Ch. 482                                    1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 482
(Senate Bill 380)

AN ACT concerning                                                                         

Department of Economic and Employment Development - Maryland Advisory
Commission on Manufacturing Competitiveness

FOR the purpose of creating the Maryland Advisory Commission on Manufacturing
Competitiveness within the Department of Economic and Employment
Development; setting forth the composition, powers, and duties of the Commission;.
requiring a certain annual report; establishing guiding principles for supporting
manufacturing in Maryland; providing for the expiration of the initial terms of the
members of the Commission; and generally relating to the Maryland Advisory
Commission on Manufacturing Competitiveness.                           

BY adding to

Article 83A - Department of Economic and Employment Development
Section 5-601 through 5-604, inclusive, to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle
6. Maryland Advisory Commission on Manufacturing Competitiveness"
Annotated Code of Maryland                                                           

(1991 Replacement Volume and 1993 Supplement)

Preamble                                       

WHEREAS, Manufacturing has long been a staple of the Maryland economy; and

WHEREAS, Manufacturing jobs spur the production of another two to three jobs
in the State's economy; and                                                                                   

WHEREAS, Manufacturing jobs are generally high-wage and high-skill jobs; and

WHEREAS, All manufacturing industries in Maryland face stiff international
competition, and many Maryland manufacturing industries are lagging behind in their
growth; and                                                   

WHEREAS, Many manufacturing industries in Maryland are dependent on
defense spending and must adjust to sharp reductions in total national defense spending;
and

WHEREAS, It is outmoded thinking to separate manufacturing and technology
when they in fact go hand-in-hand; and

WHEREAS, Many of the State's emerging technology-related industries will be
engaged in manufacturing in the future as they begin to commercialize products; and

WHEREAS, All manufacturers need to deploy the latest advances in technology
and management practices to be competitive; and

- 2314 -