WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 189

(e) (1) It is a violation of this section to:

(i) fraudulently obtain, retain, attempt to

obtain or retain, or aid another in fraudulently obtaining or

retaining or attempting to obtain or retain certification as a
minority business enterprise for the purposes of this section;

(ii) willfully make a false statement, whether
by affidavit, report, or other representation, to a State
official or employee for the purpose of influencing the
certification or denial of certification of any entity as a
minority business enterprise;                 

(iii) willfully obstruct, impede, or attempt to
obstruct or impede any State official or employee who is
investigating the qualifications of a business entity which has
(1)requested certification as a minority business enterprise; or

(iv) fraudulently obtain, attempt to obtain, or
aid another person in fraudulently obtaining or attempting to
obtain, public moneys to which the person is not entitled under
this subtitle.

(2) Any person who violates the provisions of this
subsection is guilty of a felony and upon conviction is subject
to imprisonment for a period of not more than 5 years, or a fine
of not more than $20,000, or both.

(3) (i) Any person convicted of having violated a
provision of this subsection or who has admitted, in writing or
under oath, during the course of an official investigation or
other proceeding, acts or omissions which would constitute
grounds for conviction is subject to the procedures for debarment
from consideration for or the award of State contracts in
accordance with general debarment regulations adopted by the
Board.

(ii) Upon a finding of a violation pursuant to
the general debarment regulations, the person shall be debarred
for any period determined by the Board to be appropriate under
the circumstances.

(f) (1) It is a violation of this section to make false

statements that any entity is or is not certified as a minority
business enterprise for purposes of this section.

(2) Any person who violates the provisions of this
subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is
subject to imprisonment for a period of not more than 1 year, or
a fine of not more than $2,500, or both.

[(g) This section shall have no further force and effect
after June 30, 1988; except that this subsection does not

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