EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW . [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. *hb0526* HOUSE BILL 526 C7 4lr0621 By: Delegates Buckel and Wilkins Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2024 Assigned to: Ways and Means A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning 1 Sports Wagering – Licenses and Application of Minority Business Enterprise 2 Program Requirements 3 FOR the purpose of requiring the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission, subject 4 to certain limitations, to accept and consider applications for sports wagering facility 5 licenses and mobile sports wagering licenses submitted before a certain date; 6 altering the termination date of certain provisions of law requiring the application 7 of the Minority Business Enterprise Program to the sports wagering industry; and 8 generally relating to sports wagering and the Sports Wagering Application Review 9 Commission. 10 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11 Article – State Government 12 Section 9–1E–07(b) and 9–1E–15(h)(4) 13 Annotated Code of Maryland 14 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 15 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17 Article – State Government 18 9–1E–07. 19 (b) (1) The findings and evidence relied on by the General Assembly for the 20 continuation of the Minority Business Enterprise Program under Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the 21 State Finance and Procurement Article are incorporated in this subsection. 22 (2) To the extent practicable and authorized by the United States 23 Constitution, a sports wagering licensee shall comply with the State’s Minority Business 24 Enterprise Program. 25 2 HOUSE BILL 526 (3) (i) On or before 6 months after the issuance of a sports wagering 1 license under this subtitle, the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business 2 Affairs, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the sports wagering 3 licensee, shall establish a clear plan for setting reasonable and appropriate minority 4 business enterprise participation goals and procedures for the procurement of goods and 5 services related to sports wagering, including procurement of construction, equipment, and 6 ongoing services. 7 (ii) To the extent practicable, the goals and procedures specified in 8 subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be based on the requirements of Title 14, Subtitle 9 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article and the regulations implementing that 10 subtitle. 11 (4) On or after July 1, [2024] 2025, the provisions of this subsection and 12 any regulations adopted under this subsection shall be of no effect and may not be enforced. 13 9–1E–15. 14 (h) (4) The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission shall: 15 (i) to the extent permitted by federal and State law, actively seek to 16 achieve racial, ethnic, and gender diversity when awarding licenses; [and] 17 (ii) encourage applicants who qualify as a minority business 18 enterprise, as defined in § 14–301 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, or who 19 are small, minority, or women–owned business entities to apply for sports wagering 20 licenses under this subtitle; AND 21 (III) SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS UNDER § 9–1E–06 OF THIS 22 SUBTITLE, ACCEPT AND CONSIDER AN APPLICATION FOR A SPORTS W AGERING 23 LICENSE THAT IS SUBMITTED BE FORE JANUARY 1, 2026. 24 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 25 1, 2024. 26