HARRY HUGHES, Governor                               2015

Department of Economic and Community Development, to be
the Maryland Energy Financing Administration, shall be"
empowered to establish programs for the purpose of
providing financial assistance to Maryland citizens for
energy projects utilizing, where appropriate, existing
State programs, and taking maximum advantage of federal
energy financing programs, by creating the Authority as
a public instrumentality of the State of Maryland;
providing that the Authority shall consist of the

Secretaries of Natural Resources, Economic and

Community Development, and Agriculture, the State

Treasurer and three public members appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve at the
pleasure of the Governor, providing for a chairman, an
executive director, and an assistant attorney general
to serve as full-time counsel to the Authority;
providing for a director of the Administration to be
appointed by the Secretary of Economic and Community
Development with the approval of the Governor;
providing that employees of the Authority
Administration shall be deemed contractual employees
exempt from the provisions of Article 64A, Section 15A
of the Code limiting the employment of contractual
employees; exempting the Authority from State laws
relating to public employees other than laws relating
to conflicts of interest, public records and meetings,
and employees' liability protection; authorizing the
Authority to purchase materials, supplies, and services
pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by
the Authority without approval by any other board,
agency, or department, exempting the Authority from the
provisions of Article 21 of the Code; providing that
the interest rate on Authority Administration loans,
together with other moneys available, shall be
sufficient to make the program loan programs self
supporting to the extent permitted by law; authorizing
the Authority Administration to enter into contracts or
agreements with any person and to apply for, receive,
or accept grants, loans, loan guarantees or other forms
of financial assistance from any person; authorizing
the Authority Administration to provide financial
assistance for energy projects and making decisions of
its Board of Directors the Secretary of Economic and
Community Development In this regard conclusive;
authorizing the Authority Administration to acquire,
purchase, manage, operate, hold, and dispose of real
and personal property, take assignments, rentals and
leases, and make and enter into all necessary
contracts, leases, agreements, or arrangements;
authorizing the Authority Administration to acquire
stock or purchase, acquire, or take assignments of
notes, mortgages, and other forms of security in
evidence of its indebtedness or titles; authorizing the
Authority Administration to take title to any energy
project by conveyance or foreclosure, and to sell,
lease, or rent energy projects; authorizing the
Authority Administration to borrow money, to issue