Department of Commerce and the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs shall:

(1) develop and maintain a State Equity Report that compiles diversity data for each entity on:

(i) the membership of underrepresented communities in the entity’s board or executive leadership; and

(ii) the support of underrepresented communities in the entity’s mission; and

(2) adopt regulations to carry out this section, including directives for State agencies and entities to comply with the requirements in this section.

Official source: Maryland General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Maryland statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.