Maryland State Finance and Procurement Section 14-301

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

// SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SECTION WAS CHANGED BY CHAPTER 339 OF 2001 AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1, 2006 //

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

      (b)      "Certification" means the determination that a legal entity is a minority business enterprise for the purposes of this subtitle.

      (c)      "Certification agency" means the agency designated by the Board of Public Works under § 14-303(b) of this subtitle to certify and decertify minority business enterprises.

      (d)      "Certified minority business enterprise" means a minority business enterprise that holds a certification.

      (e)      "Economically disadvantaged individual" means a socially disadvantaged individual whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same or similar line of business who are not socially disadvantaged.

      (f)      (1)      "Minority business enterprise" means any legal entity, except a joint venture, that is:

                  (i)      organized to engage in commercial transactions;

                  (ii)      at least 51% owned and controlled by 1 or more individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged; and

                  (iii)      managed by, and the daily business operations of which are controlled by, one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who own it.

            (2)      "Minority business enterprise" includes a not for profit entity organized to promote the interests of physically or mentally disabled individuals.

      (g)      (1)      Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, "personal net worth" means the net value of the assets of an individual remaining after total liabilities are deducted.

            (2)      "Personal net worth" includes the individual's share of assets held jointly or as community property with the individual's spouse.

            (3)      "Personal net worth" does not include:

                  (i)      the individual's ownership interest in the applicant or a certified minority business enterprise; or

                  (ii)      the individual's equity in his or her primary place of residence.

      (h)      "Race-neutral measure" means a method that is or can be used to assist all small businesses.

      (i)      (1)      Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, "socially and economically disadvantaged individual" means a citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States who is:

                  (i)      in any of the following minority groups:

                        1.      African American - an individual having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa;

                        2.      American Indian/Native American - an individual having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who is a documented member of a North American tribe, band, or otherwise has a special relationship with the United States or a state through treaty, agreement, or some other form of recognition. This includes an individual who claims to be an American Indian/Native American and who is regarded as such by the American Indian/Native American community of which the individual claims to be a part, but does not include an individual of Eskimo or Aleutian origin;

                        3.      Asian - an individual having origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, and who is regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part;

                        4.      Hispanic - an individual of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race, and who is regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part;

                        5.      physically or mentally disabled - an individual who has an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity, who is regarded generally by the community as having such a disability, and whose disability has substantially limited his or her ability to engage in competitive business; or

                        6.      women - a woman, regardless of race or ethnicity, unless she is also a member of an ethnic or racial minority group and elects that category in lieu of the gender category; or

                  (ii)      otherwise found by the certification agency to be a socially and economically disadvantaged individual.

            (2)      There is a rebuttable presumption that an individual who is a member of a minority group under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection is socially and economically disadvantaged.

            (3)      An individual whose personal net worth exceeds $1,500,000 may not be found to be economically disadvantaged.

      (j)      "Socially disadvantaged individual" means an individual who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of membership in a group and without regard to individual qualities. Social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond the control of the individual.