Maryland State Government Section 9-801

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

// SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SECTION WAS ADDED BY CHAPTERS 489 AND 490 OF 2004 AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2009 //

      (a)      There is a Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology.

      (b)      The Task Force consists of the following members:

            (1)      one member from the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;

            (2)      one member from the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

            (3)      two members of the Women Legislators of Maryland, one to be appointed by the President of the Senate and one to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

            (4)      the Deputy Secretary of Business and Economic Development, or the Deputy Secretary's designee;

            (5)      the Deputy Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, or the Deputy Secretary's designee;

            (6)      the Deputy Secretary for the Maryland Higher Education Commission, or the Deputy Secretary's designee;

            (7)      the Assistant State Superintendent for the Division of Career Technology and Adult Learning, State Department of Education, or the Assistant State Superintendent's designee;

            (8)      the Director for the Center for Women and Information Technology, or the Director's designee;

            (9)      one member from the Maryland Commission for Women, appointed by the Governor; and

            (10)      the following members appointed by the Governor:

                  (i)      one business entrepreneur who is the chief executive officer of an information technology company;

                  (ii)      two information technology business professionals, at least one of whom is a woman;

                  (iii)      one human resources representative from a major corporation who hires information technology workers;

                  (iv)      one representative of a local educational agency that represents technology education;

                  (v)      one representative of a community college information technology program;

                  (vi)      one representative of a 4-year educational institution information technology program;

                  (vii)      one secondary school teacher; and

                  (viii)      two college students majoring in information technology, preferably women.

      (c)      Each member of the Task Force shall be appointed on or before August 1, 2004.

      (d)      To the extent practicable, appointments to the Task Force shall be made to ensure regional, economic, ethnic, and gender diversity on the Task Force.

      (e)      The Governor shall designate the chairman of the Task Force.

      (f)      The Task Force shall elect a vice chairman from among its members.

      (g)      The chairman of the Task Force may:

            (1)      establish committees for the purpose of completing the duties of the Task Force; and

            (2)      appoint individuals who are not members of the Task Force to serve on each committee.

      (h)      The Department of Business and Economic Development shall provide staff support to the Task Force.

      (i)      A member of the Task Force may not receive compensation for serving on the Task Force, but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

      (j)      The Task Force shall:

            (1)      study the issues relating to the declining involvement of girls and women in information technology;

            (2)      study the impact this decline has on the overall technology literacy of Maryland's workforce;

            (3)      study the impact of this decline on the future of the information technology workforce in Maryland;

            (4)      create awareness throughout the State on the issue of women and information technology and the findings of this Task Force;

            (5)      identify and examine existing programs and services, laws, and regulations with respect to identifying practices that best address the issue in education and workforce development;

            (6)      investigate strategies to address the challenges that will better meet the State's workforce demands in all career areas where technology is used;

            (7)      develop a statewide comprehensive Women and Information Technology Plan and strategies for plan implementation and public promotion of the Plan; and

            (8)      facilitate coordination and communication among State and local agencies and organizations regarding achieving the goals of the Plan.

      (k)      The Task Force shall present an annual report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of this article, the General Assembly, on or before October 1 of each year beginning October 1, 2004.