WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                            Ch. 482

WHEREAS, The State's best chance to ensure a growing, prosperous future for
Maryland is to be committed to fostering world-class, technology-driven manufacturing
industries; and

WHEREAS, The creation of a statutory advisory committee is necessary to
provide long-term, consistent direction to the State in its effort to assist existing and
emerging manufacturers; now, therefore,

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

Article 83A - Department of Economic and Employment Development

SUBTITLE 6. MARYLAND ADVISORY COMMISSION ON MANUFACTURING

COMPETITIVENESS

5-601.

IN THIS SUBTITLE THE WORD "COMMISSION" MEANS THE MARYLAND
ADVISORY COMMISSION ON MANUFACTURING COMPETITIVENESS.

5-602.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARES IT TO BE THE POLICY OF THE STATE TO
ADHERE TO THESE SEVEN GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SUPPORTING
MANUFACTURING IN MARYLAND:

(1)      THE STATE MUST MAKE A LONG-TERM INSTITUTIONAL
COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF EXISTING AND EMERGING
MANUFACTURERS;

(2)      THE STATE'S SUPPORT FOR MANUFACTURING MUST BE
INDUSTRY-DRIVEN, WITH GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION EFFORTS FOCUSED ON
PRIORITIES SET BY BUSINESSES;

(3)      THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO SUPPORT MANUFACTURING MUST BE
ORGANIZED IN WAYS THAT ADDRESS THE SCALE OF NEED IN ORDER TO HAVE A
NOTICEABLE IMPACT ON THE STATE AND REGIONAL ECONOMIES;

(4)      THE STATE'S SUPPORT OF MANUFACTURING MUST BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO MEASURABLE OUTCOMES THAT RESULT FROM THE STATE'S
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES;

(5)      ALL MANUFACTURERS NEED TO DEPLOY THE LATEST ADVANCES IN
TECHNOLOGY TO BE COMPETITIVE;

(6)      THE STATE SHOULD TARGET ITS LIMITED RESOURCES TO KEY
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, THOSE THAT HAVE A STRONG PRESENCE OR
HEALTHY GROWTH PROSPECTS, AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING A COMPETITIVE
MANUFACTURING BASE; AND

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