WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 409
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Chapter 409
(House Bill 1206)
AN ACT concerning
Maryland–Ireland Trade Commission – Establishment
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland –Ireland Trade Commission in the
Department of Commerce to study and make recommendations regarding certain
trade relations between Maryland and Ireland; and generally relating to the
Maryland–Ireland Trade Commission.
BY adding to
Article – Economic Development
Section 5–2501 through 5–2504 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 25.
Maryland–Ireland Trade Commission”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
Preamble
WHEREAS, Over 9% of Maryland’s population is of Irish descent; and
WHEREAS, The ties that bind Ireland to Maryland are deep and lasting; and
WHEREAS, Irish heritage has been the fortunate lot of many great Marylanders;
and
WHEREAS, Ireland and Maryland are attempting to reinvent their economies for
success in the twenty–first century; and
WHEREAS, Marylanders have both historic and practical reasons to desire the
building of firmer commercial links with Ireland; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Economic Development
SUBTITLE 25. MARYLAND–IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION.
5–2501.
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “COMMISSION” MEANS THE MARYLAND–IRELAND TRADE
COMMISSION. Ch. 409 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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5–2502.
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND–IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION IN THE
DEPARTMENT .
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION IS TO STUD Y AND PROMOTE TRADE
BETWEEN MARYLAND AND IRELAND.
5–2503.
(A) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS O F THE FOLLOWING MEMB ERS:
(1) THE SECRETARY, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE;
(2) THE SECRETARY OF STATE, OR THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S
DESIGNEE;
(3) TWO MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED BY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE O F ORGANIZATIONS THAT
PROMOTE IRISH AFFAIRS, OR CURRENT OR PAST I NVOLVEMENT IN ORGANI ZATIONS
THAT PROMOTE IRISH AFFAIRS, OR HAVE AN INTEREST IN TH E WELL–BEING OF
TRADE RELATIONS BETW EEN MARYLAND AND IRELAND;
(4) TWO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED BY
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE O F ORGANIZATIONS THAT
PROMOTE IRISH AFFAIRS, OR CURRENT OR PAST I NVOLVEMENT IN ORGANIZATIO NS
THAT PROMOTE IRISH AFFAIRS, OR HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE WELL–BEING OF
TRADE RELATIONS BETW EEN MARYLAND AND IRELAND; AND
(5) THE FOLLOWING MEMBER S, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,
WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE:
(I) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A PUBLIC INSTITUTION O F
HIGHER EDUCATION ;
(II) ONE REPRESENTATIVE O F THE MARYLAND CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE OR ITS SUCCE SSOR ORGANIZATION ; AND
(III) TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE IRISH–AMERICAN
COMMUNITY , WHO MAY NOT BE OF TH E SAME POLITIC AL PARTY.
(B) THE CHAIR AND VICE CH AIR OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE E LECTED
FROM AMONG THE MEMBE RS OF THE COMMISSION. WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 409
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(C) A MEMBER OF THE BOARD:
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMP ENSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD;
BUT
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMB URSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET .
(D) (1) THE TERM OF AN APPOIN TED MEMBER IS 4 YEARS.
(2) THE TERMS OF THE APPO INTED MEMBERS ARE ST AGGERED AS
REQUIRED BY THE TERM S PROVIDED FOR MEMBE RS ON OCTOBER 1, 2024.
(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , A MEMBER CONTINUES T O SERVE UNTIL
A SUCCESSOR IS APPOI NTED AND QUALIFIES .
(4) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HAS BEGUN SERVES
ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM UNTIL A SUC CESSOR IS APPOINTED AND
QUALIFIES.
(5) THE GOVERNOR MAY REMOVE A N APPOINTED MEMBER F OR
INCOMPETENCE , MISCONDUCT , OR FAILURE TO PERFOR M THE DUTIES OF THE
POSITION.
5–2504.
(A) THE COMMISSION SHALL STUD Y AND MAKE RECOMMEND ATIONS
REGARDING:
(1) ADVANCING BILATERAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT BETWEEN
MARYLAND AND IRELAND;
(2) INITIATING JOINT ACT ION ON POLICY ISSUES OF MUTUAL
INTEREST TO MARYLAND AND IRELAND;
(3) PROMOTING BUSINESS A ND ACADEMIC EXCHANGE S BETWEEN
MARYLAND AND IRELAND;
(4) ENCOURAGING MUTUAL E CONOMIC SUPPORT BETW EEN
MARYLAND AND IRELAND;
(5) ENCOURAGING MUTUAL I NVESTMENT IN THE INF RASTRUCTURE
OF MARYLAND AND IRELAND; AND Ch. 409 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(6) OTHER ISSUES AS DETE RMINED BY THE COMMISSION.
(B) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2025, AND EACH DECEMBER 1
THEREAFTER , THE COMMISSION SHALL REPO RT ITS FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS TO T HE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:
(a) All initial appointments to the Maryland–Ireland Trade Commission shall be
made not later than February 1, 2025.
(b) The terms of the initial appointed members of the Maryland–Ireland Trade
Commission shall expire as follows:
(1) two members in 2025; and
(2) two members in 2026.
SECTION 3. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and, at the end of September
30, 2026, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be
abrogated and of no further force and effect.
Approved by the Governor, May 9, 2024.