Ch. 538

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

WHEREAS, One of the key roles that a university can play in a State economic
development policy is to be a resource for State businesses, helping businesses to improve
their competitiveness, create jobs, and stimulate improvements and efficiencies in
business operations; and

WHEREAS, It is particularly important to further stimulate the links between
businesses in the State and the State's public universities; now, therefore,

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

Article - Education

10-212.                               

(A)     (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(2)     "BUSINESS ENTITY" MEANS A PERSON THAT CONDUCTS OR
OPERATES A TRADE OR BUSINESS IN THE STATE.

(3)     "PARTNERSHIPS         PROGRAM"         MEANS         THE         HIGHER
EDUCATION/BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS
SECTION.

(B)     (1) IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF BUSINESSES TO
RESOURCES OF THE PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OF THE
STATE, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SYSTEM, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, AND
ST. MARY'S COLLEGE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE GOVERNOR AND IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A HIGHER EDUCATION/BUSINESS
PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM.

(2) THE GOALS OF THE PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM SHALL BE TO
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES TO BETTER UTILIZE RESOURCES THAT
THE PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OF THE STATE HAVE TO
OFFER AND TO FOSTER CONTINUING LINKS BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS AND THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

(C)     UNDER THE PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM THE PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OF THE STATE SHALL ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH
BUSINESS ENTITIES FOR COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANY ONE OR MORE
OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:

(1)     EMPLOYMENT OF A GRADUATE STUDENT IN AN ELIGIBLE
WORK-STUDY JOB BY A BUSINESS ENTITY IN A BUSINESS SECTOR THAT IS RELATED
TO THE STUDENTS HELD OF STUDY AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE STRATEGIC
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS ESTABLISHED FOR THE STATE WITH SPECIFIC
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA DETERMINED BY THE INSTITUTION AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT;

(2)     SPONSORED RESEARCH ADMINISTERED BY THE INSTITUTION; AND

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