Bill Positions

Bill Number: HB 1304

Bill Title: Recipients of State Incentives or Financial Assistance - Diversity Initiatives

Bill Sponsor(s): Dels.Vaughn, et al.

Subject: Procurement

Committee: HGO

Bill Summary: This bill would require each contractor, subcontractor or other entity receiving a grant, loan, investment, tax exemption or other incentive or financial assistance of more than $100,000 to adopt and implement the state's MBE contracting standards.

History: None

Chamber Position: Oppose

Position Summary: The MD Chamber opposes this bill because it is far too broad in applying state MBE contracting standards to recipients of state financial assistance. In particular, the attempt to apply the state's MBE standards to recipients of tax exemptions of over $100,000 will be impractical, if not impossible to administer. Many tax exemptions require no reporting to a tax authority, and therefore there is no practical means for identifying such entities.

Position Statement: Click here to download a pdf version of the Maryland Chamber's position statement.

Chamber Staff: Ronald Wineholt

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.