EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0209*
SENATE BILL 209
C8 4lr0097
(PRE–FILED) CF 4lr0098
By: Chair, Finance Committee (By Request – Departmental – Commerce)
Requested: September 11, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Economic Development – Maryland Economic Development Commission – 2
Alterations 3
FOR the purpose of altering certain requirements relating to industry representation on 4
the Maryland Economic Development Commission and the purpose of the 5
Commission; repealing a requirement that the Office of International Trade make a 6
certain report to the Commission; repealing a requirement that the Maryland 7
Tourism Development Board submit certain plans to the Commission; and generally 8
relating to the Maryland Economic Development Commission. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Economic Development 11
Section 2.5–201, 3–301, and 4–201(a) and (b) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Economic Development 16
Section 2.5–203, 2.5–206, 4–211, and 4–212(a) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
BY repealing 20
Article – Economic Development 21
Section 3–309 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 24
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 25
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26 2 SENATE BILL 209
Article – Economic Development 1
2.5–201. 2
In this subtitle, “Commission” means the Maryland Economic Development 3
Commission. 4
2.5–203. 5
(a) (1) (i) The Commission consists of: 6
1. not more than 21 voting members appointed by the 7
Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; 8
2. two voting members appointed by the President of the 9
Senate of Maryland; 10
3. two voting members appointed by the Speaker of the 11
House of Delegates; 12
4. A. one member of the Senate of Maryland, designated 13
by the President of the Senate; and 14
B. one member of the House of Delegates, designated by the 15
Speaker of the House; and 16
5. the following representatives of State units and 17
instrumentalities of the State: 18
A. the Executive Director of the Maryland Economic 19
Development Corporation, or the Executive Director’s designee; 20
B. the Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Technology 21
Development Corporation, or the Chief Executive Officer’s designee; 22
C. the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee; and 23
D. the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee. 24
(ii) The Secretary and the Secretary of Labor or their designees, 25
State unit or instrumentality representatives, and members of the General Assembly are 26
nonvoting ex officio members of the Commission. 27
(iii) A designee under subparagraph (i)5 of this paragraph may be an 28
administrator or a senior official of the unit or instrumentality. 29
SENATE BILL 209 3
(2) The geographic representation of the Commission shall cover the entire 1
State and shall include at least one representative from: 2
(i) the upper Eastern Shore; 3
(ii) the lower Eastern Shore; 4
(iii) Calvert County, Charles County, or St. Mary’s County; 5
(iv) Allegany County or Garrett County; and 6
(v) Carroll County, Frederick County, or Washington County. 7
(3) [When appointing Commission members, the Governor shall consider 8
geographic and industry representation.] THE INDUSTRIES REPRES ENTED BY 9
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL : 10
(I) BE DIVERSE; AND 11
(II) INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM : 12
1. THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUST RY; AND 13
2. THE MANUFACTURING INDUST RY. 14
(4) The members appointed shall reflect the racial and gender diversity of 15
the population of the State. 16
(b) The appointed members of the Commission shall have substantial interest or 17
experience in business or knowledge of business and economic development. 18
(c) The Commission and its members are subject to the Maryland Public Ethics 19
Law. 20
(d) (1) The term of an appointed member is 3 years. 21
(2) At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a 22
successor is appointed and qualifies. 23
(3) A member appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 24
remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 25
(4) The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the 26
terms provided for members of the Commission on October 1, 2008. 27
(5) A member may be removed by the Governor with or without cause. 28 4 SENATE BILL 209
2.5–206. 1
(a) The Commission may: 2
(1) adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business; 3
(2) hire consultants; and 4
(3) do anything necessary or convenient to carry out its powers and the 5
purposes of this subtitle. 6
(b) The Commission shall: 7
(1) develop and update an economic development strategic plan for the 8
State; 9
(2) seek ideas and advice from each region of the State to develop the 10
economic development strategic plan; 11
[(3) incorporate into the economic development strategic plan the Maryland 12
Port Administration strategic plan developed for the Helen Delich Bentley Port of 13
Baltimore;] 14
[(4)] (3) recommend to the Governor and the Secretary the program and 15
spending priorities needed to implement the economic development strategic plan; 16
[(5)] (4) review the allocation of financing incentives; 17
[(6)] (5) participate in encouraging new businesses to locate in the State; 18
[(7) seek contributions from the private sector to supplement economic 19
development programs and financial incentives to business;] 20
[(8)] (6) conduct periodic reviews of the economic development activities 21
of the Department, the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, the Maryland 22
Technology Development Corporation, and the Maryland Public–Private Partnership 23
Marketing Corporation for compliance with the economic development strategic plan; 24
[(9)] (7) make recommendations to the Governor and the Secretary to 25
improve economic development activities that fail to achieve economic development 26
strategic goals or are inconsistent with priorities under the economic development strategic 27
plan; and 28
[(10)] (8) carry out other economic development activities that the 29
Governor or the Secretary requests. 30 SENATE BILL 209 5
[(c) The Commission may spend money raised under subsection (b) of this section 1
only in accordance with the State budget. 2
(d) Departmental regulations that pertain to financing programs shall be 3
approved by the Commission before adoption. 4
(e) The Department may not submit a budget request before the Commission 5
reviews the request.] 6
3–301. 7
In this subtitle, “Office” means the Office of International Trade. 8
[3–309. 9
The Office shall report at least twice each year to the Maryland Economic 10
Development Commission on the status of the State’s international activities.] 11
4–201. 12
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 13
(b) “Board” means the Maryland Tourism Development Board. 14
4–211. 15
The Board shall[: 16
(1)] draft and implement a 5–year strategic plan for the promotion and 17
development of tourism in the State[; and 18
(2) submit the strategic plan to the Maryland Economic Development 19
Commission for its review]. 20
4–212. 21
(a) The Board shall[: 22
(1)] draft and implement an annual marketing plan consistent with the 23
strategic plan developed under § 4–211 of this subtitle[; and 24
(2) submit the marketing plan to the Maryland Economic Development 25
Commission for its review]. 26
6 SENATE BILL 209
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effec t July 1
1, 2024. 2