HARRY HUGHES, Governor

1723

(5) (4) That the social and economic harms caused by
the closing, relocation, or reduction in operations of
industrial, commercial, and business enterprises are aggravated
by the lack of adequate advance notice of the decisions to close,
relocate, or reduce operations and that the lack of notice
prevents employees and communities from seeking alternatives to,
or otherwise preparing for, the closing or relocation;

(6) That industrial, commercial, and business

enterprises which voluntarily choose to close, relocate, or
reduce their operations should take into account the adverse
social and economic effects of its decisions on its employees and
community and should contribute to the effort of remedying those
effects created by its decisions;

(7) That in some cases employee community ownership
of enterprises provide means of preserving jobs and stabilizing
the economy of communities affected by closings and relocations,
and that such enterprises should be encouraged.

(5) That it is in the best interests of the economic
and social well-being of the citizens of Maryland for industrial,
commercial and business enterprises to voluntarily participate in
a program with the State government to mitigate the impact or
remove the necessity for closings, relocations or reduction in
operations.

Therefore, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the
State of Maryland to promote the health, safety, right to gainful
employment, business opportunities, and general welfare of its
citizens through the enactment of the provisions of this Act;
now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and Administrative

Departments

206E.

(A)(1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2) "EMPLOYEE" MEANS ANY FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME

EMPLOYEE WHO WORKED FOR AT LEAST 13 WEEKS DURING THE PRECEDING 52
WEEKS AT A WORKPLACE AND WHOSE EMPLOYMENT IS TERMINATED BY A
REDUCTION IN OPERATIONS AT THAT WORKPLACE.

(3)(I) "EMPLOYER" MEANS ANY PERSON, CORPORATION, OR
OTHER ENTITY THAT EMPLOYS AT LEAST 50 INDIVIDUALS AND OPERATES AN
INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, OR BUSINESS ENTERPRISE IN THE STATE.