Ch. 292

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(4) ADVISE THE SECRETARY ON COORDINATION OF
PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL BETWEEN THE
DEPARTMENT, BUSINESS, LABOR, AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
ENTITIES INVOLVED WITH WORKFORCE QUALITY.

(E) THE BOARD, IN RECOMMENDING A SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE, SHALL GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO THE
EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF ASSISTANCE TO ALL SUBDIVISIONS OF THE
STATE.

3-503.

(A)  THE SECRETARY OR THE SECRETARY'S DESIGNEE SHALL DIRECT
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR WORKFORCE QUALITY PROGRAM.

(B)  THE SECRETARY SHALL PROVIDE TRAINING ASSISTANCE UNDER
THE PROGRAM ONLY AT THE SPECIFIC REQUEST OF A BUSINESS AN
EMPLOYER OR GROUP OF BUSINESSES EMPLOYERS.

(C) BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADVISORY BOARD, THE

(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPHS (2), (3), AND (4)
OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE SECRETARY SHALL ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA AND PRIORITIES FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE PARTNERSHIP FOR
WORKFORCE QUALITY PROGRAM.

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (1)
OF THIS SUBSECTION, AN EMPLOYER RECEIVING ASSISTANCE UNDER THE
PROGRAM:

(I) SHALL BE A MARYLAND EMPLOYER THAT OPERATES
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 95A OF THE CODE;

(II) SHALL REQUEST TRAINING ASSISTANCE FOR JOB
SPECIFIC SKILLS;

(III) SHALL REQUEST TRAINING ASSISTANCE FOR
MARYLAND-BASED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE COVERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
ARTICLE 95A OF THE CODE; AND

(IV) SHALL REQUEST TRAINING ASSISTANCE TO
UPGRADE OR RETRAIN EXISTING EMPLOYEES.

(3) (I) THE PROGRAM SHALL BE FOR MARYLAND EMPLOYERS
WITH 250 OR FEWER MARYLAND BASED EMPLOYEES.

(II) NOT LESS THAN 60 PERCENT OF ALL FUNDS
AVAILABLE SHALL BE RESERVED FOR MARYLAND EMPLOYERS WITH 100 OR
FEWER MARYLAND-BASED EMPLOYEES.

(4) NO SINGLE MARYLAND EMPLOYER SHALL RECEIVE MORE
THAN 5 PERCENT OF TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE PROGRAM WITHIN A
YEAR.

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