Ch. 300

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Preamble

WHEREAS, In 1995 the Governor vetoed legislation (House Bill 215) which was
passed by the General Assembly and would have required that, in the preparation of a
form requiring the identification of race, departments and other units of the State
government must include the term "multiracial" as a choice of race; and

WHEREAS, It is necessary to address the needs of children in multiracial families,
who are effectively forced by the State to prefer one parent over the other when
completing forms prepared by the State; and

WHEREAS, As is true elsewhere in the United States, the demographics in
Maryland are rapidly changing and the number of racially mixed families is increasing;
and

WHEREAS, The establishment of a multiracial category on State forms would
accord children the freedom to choose a self-identity that does not deny a part of who
they are; 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

18-310.

(A)    THERE IS A TASK FORCE ON MULTIRACIAL DESIGNATIONS.

(B)     (1) THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE COMPOSED OF 13 MEMBERS APPOINTED AS
FOLLOWS:

(I)      TWO MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND APPOINTED BY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE;

(II)    TWO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES APPOINTED BY
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; AND

(III) NINE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

(2) OF THE NINE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR:

(I)      TWO SHALL BE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, ONE OF WHOM SHALL BE AN EXPERT IN THE HELD OF ENGLISH AS A
SECOND LANGUAGE (ESOL);

(II)     ONE SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
GENERAL SERVICES WHO IS KNOWLEDGEABLE CONCERNING STATE FORMS;

(III) ONE SHALL BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MINORITY
AFFAIRS;

(IV)   ONE SHALL BE A PRINCIPAL IN A SCHOOL WITH A DIVERSE
STUDENT POPULATION;

(V)     ONE SHALL BE A DEMOGRAPHER;

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