72

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 25

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1978 Replacement Volume and 1979 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, By Chapter 593 of the Acts of 1978, the
General Assembly created the Office of Minority Business
Enterprise within the Department of Economic and Community
Development; and

WHEREAS, There is an Office of Minority Affairs in the
Executive Department to which the Governor has assigned
numerous duties and functions relating to minority affairs
and promoting equality among the citizens and communities of
this State; and

WHEREAS, The broad functions of this Office of Minority
Affairs include providing assistance relating to minority
affairs to the citizens of this State, representing the
Governor in matters relating to minority affairs and
generally in matters relating to promoting the equality of
citizens of this State; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable to consolidate and better
coordinate the activities of these offices and to define
their combined mandate; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ORDERED BY THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 24, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
MARYLAND, That:

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and
Administrative Departments

257D.

(a) The following    agencies, boards,       commissions,

councils, corporations,     authorities, trusts,   and divisions

shall be included within    the Department of    Economic and
Community Development:

[(17) Office of Minority Business Enterprise]

[483.

(a) The following terms have the meanings indicated:

(1)  "Disadvantaged person" means those persons
who have been deprived of the opportunity to develop and
maintain a competitive position in the economy because of
social or economic disadvantage.

(2)  "Minority business enterprise" means a
business, at least 50 percent of which is owned by minority
persons, or in the case of publicly owned businesses, at
least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by minority
persons.